In a statement on Tuesday, Scottsdale Councilman Guy Phillips said he won’t resign his seat, but apologized to the public.
Phillips is facing backlash after hosting an anti-mask rally last week during which he said “I can’t breathe” to the crowd. The final words spoken by George Floyd before he died at the hands of Minneapolis police.
“It wasn’t until a couple hours later when I was informed that a reporter used that phrase to call me a racist that I realized the gravity of my comment," said Phillips. "I knew then I had unwittingly created a controversy that I couldn’t erase. I take full responsibility for that mistake.”
His response comes after several state officials, including Gov. Doug Ducey, condemning Phillips’ comments.
A petition was also created to call for his resignation. It currently has over 2,000 signatures, but the councilman said if voters want him to go, the primaries begin in eight days.
