In principle that's right. In practice all too often the decisions get made as a kind of 'virtue signalling" on behalf of supposed targets. So there have been cases where Christmas Crib display have been challenged or even removed as offensive to Muslims,

This can even serve to stir up resentment against Muslims. And yet in fact there may have been no indication that such offence is felt, and indeed Muslims may have said they weren't in the least offended.

That's a general point - I'm not implying that in Pittsburgh the removal of the statue would not have reflected the wishes of the local black community.