SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. (AP) — A city council member in suburban Phoenix is drawing criticism from the governor and others after invoking George Floyd’s dying words of “I can’t breathe” during a protest over an order to wear masks to stop the spread of coronavirus.
Scottsdale Councilman Guy Phillips uttered the remark at a protest Wednesday but later insisted the comment was about mandatory masks and not police misconduct. Gov. Doug Ducey, a fellow Republican, said “despicable doesn’t go far enough” in describing the comment.
Phillips told The Arizona Republic in a text that the comment had no connection to Floyd. Phillips argued the mask mandate is not warranted.
