A Jazz Musician Stands Up to a Name Change

The Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts is in a legal battle with a jazz musician. Chuck Redd canceled his annual Christmas Eve concert. He did this to protest the center's new name. The center is now called the Trump-Kennedy Center. Richard Grenell is the president of the Kennedy Center. He sent a letter to Chuck Redd. He accused Redd of bullying. Grenell said Redd's decision was costly to the center. He threatened to sue Redd for $1 million.Redd has hosted the concert for nearly 20 years. He decided not to perform this year. The board of trustees changed the name. They are all appointed by President Trump. The Kennedy Center was once governed by a bipartisan board. Trump replaced the Democratic appointees. He also hosted the Kennedy Center Honors this month. The center's name was changed six days before Christmas. The renaming has caused controversy. Representative Joyce Beatty sued the center. She said an act of Congress is needed to change the name. The center was designated as a memorial to JFK in 1964.