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VOTE: Is an apology enough to make up for MAGA hat kids' disrespect?

In this Friday, Jan. 18, 2019 image made from video provided by the Survival Media Agency, a teenager wearing a “Make America Great Again” hat, center left, stands in front of an elderly Native American singing and playing a drum in Washington. The Roman Catholic Diocese of Covington in Kentucky is looking into this and other videos that show youths, possibly from the diocese’s all-male Covington Catholic High School, mocking Native Americans at a rally in Washington. (Survival Media Agency via AP)

Last Friday Trump-supporting teens wearing “Make America Great Again Hats” from an all-male catholic school in Kentucky made headlines after they stood facing Indigenous-American protesters. One student in particular was filmed standing in front of Nathan Phillips, an Indigenous activist and Vietnam war veteran, as he sang near the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C.

A viral video of the incident showed students chanting and gathering around the Indigenous protesters, seemingly to mock them. A diocese in Kentucky and Covington Catholic High School released a joint statement on Saturday, apologizing for the teens’ actions.

“This behaviour is opposed to the Church’s teachings on the dignity and respect of the human person,” read the statement.

Here’s everything you need to know about the ‘MAGA’ teens so far:

  • On Friday, the Indigenous People’s March in Washington occurred at the same time as the March for Life, an anti-abortion protest. The anti-abortion rally drew thousands including all-male students from Covington Catholic High School in Park Hills.

  • Video showed students crowding Indigenous protesters, including 64-year-old Nathan Phillips, activist and veteran. Donning “Make America Great Again” hats in support of Donald Trump, the students appeared to laugh and snicker at the protesters.

  • Phillips said in an Instagram post that he heard the students say “Build that wall, build that wall.”

  • Student Nick Sandmann was seen standing face-to-face with Phillips. He said on Monday that he denied any ill-will towards Phillips, and did not approach him or confront him. Issuing a statement through a PR company, Sandmann said he respects Phillips right to protests but the elderly man should “re-think his tactics of invading the personal space of others.”

  • Phillips said he entered the fray to “pray” after there was an incident between a group of black men and the teens.

  • In another viral video, the black men call the white teens “pompous bastards coming down here in the middle of a native rally with their dirty ass hat on.”

  • The diocese in Kentucky along with Covington Catholic High School apologized for the students’ behaviour and said that “appropriate action up to and including expulsion”, could be taken.

  • Celebrities on social media quickly condemned the teen boys, with Chris Evans tweeting that their actions were “appalling” and “shameful”. Alyssa Milano said on Twitter that the video brought her to tears, asking “What are we teaching our young people? Why is this ok?”.

What do you think of the school’s apology? Vote in the poll above and leave your thoughts in the comments below.