Racist Statements Lead Lawmakers To Reject John Wayne Day

(AP) — What a California lawmaker intended as a benign resolution honoring a late, world-renowned movie icon exploded into an emotional debate over decades-old racist comments. 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. Known as Duke, a nickname he picked up as a boy in Glendale, California, Wayne grew into the star of movies including The Alamo, ''The Green Beret, and True Grit, for which he won an Academy Award, while portraying the gruff, rugged cowboys and brave soldiers who were his stock in trade. Princeton University recently announced that former U.S.