On A Frigid Day in Covington, Kentucky

There is no doubt that you and I both have been caught up in the drama in Washington, DC of late. No, not with the president* or the government shut down, but with the one with the Native American gentleman beating his drum and singing while the young man with the MAGA hat stood amidst his own peers, many of whom were also wearing the red hat. We all know how these things roll.  A perspective is built, images are shown, videos are shown, and the truth, if we can ever completely attain it, rolls before us day after day after day.

For those of us who do systems oriented therapy, we know about this thing called "punctuation," or exactly how an interaction begins, what is next prompted, and what is next prompted, and so on. We punctuate relational matters in a similar way that we punctuate sentences. 

There was a lot of craziness going on that day with adults and kids. 

A few days later, a group of folks protested in Covington, Kentucky, and a friend of mine was there to chronicle it via her photography. I also asked her to describe what she saw and experienced. Here are the words and photography of Heather Hicks. I am grateful for her and her heart, and for her willingness to tell that story here. 

It was frigid but that didn’t stop a group of us from driving to Covington, Kentucky to stand along side Native Americans who were deeply hurt and alarmed by the way one of their honored elders, Nathan Phillips, was disgracefully treated and mocked recently in DC.  Some drove from States away.  It was a protest, one ordered by Native American leaders to be peaceful.  The protest was an outcry to end racism. It was also to demand that Covington Catholic change some things in their school culture to foster young men who would value diversity and have a better knowledge of Native American culture and history.  They required that Covington Catholic offer classes that teach what racism is and how to respect and value diversity.

The ratio of news reporters and journalists just about matched the number of peaceful protesters.  Several Native American speakers spoke, sharing their inspiring thoughts and concerns with us.  They spoke of wanting to build bridges across the cultural and economic divides.  One man shared how they were saddened that Covington Catholic felt the need to close the school on the day of protest for fear of violence.  He said if you knew and understood Native American people you would know that we are a people of peace.

While we were listening to the speakers, cars would drive by blaring their horns to disrupt the speakers. One car stopped in front of the crowd and kept blaring their horn until a police officer finally made them move on.  A van drove by with “Fake News Enemy of the People” written on it.  Another car drove by and someone shouted from it, “That school breeds white supremacists!”  There were ANTIFA members present. They were not there to create chaos but for protection.  They even brought a medic with them.  I wonder if they were peaceful to respect the wishes of the Native American leaders?

The history of the sacred peace prayer that elder Philips sang was shared with us.  How for hundreds of years Native American leaders have been inserting themselves between waring groups with the singing of the prayer to promote peace and to deescalate volatile situations. They led the song as we began our short trek to the Catholic basilica of Covington to call for a meeting with the Covington Catholic Diocese.  The Native American leaders wanted this to be the first of many meetings to talk about building peace and respect for each other.  As we came around the corner we saw a man standing at the top of the steps, in front of the basilica doors praying with a rosary in his hands.  The Native American leaders stopped at the bottom of the steps and finished the prayer song.  LaFramboise, one of the leaders asked the man if he could pray with and for him.  The man was reluctant at first but then he agreed.  LaFramboise held his hand as he prayed for him.  I wish I had recorded that prayer.  It was a very touching moment. A non Native American woman next to me had tears rolling down her cheeks.  I gave her a hug and then a journalist asked her what caused her tears.  I wish I heard what she responded. I do know that I saw her give a hug to almost every Native American there. 

           

A few school boys from Covington Catholic showed up but they stayed across the street from us.  They were quiet but wanted their presence to be known.  A few counter protesters stood with them, some of them dressed like the stereotypical alt-right people. 

A man, who was in support of the Covington boys came to talk to some of we protesters, trying to stir up some trouble.  I was impressed with how some of the ANTIFA members handled him.  Instead of getting all defensive with him like I wanted to, they had a conversation with him and respectfully shared how entrenched racism is in our country and how even they personally have to work on changing their own racist views.  At one point the man trying to stir up trouble said, “You know, we just need to all get along.  We would all get a long so much better if you didn’t use the words racist or racism.”

Sadly, the Covington Catholic Diocese refused to meet with the Native American leaders.  The leaders promised to keep coming back to the Diocese until the they were able to have the talks they longed for. ---- Heather Malaika Hicks