Deirdre Phelps, wife of Kalama head football coach Mike Phelps, handed out shirts with slogans supporting Charlie Kirk to some members of the football team Wednesday.
The shirts feature a picture of Kirk and read “Charlie’s Army” and “This is Americas Turning Point” on the front, according to photos shared with The Daily News by a parent of a team member who received the shirt.
The parent said the coach asked for her husband’s permission, and received it, before the shirts were handed out.
The back of the shirt reads, “It is no longer Left vs Right. It is right vs wrong. It is insanity vs humanity.”
The phrase “this is America’s turning point” has been used by Kirk’s supporters following his assassination in Utah on Sept. 10. It references the conservative organization he founded, Turning Point USA.
Steve Padilla, chief of staff for Kalama School District, said handing out the shirts was a nondistrict-related activity between a community member and some student athletes, and that Mike Phelps did not create or distribute the shirts. He added that Deirdre Phelps made and handed out the shirts.
Mike Phelps said the school district instructed him not to comment and to direct any questions to Padilla.
