Savannah Guthrie Interviews Nick Sandmann On NBC’s ‘Today’
Jan 23, 2019, 9:09 AM
Nick Sandmann, the Kentucky high school student at the center of a viral video, spoke to Savannah Guthrie on “Today” Wednesday to tell his side of a story that he said people are getting wrong.
“Do you feel from this experience that you owe anybody and apology?” asked Guthrie. “Do you see your own fault in any way?”
“As far as standing there, I had every right to do so,” Sandmann replied. “… In hindsight I wish we could have walked away and avoided the whole thing.”
He described a scene in which he and his schoolmates, attending an anti-abortion rally, were confronted by another group that proceeded to yell slurs at the teens. A third group, which included Native American elder Nathan Phillips, entered the area, chanting and beating drums.
The portion that went viral: A moment when Phillips and Sandmann came face to face, Phillips beating his drum and chanting while Sandmann smiles at him.
Sandmann said he was trying to diffuse the situation by not reacting. The video clip, though, was interpreted by many as Sandmann smirking as Phillips chanted.
