John Wayne was considered "America's cowboy" for many years. But now Democrats in Orange County, California want the airport that's named after the late actor changed, due to his racist and homophobic views and comments.
Some of the racist comments made by Wayne included a 1971 interview with Playboy magazine where he said "I believe in white supremacy until the blacks are educated to a point of responsibility," and "I don't feel guilty that these people were slaves."
Wayne was said to have called Native Americans "selfish" for trying to keep their land from settlers, too. And he also reportedly used a homophobic slur to describe two American actors.
TMZ points out that the airport was named after John Wayne in 1979, which was after the actor's comments were published in Playboy. Wayne would also die that year.
Photo: Getty Images
Calling the late actor's views "racist and bigoted," Orange County Democrats want the John Wayne Airport renamed to the Orange County Airport.
“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.
Read the Democratic Party of Orange County's resolution to remove John Wayne from the Orange County Airport HERE.