Native Americans Mocked by Teens in MAGA Hats at Lincoln Memorial

Scores of teenage boys, many wearing pro-Trump “Make America Great Again” (MAGA) baseball hats and sweatshirts, mocked and attempted to intimidate a group taking part in the Indigenous Peoples March in Washington DC on January 18, videos show. Footage from the incident at the Lincoln Memorial shows the teenagers mocking Nathan Phillips, director of Native Youth Alliance, as he sang, with one boy "standing directly in front of the Phillips, smiling. According to Native American media, Phillips is an elder in Omaha and a veteran of the Vietnam War. Phillips was later filmed saying he had heard the boys chanting “build that wall, build that wall.” Visibly upset, Phillips says, “This is indigenous lands. We’re not supposed to have walls here. We never did.” He said he wished they could their energy towards making the country “really great” by helping people in need. A number of the boys in the footage are seen wearing clothes bearing the logo of all-male Covington Catholic High School located in Park Hills, Kentucky. On its website, the school says it “primary purpose is to embrace the gospel message of Jesus Christ in order to educate young men spiritually, academically, physically, and socially.” The website also states that students would participate in the anti-abortion rights March for Life in Washington on January 18. The Cincinnati Enquirer reported that Laura Keener, the communications director with the Roman Catholic Diocese of Covington, on Saturday said: “We are just now learning about this incident and regret it took place. We are looking into it.” Storyful has reached out to Covington Catholic High School and its principal Bob Rowe for comment. Credit: Kaya Taitano via Storyful