A monument to Confederate president Jefferson Davis in Arizona has been tarred and feathered.
The marker honoring the Confederacy’s only president was found covered in the black tar and white feathers on Thursday near Gold Canyon, Arizona on the outskirts of Phoenix.
The monument was erected in the 1940s by the United Daughters of the Confederacy.
It comes amid a wave of backlash directed at Confederate monuments and simmering racial tensions nationwide, and is the second defacement of a monument in Arizona this week.
The marker honoring the Confederacy’s only president was found covered in the black tar and white feathers on Thursday near Gold Canyon, Arizona
‘These acts of vandalism are not an appropriate response, and it’s not how we do things in Arizona, Governor Doug Ducey, a Republican, said in a statement.
‘If you have objections to a memorial, then get involved and work through the proper channels. Breaking the law and destroying property isn’t the answer,’ Ducey said.
Arizona State Representative Reginald Bolding, who is black and has been demanding the removal of such monuments, spoke harshly about the vandalism.
‘I think it’s absolutely irresponsible and non-productive. It does absolutely nothing to promote the cause of removing symbols of hate in the state when individuals take matters into their hands and vandalize state property,’ the Democrat told CBS5.
On Thursday, the director of a privately run museum at the estate in Mississippi that was Jefferson Davis’ retirement home offered to take any monuments that cities decided to take down.
Also Thursday, the Confederate Troops Memorial outside the Arizona Capitol in Phoenix was found vandalized with white spray paint, which has since been removed.
The director of a privately run museum at the estate (pictured) in Mississippi that was Jefferson Davis’ retirement home offered to take any monuments that cities decided to take down
In North Carolina, a statue at Duke University depicting Confederate General Robert E. Lee was found defaced with a chisel on Thursday morning.
On Monday, also in Durham, North Carolina, a crowd of protesters toppled and damaged a monument to Confederate soldiers.
Other monuments have been removed lawfully by local governments this week.
President Donald Trump has expressed disapproval for removing the monuments, which he called ‘beautiful’.
‘Sad to see the history and culture of our great country being ripped apart with the removal of our beautiful statues and monuments. You can’t change history, but you can learn from it. Robert E Lee, Stonewall Jackson – who’s next, Washington, Jefferson? So foolish!’ he wrote Thursday in series of tweets.