California Republican State Assemblyman Matthew Harper proposed a resolution to declare May 26, 2016 as John Wayne Day in California. He got more than he bargained for when many California lawmakers loudly objected due to the fact that John Wayne was a raging, racist asshole: The state Assembly defeated the official ode to John Wayne Thursday after several legislators described statements he made about racial minorities and his support for the anti-communist House Un-American Activities Committee and John Birch Society. He was outwardly racist and homophobic.