XPost: alt.gossip.celebrities, sac.general, alt.politics.democrats.d
XPost: talk.politics.guns

Native American activist Nathan Phillips, whose confrontation
with Covington Catholic High School students went viral, has a
criminal record, including assault and escape from prison,
according to a report.

Philips has become the focal point of the clash with the
Kentucky students, after initially claimed that the students
blocked his exit and taunted him with abusive and racist chants.

New additional footage that emerged over the weekend has since
debunked his version of the event, showing him approaching the
students rather than the students taunting him. He later claimed
he tried to defuse a clash between the students and a group of
black street preachers who were shouting racist insults at both
the Native Americans and the white kids.

At the beginning of the controversy, Phillips largely avoided
scrutiny. But according to the Washington Examiner, Phillips'
past includes being arrested and charged with escaping from
prison, assault, and several alcohol-related crimes.

In 1974, Phillips pleaded guilty to assault charges and was
fined $200. In later years, he faced numerous other charges and
arrest. He was also sentenced to one year of probation stemming
from charges of alcohol possession by a minor, the report said.

His military service record was also called into question. The
Marine Corps confirmed to Fox News on Wednesday that Phillips
never served in the Vietnam War and wasn’t deployed overseas.

Phillips, then known as Nathaniel R. Stanard, served in the
Marine Corps Reserve for four years before leaving in 1976 with
the rank of private. During his time in the Marine Reserve, he
was a refrigerator technician and anti-tank missileman.

This appears contrary to his remarks to Vogue, where he said,
“You know, I’m from Vietnam times. I’m what they call a recon
ranger. That was my role.”

Numerous outlets, including the Washington Post and the Detroit
Free Press, have issued corrections to their articles that
incorrectly identified Phillips as a Vietnam War veteran, noting
Phillips’ lack of deployments to the war.

Since the controversy, Phillips has since offered to visit the
Covington school and lead a dialogue about cultural
understanding.

Covington Catholic student Nick Sandmann, seen in the viral
video with Phillips, told NBC's "Today" show on Wednesday that
he'd like to speak with Phillips as well.

Fox News’ Samuel Chamberlain contributed to this report.

https://www.foxnews.com/us/native-american-activist-nathan- phillips-was-once-charged-with-assault-escape-from-prison
 

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