Continuing to treat them like little Klansmen, NBC Nightly News added to their disgusting coverage of the Covington Kids, Tuesday, night by taking repeated shots at them even though new video had vindicated them. And despite being a proven liar, the network allowed agitator Nathan Phillips to scold the kids and suggest they should be sentenced to “some kind of sensitivity training” or “cultural education.”
Anchor Lester Holt set the tone for the segment by declaring the incident “a flashpoint for race and politics in this country.” A statement divorced from the reality of the situation exposed via the full-length videos.
The segment hyped an exclusive interview set to air during Wednesday’s Today with co-host Savannah Guthrie assailing student Nick Sandmann and suggesting he was the problem. “Do you feel that you owe anybody an apology? Do you see your own fault in any way,” she demanded to know.
“As far as standing there, I had every right to do so. I don't -- my position is that I was not disrespectful to Mr. Philips. I respect him. I'd like to talk to him. I mean, in hindsight I wish we could have walked away and avoided the whole thing,” Sandmann meekly responded. CNN political commentator Symone Sanders actually blasted the 15-year-old for being shy and not as articulate as a professional adult in the media (because this is how adults apparently act these days).
“But after more videos emerged, defenders of the students say there was a rush to judgment,” correspondent Gabe Gutierrez said. But Gutierrez failed to mention that the videos showed that the students were waiting for a bus as they were being harassed and goaded by the Black Hebrew Israelites when Phillips, thinking the innocent kids were the problem, singled out Sandmann and started slamming on his drum right in the teenager’s face.
“But the chants continued when Philips entered the picture, saying he was trying to intervene,” was NBC’s spin.
NBC aired numerous soundbites of Phillips chastising the kids he targeted for harassment:
PHILLIPS: I was afraid. I felt threatened. Because when we were there and we were in front of them, they surrounded us.
(…)
PHILLIPS: School chants should be in school, and this wasn't school.
(…)
PHILLIPS: The students should go through some kind of sensitivity training, cultural education of some kind.
“Philips says the students should accept responsibility for their actions,” Gutierrez added. NBC gladly awarded this platform to Phillips despite the videos proving his claims to the media were lies. He claimed the Covington Kids were chanting “build that wall,” that was proven to be a lie. He claimed they went to him, another lie.
Gutierrez seemed unfazed by the fact the kids and school were receiving death threats: “Police here are on high alert after receiving threats against the students. The diocese had initially said they could face expulsion. Now it says a third-party investigation will begin this week.” But he did tout how there were Native American protesters outside the school.
As they offered one more promotion for Wednesday’s interview, Holt touted how Guthrie grilled Sandmann on his supposed instigation and ugly smirk. “And by the way, Savannah went on the ask Sandmann about allegations he and his classmates instigated the confrontation with chants. Also about the look on his face in the video. We'll have much more tomorrow morning on Today,” he boasted.
Given that other outlets like CBS News had already admitted many had jumped to conclusions and that the kids were innocent, NBC’s insistence lends itself as evidence to this being an intentional assault on these kids.
The transcript is below, click "expand" to read:
NBC Nightly News
January 22, 2019
7:09:12 p.m. EasternLESTER HOLT: And taking a turn now to the confrontation that has become a flashpoint for race and politics in this country. Tonight, the high school student at the center of that controversial video is speaking exclusively to NBC News. This as his Kentucky high school closed today due to security concerns. NBC's Gabe Gutierrez is there.
[Cuts to video]
GABE GUTIERREZ: Nick Sandmann, a Kentucky student at the center of that viral video says he wasn't disrespectful when he appeared to confront Native American veteran Nathan Philips. He sat down exclusively with Today's Savannah Guthrie.
SAVANNAH GUTHRIE: Do you feel that you owe anybody an apology? Do you see your own fault in any way?
NICK SANDMANN: As far as standing there, I had every right to do so. I don't -- My position is that I was not disrespectful to Mr. Philips. I respect him. I'd like to talk to him. I mean, in hindsight I wish we could have walked away and avoided the whole thing.
GUTIERREZ: The Covington Catholic High School students, some wearing "Make America Great Again" hats were in D.C. last week for the March for life.
NATHAN PHILLIPS: I was afraid. I felt threatened. Because when we were there and we were in front of them, they surrounded us.
GUTIERREZ: But after more videos emerged, defenders of the students say there was a rush to judgment. Do you think the students did anything wrong?
UNIDENTIFIED MAN: No.
GUTIERREZ: A student whose parents didn't want his face shown, told NBC affiliate WLWT the students were using school chants, approved by chaperones, to drown out insults from another group of protesters, men identifying as Black Hebrew Israelites. But the chants continued when Philips entered the picture, saying he was trying to intervene.
UNIDENTIFIED COVINGTON KID: There was three native American people there. One of them was jumping up and down. So our guys started jumping up and down, and clapping, we’re dancing with him.
PHILLIPS: School chants should be in school, and this wasn't school.
GUTIERREZ: Today, Native Americans protested in Covington, and even President Trump weighed in, calling the students “symbols of fake news and how evil it can be.” But Philips says the students should accept responsibility for their actions.
PHILLIPS: The students should go through some kind of sensitivity training, cultural education of some kind.
[Cuts back to live]
GUTIERREZ: Police here are on high alert after receiving threats against the students. The diocese had initially said they could face expulsion. Now it says a third-party investigation will begin this week. Lester?
HOLT: All right, Gabe Gutierrez, thank you. And by the way, Savannah went on the ask Sandmann about allegations he and his classmates instigated the confrontation with chants. Also about the look on his face in the video. We'll have much more tomorrow morning on Today.
