Covington Catholic student tells NBC’s ‘Today’ he didn’t disrespect Native American

Reporting from Detroit —  A Catholic high school student whose close encounter with a Native American activist and a black religious sect was captured on video in Washington says he has nothing to apologize for.

Nick Sandmann told NBC’s “Today” show Wednesday that he had every right to be there, as did the others who gathered in front of the Lincoln Memorial. He said he wasn’t disrespectful and was trying to stay calm under the circumstances.

The encounter by Sandmann and his classmates, some of whom wore “Make America Great Again” hats, with Omaha Nation elder Nathan Phillips — an incident caught on several video recordings -- has sparked widespread criticism. But the various sides say they’ve been misunderstood and that snippets of video were taken out of context.

RELATED: A breakdown of the confrontation »

Many saw the white teenagers, who had traveled to Washington for an antiabortion rally, appearing to mock the Native Americans. Others interpreted Phillips’ drumming and singing as a hostile act.

Sandmann said he isn’t racist and, for that matter, neither are his classmates.

“We’re a Catholic school and it’s not tolerated. They don’t tolerate racism, and none of my classmates are racist people.”

Both Sandmann and Phillips have since said they were trying to keep the peace in a volatile situation. Phillips has since offered to visit the school and lead a dialogue about cultural understanding. Sandmann said he’d like to speak with him as well.

“I was not disrespectful to Mr. Philips. I respect him. I’d like to talk to him. In hindsight, I wish we could’ve walked away and avoided the whole thing, but I can’t say that I’m sorry for listening to him and standing there.”

The boys’ school was reopening Wednesday under extra security measures after officials closed the campus Tuesday as a precaution.

A letter to parents sent by school officials said that if they don’t feel comfortable sending their sons back to class, they will “understand this viewpoint during this difficult time period.”

The “Today” show Wednesday announced on Twitter that it will air an interview with Phillips on Thursday.