Monuments to racial hatred are safe under Ducey

Now would be a good time to take a stand against racism, bigotry and all those who attempt to legitimize it. Actually, it would have been good to take such a stand a long time ago. But now, in the aftermath of the violent neo-Nazi, white supremacist protests in Charlottesville, Virginia, would be a good time. Gov. Doug Ducey had the chance. He’s not taking it. When it comes to symbols of the Confederacy and all that it stood for, he’s willing to talk the talk, but not walk the walk.

Ducey finally came out “categorically, 100 percent condemns these hate groups, the KKK, the Klan, neo-Nazis, white nationalists.”

Adding, “And I just wanted to be absolutely clear on that. I think we’ve got a great place to live here — Arizona is a place where 70 percent of our adult citizens came from somewhere else to call it home. So it’s a very welcoming, inviting place. I want to keep it that way.” Meaning what? He doesn’t want to seem unwelcoming to … bigots?

Back in June, and again this week, African-American leaders in Arizona asked Ducey and legislative leaders to consider removing Confederate monuments in Arizona.

East Valley NAACP spokeswoman Collette Watson said back in June, “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.” There’s one at the state Capitol. I wouldn’t want to remove the monuments erected at battle sites. They exist wherever the Civil War was fought, including here, where there is a marker at Picacho Peak north of Tucson dedicated to Confederate soldiers. They recognize a historic event.

But monuments like the one at the Capitol honor an idea, a belief.

It was erected in 1961 and was meant to send an ugly message to civil-rights activists. To put them in their place.

In other words, these are monuments to hate. They should go. Ducey could be bold and brave and follow the example of Gov. Janet Napolitano, who pushed through the change in name from Squaw Peak to Piestewa Peak in honor of Arizona’s Lori Piestewa, who died a soldier in the Iraq War. But, apparently, he won’t. Ducey told reporters, “It’s not my desire or mission to tear down any monuments or memorials.”

Adding, “We have a public process for this. If the public wants to be engaged in this, I’d invite them to get engaged in it.”

I can understand Ducey’s lack of “desire” to tear down any monuments. It would be a controversial and perhaps politically costly. But as governor, it is his “mission” to lead.

Apparently, he has no desire for that, either.