Black leaders urge memorials’ removal:
Activists say Confederate monuments embolden and inspire white supremacists
African-American leaders on Monday urged Gov. Doug Ducey to remove six U.S. Civil War memorials honoring Confederate soldiers, denouncing the state monuments as “tools of terror” and “symbols of racial hatred.”
African-American leaders on Monday urged Gov. Doug Ducey to remove six U.S. Civil War memorials honoring Confederate soldiers, denouncing the state monuments as “tools of terror” and “symbols of racial hatred.”
Representatives of the Maricopa County and East Valley branches of the NAACP, Black Lives Matter-PHX, the Arizona Informant newspaper and religious organizations called for immediate action in a news conference at the newspaper’s Phoenix offices.
“We believe that these monuments have been erected to intimidate, terrorize and strike fear in the hearts of Arizonans, particularly African-Americans, while inspiring and emboldening white supremacists,” East Valley NAACP spokeswoman Collette Watson said.
Ducey must “stand up against these forces of hatred and remove these symbols from public lands in the state of Arizona,” she said.
Tensions related to Confederate memorials and flags have exploded in the two years since a white supremacist killed nine and injured three black members of a Charleston, South Carolina, church. In cities from St. Louis to New Orleans to Baltimore, those who believe the monuments glorify slavery and racism have clashed with others who view them as symbols of Southern history and heritage.
Though Arizona — so far — has avoided the vandalism and violent protests seen in other states, fierce opposition to removing the monuments exists. The Arizona division of the Sons of Confederate Veterans, an organization that pays tribute to Confederate soldiers, has promised to fight any removal efforts.
Black leaders nonetheless believe they have national momentum on their side.
“To see Louisiana dismantling their elaborate Confederate monuments…to see Baltimore entertaining removing Confederate monuments, to see South Carolina finally removing the Confederate flag from its state Capitol — we think that our chances are very good,” said Roy Tatem, East Valley NAACP president. “If Arizona wants to be a leader, we believe Arizona will follow suit.”
Officials have broached removal of Confederate memorials in Arizona before.
In 2015, for instance, Rep. Reginald Bolding asked that the Jefferson Davis Highway be renamed.
“We called on the governor (two years ago), and what he gave us was lip service,” Bolding, D-Laveen, said Monday. “We hope that we can get action today.”
Patrick Ptak, the governor’s spokesman, told The Republic on Friday that African-American leaders are directing their requests at the wrong official.
Removal or renaming would “fall under the jurisdiction of other entities,” Ptak said, such as the Legislative Governmental Mall Commission or the State Board on Geographic and Historical Names.
Bolding cited both of those bodies as part of the removal process in a letter to Ducey’s office Monday.
Bolding dismissed the idea that the governor had no influence, however, implying Ducey was attempting to shirk responsibility.
“Many times at the Legislature and many times in Arizona, we hear the gover-
nor take stands on issues that he cares deeply about, whether it’s cutting taxes or whether it’s promoting school vouchers,” Bolding said. “For the governor to try to push the buck to citizens or to push the buck to a board that he appoints is irresponsible.”
The Governor’s Office did not immediately respond to a request for further comment Monday.
Rep. Ruben Gallego, D-Ariz., issued a statement Monday afternoon supporting leaders in asking Ducey to “immediately take steps to remove these monuments from our state.”
“The Confederacy is a stain upon American history that should not be celebrated,” Gallego said.
Curt Tipton, an adjutant with the Arizona division of the Sons of Confederate Veterans, said the national organization “totally opposes” taking down historical monuments of any kind in Arizona.
“That includes Pancho Villa’s statue in Tucson, Geronimo’s marker in Douglas and the many, many more within the state,” he said.
Tipton said removing or relocating Confederate statues “because somebody is offended is ridiculous.” He said the Arizona division will do what it takes to quash any “ludicrous” efforts at the state level, such as African-American leaders’ proposal.
“As our ancestors did not give up, neither will we,” Tipton said.
Reginald Walton, a pastor and chair of Black Lives Matter-PHX, described the Sons of Confederate Veterans and similar groups as “misinformed.”
“Those who seceded were…traitors to our country,” Walton said. “To have a monument that honors that is honoring the institution of slavery. It’s honoring terrorism on this land.”
East Valley NAACP President Tatem agreed, saying Arizona “would not tolerate…any commemoration of terrorists in this day and time, so we should not acknowledge and commemorate or deify the Confederate soldiers.”
He said he would consider compromising on the Battle of Picacho Pass monument, erected at Picacho Peak State Park to mark the westernmost battle in the Civil War, after further review of the “historical record.”
“But…to have Jefferson Davis’ name on a public highway here in Arizona is an absolute insult,” he said. “We the NAACP — and the multiple organizations that stand with us — will fight this until we see those names removed from public spaces.”