The student who stared and smiled at an elderly Native American protester drumming in his face as his schoolmates chanted and laughed says he did nothing to provoke the man and was only trying to calm the situation.
The student in the viral video - who was wearing a pro-Donald Trump "Make America Great Again" hat - has identified himself in an emailed statement as Nick Sandmann.
"I am being called every name in the book, including a racist, and I will not stand for this mob-like character assassination of my family's name," wrote Mr Sandmann, who added that he and his parents have received death threats.
The statement was distributed by a public relations firm.
Both Mr Sandmann and the Native American man, Nathan Phillips, say they were trying to defuse tensions that were rising among three protest groups.
"I stepped in between to pray," Mr Phillips said.
In his statement, Mr Sandmann said he did not verbally or physically engage with Mr Phillips.
"I did not speak to him. I did not make any hand gestures or other aggressive moves," he said.
The video of Mr Sandmann standing very close to Mr Phillips, staring and at times smiling at him as Phillips sang and played a drum, gave many the impression that Sandmann was being provocative.
Native American elder Nate Phillips during the Indigenous Peoples March in Washington DC. Source: AAP
Other students appeared to be laughing at the drummer; and at least one could be seen on video doing a tomahawk chop.
Mr Phillips had approached Mr Sandmann, but well before that, both his group and Mr Sandmann's, which had taken part in the anti-abortion rally, were confronted by a third group that appeared to be affiliated with the Black Hebrew Israelite movement.
Videos show members of the religious group yelling disparaging and profane insults at the students, who taunt them in return.
Video also shows the Native Americans being insulted by the small religious group.
Mr Sandmann wrote that the students were called "racists," "bigots," "white crackers" and "incest kids" by the third group.
"I harbor no ill will for this person,” he continued.
"I respect this person’s right to protest and engage in free speech activities, and I support his chanting on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial any day of the week. I believe he should re-think his tactics of invading the personal space of others, but that is his choice to make."
He said a teacher chaperone gave the students permission to begin their school chants "to counter the hateful things that were being shouted at our group."
Mr Phillips said he was trying to keep peace between the high school students and the religious group.
"They were making remarks to each other ... (such as) 'In my state those Indians are nothing but a bunch of drunks.' How do I report that?" Phillips said.
"These young people were just roughshodding through our space, like what's been going on for 500 years here - just walking through our territories, feeling like 'this is ours."'
