An autistic Native American man from Oklahoma is accusing a White House official of attacking him over a Redskins jersey during a school trip to Washington, D.C.
Barrett Dahl recently visited the nation’s capital from Oklahoma. He was approached by William Mendoza, executive director of the White House Initiative of American Indian, during a pow-wow when things got ugly.
“He comes to me and calls me the name weetard not retard, weetard,” Mr. Dahl told a local CBS affiliate on Wednesday regarding the Oct. 30, 2015, incident. “You’re a weetard for not understanding Redskins is offensive.’”
Mr. Dahl, a member of Choctaw and Sac and Fox nations, said he considers the national football team’s mascot a symbol of cultural pride.
“Where are you from that you’re so stupid and uneducated that you don’t understand that the Redskins is offensive,” Mr. Dahl claims Mr. Mendoza said to him over his shirt. “I told him, ’I’m from Oklahoma,’ as I’m very proud to be. That’s when he spits on me.”
Mr. Mendoza’s attorney’s provided the station with notes from his client on the incident, which allege that Mr. Dahl said, “I don’t have to explain [expletive] to you. If you want to step outside and take this outside, I’d be happy to explain it to you.”
Both sides disagree on who threw the first punch upon the subsequent fight, and whether or not Mr. Dahl’s shirt said “INJUN PIMP” or “INJUN PLAYER” on the back, 9 News Oklahoma reported.
The White House official said in his notes that he apologized to Mr. Dahl for offending him, but then Mr. Dahl threw a hot liquid in his face. Mr. Dahl’s fist allegedly made contact soon afterward.
Mr. Dahl and Mr. Mendoza both are prepared to go to court over the matter. Mr. Dahl said he plans to sue over expensive medical bills and an injured hand while Mr. Mendoza said the claims are inflammatory.
• Douglas Ernst can be reached at dernst@washingtontimes.com.
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