LA Justice Still Refuses To Wed Interracial Couples
LA Justice Still Refuses To Wed Interracial Couples because it would be against his better judgment…
A justice of the peace in Louisiana who has drawn criticism throughout America, for refusing to issue a marriage license to an interracial couple says he has no regrets about his personal decision.
Justice of the Peace, Keith Bardwell says he has no regrets for denying a marriage license to an interracial couple because because he was concerned for the children who might be born of the relationship and that, in his experience, most interracial marriages don’t last.
Now, isn’t that ducky and the lamest excuse you have ever heard for racism? As a Baby Boomer, I went through the whole issue of racism. Especially, living in the south. From water coolers and buses that had black and white lines, seats and water fountains to forced segregation to now…JOP who refuse to marry interracial couples.
This JOP might as well have a sign outside for whites and interracial marriages…the do’s and do nots of who can get married.
I feel bad for JOP Keith Bardwell he is an ill man, you can tell by looking at him. So, he has nothing to lose by sticking by his guns, except to continue racism at it’s peak and bring national acclaim to the fact that there are still good ole’ boys still out there that can still make a difference.
Keith Bardwell states, “It’s kind of hard to apologize for something that you really and truly feel down in your heart you haven’t done wrong.”
LA Justice Still Refuses To Wed Interracial Couples…but to refresh your memory, Keith Bardwell, is a justice of the peace for Tangipahoa Parish’s 8th Ward, refused to issue a marriage license to Beth Humphrey, 30, and her fiance, Terence McKay, 32, both of Hammond, LA.
JOP Bardwell’s actions are not setting too good with some top officials, including Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal, who has called for Bardwell’s dismissal.
Gov. Jindal’s comment was, “This is a clear violation of constitutional rights and federal and state law. … disciplinary action should be taken immediately — including the revoking of his license.”
Bardwell states, “I’m not a racist. I do ceremonies for black couples right here in my house. My main concern is for the children. Bardwell, stresses the fact that he couldn’t personally endorse the marriage and that his wife referred the couple to another justice of the peace.
Not to be waylaid, Beth Humphrey and Terence McKay received their marriage license October 9th, 2009, from another justice of the peace in the same parish and they have reached out to an attorney to determine their next step for legal action.
“We would like him to resign,” Beth McKay stated. “He doesn’t believe he’s being racist, but it is racist.”
The National Urban League called for an investigation into the incident by the U.S. Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division, stating in a statement that Bardwell’s actions were “a huge step backward in social justice.”
This racist act occurred in Tangipahoa Parish, who statistics are about 70 percent white and 30 percent black.
In 1976, the U.S. Supreme Court tossed out any racially based limitations on marriage in the landmark case, Loving vs. Virginia case. In the unanimous decision, the court stated that, “Under our Constitution, the freedom to marry, or not marry, a person of another race resides with the individual and cannot be infringed by the State.”
For the full story of “LA Justice Still Refuses To Wed Interracial Couples,” go to CNN News.
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Interracial Couple Denied Marriage License In Louisiana UPDATE- Interracial Couple Denied Marriage License In Louisiana
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- First New York Couples Wed Under New Same-Sex Marriage Law
- Same Sex Marriage Legalized In Main-Gov. John Baldacci Signs Bill
- Gay Marriages-Same Sex Weddings-Lesbian Marriages
- Bianca Jagger-Human Rights Advocate And Social Rights Campaigner
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I’m not taking this time to say I agree or dis-agree with the LA Justice of the peace on his stand on inter-racial marriage. I would like to know why it’s ok for people in the medical practice to have the right to choose if they will service a person or not on based on the servers religious beliefs which may affect the persons health and well being, but its wrong for the Justice of the Peace to have the same right on a matter that does not affect a persons well being.
I like the statement by Frank Panella Jr. because it echo’s my own dilemma with this. How can we represent ourselves as a free society, when we censure people who have opposing views? Before anyone starts with a civil servant and upholding the law, etc. Please remember that a judge can recuse themselves from trying a case based on very loose guidelines. I do not agree with the justice, but I am not sure that I want to say that he doesn’t have a right as a person to choose his own beliefs.
He has a right to his beliefs but not when he is at work…because they are interfering with the job that he is being paid to do. One of which is to marry people…
Sharon
~The Baby Boomer Queen~
Since Obama became the President of the United States, it is a very obvious understanding and a DENIAL OF THE FACT among ALL Bigot’s that mixed race people have a higher CAPACITY to be UNIVERSALLY ACCEPTED & SUCCEED on both RACIAL SIDES-with American WHITES & BLACKS, than what have been seen among BLACK AMERICANS in the past alone our often SICK SOCIETY.
It’s an obvious fact Mix-Race people transcends more universally than any uni-race ALONE. They fit in very well with Blacks, Latino’s, Whites, etc….
I think one of the unfortunate ways that provides an addition to Blacks Succeeding is their ability to mix races and get the credit for it, because Bigots have always suggested with great ignorance that anyone with 1% of black blood is BLACK…
When I see this couple, I don’t see the guy as Black…He’s not White either. He’s mixed and if he has children with his wife, more than likely they’re going to look 100% WHITE.
This judge has not traveled the world and speaks with the most disgusting TONGUE. I hope he is FIRED just because he thinks ‘his’ right to voice his opinion suggest he should do so in the ‘GREATEST CAPACITY OF HARM & IGNORANCE.
You see, I am a mixed race American of British and Black American origins, born in Louisiana from poverty origins, but now living up North. I grew up not caring about how to Racially or Religiously ‘Fit-In’ with Whites or Blacks. My late Mom always told me to stay involved with people of good values and stay away from those that lack them. Now, I have achieved the status of Doctor and many other accomplishments in this society and as I look around, all my closest friends and family are of many racial backgrounds.
I only wished this Judge and many Bigots elsewhere, could have had the opportunity to see the life I have lived and living.
A man who is in the business of marrying people should know the basic laws involved, and be willing to comply with them. If he’s not willing to comply with them, he should find some other line of work. Racial discrimination of this sort has been clearly illegal for thirty-five years. Maybe in the middle of the last century, people of mixed race may have had a hard time being accepted by both whites and blacks, but President Obama has had phenomenal job approval ratings, and very popular Miss USA 2007 Rachel Smith had a black father and a white mother.
KLM asked: “How can we represent ourselves as a free society, when we censure people who have opposing views?”
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You do realize the difference between “opposing views” and “unlawful ACTIONS”, right? This guy broke the law. It’s pretty sad how people try to slyly defend scumbags as victims of persecution when they get in trouble for ignoring the laws. Do you secretly sympathize with his position on interracial marriage?
How selfish people are not to care about the real victims, the children. This country is filled with millions of unwanted children in both orphanages and single parent homes. They are products of both black and white women more recently white women and white female children who have been turned into breeding slaves by our society in an effort to resolve this countries racial divide. Obama made the statement that children shouldn’t be having children. No one was listening. No one read Bill Cosby’s book, which would be typical in a country that can’t read. We’ve simply created a nation of breeding slaves and fatherless children. Why don’t people go all the way and accuse Bill Cosby and Obama of racism!
We are so focused on accusing people of racism at the expense of the children. These same accusing people hide behind their own fears of being called a racist. It’s as if we’ve become a nation of inverted Nazi’s, pointing fingers at those who are against their programmed sick values.
No matter what the laws are, they should be ever evolving to protect the victims not the attackers.
opinion, believes conviction, judgement and how one feels in his or her heart? i agree with KLM post in a justice can recuse him or her self from a case at any time? this judge refuse to marry a couple because of racial differences in couple? now with that said” it’s like asking a priest to wed man to man and she with she and refuses argument? because this is where it’s heading for you better believe that? results refuse to this act go to jail or lose your license judge or priest? strong arm goverment oversight because of civil rights? LIKE goverment run health care you pay” or you get fined or go to jail? gun rights you turn them in or else next? civil rights but not same rights for whites like hate crimes FAIR white people argument newnation.org? i can name quite a few hate crimes on whites that are nothing but hate because of their color” children handicaps a whole list of neglect in this civil rights argument? like jena six blacks on one white clue louisiana? where is out cry over this injustice? illegal alien immigration being given privileges and rights that only U.S. americans citizens have legal rights too? it’s our rights to enjoy period protects U.S.? but over being look see? point is illegal alien have no legal rights to give a legal argument to period their illegal counterfeit? entered illegally our nation” not welcomed in? argument !!! where? america everyone has a right to his or her opinion conclusion to refuse excuse themselfs it’s called (FREEDOM!) AMEN.
I am still amazed at the bigotry and irgnorance of the Bardwell’s and his ilk. Especially the long winded poster in his defense of freedom. What a crock and talk about whose smarter than a fifth grader. A justice of peace job and oath is to uphold the law and constitution and 14th amendment to the consitution is your right to marry. Damn you people are dumb ass fuck…Bardwell, should be more concern about you people having children. Of course everyone has a right to their opinion but since you took an oath to defend the consitution, you certainly cannot be the one to violate others constitutions rights. But then again, I believe you people know that…I mean no one could be this obtuse unless it is on purpose
I propose a law that makes every interracial couple adopt an interracial child before marriage. That way we can reduce the number of unwanted interracial children dumped into the orphanages.
@Michael Wong; I simply pointed out the fact that while a judge has the responsibility to recuse themselves from a case where their presence might lend to the appearance of prejudicial review, they also have the right to recuse themselves from cases where it goes against or offends their personal and ethical beliefs. If this is the case; then why is the situation different for a justice of the peace???
So far no one has cited a single law that has been broken, if he had broken a law, then the Governor could easily have him removed. That is yet to happen. As for the argument the governor used as to constitutional rights, I see no where that he denied them the right to marry, he simply refused on personal grounds to do so himself. Since when did having personal beliefs become a crime???
Further to answer your implication; No I do not share his views on interracial marriage. However, I unlike you, feel that everyone has the right to their own beliefs, and should not have someone else’s shoved down their throat, no matter how just seeming the cause.
Armchair Lawyers / Poster; you might also want to read the followup article on this. It states that the justice of the peace may as part of his duties perform marriage ceremonies, but there is no requirement to do so. No laws were broken, as I tried to state before. Seems like the armchair lawyers, need a refresher in the actual law. Might also want to brush up on constitutional rights how they are applied and when they can be enforced as a method of censure.
You know I do agree with him whole heartedly because there are problems that can develope with this that people don’t even want to discuss and it is time it has been discussed.
I don’t know if people on this site remember Walter Payton or not but he was black/white and he died because of that situation he needed a tranplant and they couldn’t find anyone with the correct blood type to save him.
Both the white and black people have serious blood disorders that could cause death and if they can’t be helped because of the mixture of blood they will die.
For the most part these children don’t fit in the black society or the white society and you know how cruel people can be. Those are just a few things that I can think of so that is why I agree with him whole heartly.
We’re a bunch pissed off egotistical ego maniacs, especially when we do NOT get our way!
And that is what this is about! Nothing more nothing less.
This white “woman”, ugly as she is, was rejected, JUST LIKE the others before her, so instead of simply moving to a different county/parish, she decides to make a case about this.
There WERE other couples that were of mixed race, prior to this “couple” that were refused and yet this is the first time anyone has complained. The woman is butt ugly and I see why only blacks would want her, she was probably more pissed off because the Justice of the peace was white as well and she’s been rejected and thrown away like trash from whites and she’s used to it so she wanted revenge.
WHY NOT JUST MOVE THE REQUEST to another location? Because SHE HAS THE RIGHT? STFU No one else complained, NO ONE else called off their marriage.
HOWEVER, if the Justice of the peace, is bound by law, like the equal housing laws, NOT to discriminate against, race, then the Peace official should be bound by law, not their own law, however, I am certain they and/or he declined other marriage requests and none caused this much of a stink.
Call me racist is you want, but I think this is more about a woman’s scorn then what is right and wrong. Bottom line is this: 52% of all marriages fail and this one between the ugly white woman and the black man, statistically speaking anyway, will terminate and the woman will realize what most already know: She is temporary and everyone has likes and dislikes and if someone dislikes a black anything, is that really racism or just a dislike, but as a “public official” if the law is the justice cannot simply decline a license based on race, then this particular justice should have been removed a long time ago, but then again, no one else ever complained they just applied elsewhere.
KILL WHITIE, lol