Rename John Wayne Airport because of actor’s racist comments, California Democrats say

A Southern California airport honoring actor John Wayne should be renamed, a resolution by the Orange County Democratic Party says.

The resolution calls for the Santa Ana airport to revert to its former name, Orange County Airport, and also seeks removal of Wayne’s statue over his “racist and bigoted comments.”

The resolution cites comments made by Wayne in a 1971 Playboy interview, in which he said, “I believe in white supremacy” and made other offensive comments.

“There have been past efforts to get this done and now we’re putting our name and our backing into this to make sure there is a name change,” said Ada Briceño, chair of the Democratic Party of Orange County, according to the Los Angeles Times.

Wayne, who won an Academy Award for “True Grit,” died in 1979. He was one of the most popular actors of the 20th century.

“I believe in white supremacy until the blacks are educated to a point of responsibility,” Wayne said in a 1971 Playboy interview. Newsweek reported.

“I don’t feel guilty about the fact that five or 10 generations ago these people were slaves,” Wayne added, calling it “just a fact of life,” according to the publication.

He also said white settlers had a right to push indigenous people off their land because “the Indians were selfishly trying to keep it for themselves,” Newsweek reported.

Wayne used a homphobic slur in the interview while discussing the film “Midnight Cowboy,” according to the Los Angeles Times.

The resolution cites the “national movement to remove white supremacist symbols and names” amid protests over prejudice and police brutality.

It also argues that Orange County has become far more diverse than when the airport was renamed for John Wayne.

“Who wants to be tied to white supremacy?” Briceño said, the Los Angeles Times reported.

National protests erupted after video emerged of a Minneapolis police officer kneeling on George Floyd’s neck as he begged for air during his May 25 arrest on suspicion of fraud.

Floyd, a Black man, later died. Officer Derek Chauvin, who is white, and three other officers have been fired and charged in his death.

This story was originally published June 28, 2020 at 8:55 AM with the headline "Rename John Wayne Airport because of actor’s racist comments, California Democrats say."