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Kurland: Phillips’ comments do not represent Scottsdale community

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Scottsdale Councilman Guy Phillips made abhorrent comments yesterday at a rally he helped organize, quipping the words “I can’t breathe” to mock the utterances of black men who died in fear, murdered.

He did this to diminish their pain and the pain of the black community while smirking as he referred to his victimhood as someone living under a community mask requirement during a pandemic.

Even though Phillips and I disagree on many things, I was scheduled to dialogue with him on a daily video segment I host connecting members of the community with different voices. I am always happy to engage in civil debates and conversations, but I won’t tolerate or elevate bigotry. I immediately terminated the segment on hearing his words.

Scottsdale is truly a beautiful place full of wonderful people, and yet again our image across the country, and the world, is being tarnished by people we’ve elected to office. It wasn’t that long ago that our state Rep. Jay Lawrence was making national news for his ignorance, which he’s redoubled many times, even going so far as to call himself a bigot.

For a city that thrives on hosting the world, we cannot continue to be represented by such divisive politicians. Every year millions pour into Scottsdale to watch spring training, run marathons, play golf, attend conferences, enjoy fine dining, and so much more in our wonderful community.

If you are reading this from other parts of Arizona, other parts of America, or anywhere else in the world, I ask you to please don’t be turned away by these few people, these men who embrace prejudice and make it part of their platform.

Scottsdale is a vibrant community with amazing weather, with wonderful shops and restaurants. So many people here care about each other, they look after their neighbors, they work to make this city a better place for everyone.

Please see us and not just the most visible, the loud disasters that make so much noise they drown those of us out who are busy healing divisions and working towards a better future.

If you’re an organization or a company that plans large events and has come to or considered Scottsdale as a place to host your conference, I hope you continue to.

Many of you had issued public statements in support of the Black Lives Matter movement and coming to a city like ours with such vocal bigots in leadership positions could be challenging optics to have to navigate. Know that they are a minority here. We are working to vote them out since they lack the dignity to resign.

Phillips and his statements are being criticized from people across the political spectrum. Everyone from Gov. Doug Ducey and Sen. Martha McSally to Mayor Jim Lane and community activists. He’s being called out by Republicans and Democrats, liberals and conservatives. He even issued an apology statement, although it was incredibly mild and skipped over the offensiveness to the community at large.

So yes, we do have people like Phillips who will try to shoot off a dog whistle through a mask, but he is the tiny bigot among us fighting for attention. From here forward we should all remember his words but never give him a platform again. His beliefs and language do not represent us, so we need to ensure he never represents us again.

Editor’s Note: Eric Kurland is seeking election to Arizona’s House of Representatives for Legislative District 23.