California Democrats called on the Orange County Board of Supervisors this week to change the name of John Wayne Airport and remove all likeness of Wayne, including his statue, in the international airport due to "racist and bigoted" statements made by the actor in the past.

First reported by Los Angeles Times, Democratic Party of Orange County filed an emergency resolution Friday calling for the reversal of the 1979 decision to rename it after Duke and restoring the original name of the airport: Orange County Airport.

The resolution also noted that compared to 1979, when Orange County Airport was given the name John Wayne Airport, the county had become much more diverse.

It resolution also cited remarks made by the actor in a 1971 interview with Playboy magazine where he said he believes in white supremacy until Blacks are "educated to a point of responsibility.

"I don't believe in giving authority and positions of leadership and judgment to irresponsible people," Wayne said in the interview. At another point in the interview, he also said he did not feel "guilty about the fact that five or 10 generations ago these people were slaves."

He also left comments about lack of remorse over subjugation of Native Americans.

"I don't feel we did wrong in taking this great country away from them," he said, pointing out that people needed land and Indians were "selfishly trying to keep it for themselves."

The magazine article included statements of Wayne, who was then in his 60s, for numerous controversial topics such as race and the state of Hollywood.

In the resolution, as reported by New York Post, the Democratic Party of Orange County said there have been numerous calls to drop John Wayne from the airport's name since the comments resurfaced on social media "because of Wayne's white supremacist, anti-LGBT, and anti-Indigenous views."

The latest push came with a movement for monuments, building, and institutions named after people deemed to have committed racist acts be torn down or renamed.

Ada Briceño, chair of the Democratic Party, said they are "putting [their] name and [their] backing into this to make sure there is a name change," reported LA Times.

She believed the changing demographics and the protests that followed the death of Geoge Floyd prompted the renaming.

In a report from Fox News, Briceño said theses efforts are part of a national movement to remove white supremacy in American institutions, monuments, businesses, nonprofits, sports leagues and teams."

Another report from Fox voiced the response of Wayne's family who said it is unfair to judge the actor for statements from over 50 years ago, when he is no longer around to respond or retract.

The family also hoped American will remember Wayne as a devoted family man and cherished film actor, stressing that they were taught by Wayne to treat all people with respect, regardless of color, ethnicity, or sexual preference.

According to LA Times, Wayne lived a portion of his life in Newport Beach. The iconic 20th century actor died in 1979 and was buried in the city.