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La. Justice of the Peace refuses to marry interracial couple. Says children would suffer
I can not believe this is happening in America in 2009. Apparently this judge thinks he has the right to decide who marries who. He should be removed from office immediately far as I'm concerned.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/33332436/ns/us_news-race_and_ethnicity/...
HAMMOND, La. - A Louisiana justice of the peace said he refused to issue a marriage license to an interracial couple out of concern for any children the couple might have.
Keith Bardwell, justice of the peace in Tangipahoa Parish, says it is his experience that most interracial marriages do not last long.
Neither Bardwell nor the couple immediately returned phone calls from The Associated Press. But Bardwell told the Daily Star of Hammond that he was not a racist.
"I do ceremonies for black couples right here in my house," Bardwell said. "My main concern is for the children."
‘I feel the children will later suffer’
Bardwell said he has discussed the topic with blacks and whites, along with witnessing some interracial marriages. He came to the conclusion that most of black society does not readily accept offspring of such relationships, and neither does white society, he said.
"I don't do interracial marriages because I don't want to put children in a situation they didn't bring on themselves," Bardwell said. "In my heart, I feel the children will later suffer."
If he does an interracial marriage for one couple, he must do the same for all, he said.
"I try to treat everyone equally," he said.
Thirty-year-old Beth Humphrey and 32-year-old Terence McKay, both of Hammond, say they will consult the U.S. Justice Department about filing a discrimination complaint.
Humphrey told the newspaper she called Bardwell on Oct. 6 to inquire about getting a marriage license signed. She says Bardwell's wife told her that Bardwell will not sign marriage licenses for interracial couples.
"It is really astonishing and disappointing to see this come up in 2009," said American Civil Liberties Union of Louisiana attorney Katie Schwartzman. "The Supreme Court ruled as far back as 1963 that the government cannot tell people who they can and cannot marry."
‘He knew he was breaking the law’
The ACLU was preparing a letter for the Louisiana Supreme Court, which oversees the state justices of the peace, asking them to investigate Bardwell and see if they can remove him from office, Schwartzman said.
"He knew he was breaking the law, but continued to do it," Schwartzman said.
According to the clerk of court's office, application for a marriage license must be made three days before the ceremony because there is a 72-hour waiting period. The applicants are asked if they have previously been married. If so, they must show how the marriage ended, such as divorce.
Other than that, all they need is a birth certificate and Social Security card.
The license fee is $35, and the license must be signed by a Louisiana minister, justice of the peace or judge. The original is returned to the clerk's office.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/33332436/ns/us_news-race_and_ethnicity/...
HAMMOND, La. - A Louisiana justice of the peace said he refused to issue a marriage license to an interracial couple out of concern for any children the couple might have.
Keith Bardwell, justice of the peace in Tangipahoa Parish, says it is his experience that most interracial marriages do not last long.
Neither Bardwell nor the couple immediately returned phone calls from The Associated Press. But Bardwell told the Daily Star of Hammond that he was not a racist.
"I do ceremonies for black couples right here in my house," Bardwell said. "My main concern is for the children."
‘I feel the children will later suffer’
Bardwell said he has discussed the topic with blacks and whites, along with witnessing some interracial marriages. He came to the conclusion that most of black society does not readily accept offspring of such relationships, and neither does white society, he said.
"I don't do interracial marriages because I don't want to put children in a situation they didn't bring on themselves," Bardwell said. "In my heart, I feel the children will later suffer."
If he does an interracial marriage for one couple, he must do the same for all, he said.
"I try to treat everyone equally," he said.
Thirty-year-old Beth Humphrey and 32-year-old Terence McKay, both of Hammond, say they will consult the U.S. Justice Department about filing a discrimination complaint.
Humphrey told the newspaper she called Bardwell on Oct. 6 to inquire about getting a marriage license signed. She says Bardwell's wife told her that Bardwell will not sign marriage licenses for interracial couples.
"It is really astonishing and disappointing to see this come up in 2009," said American Civil Liberties Union of Louisiana attorney Katie Schwartzman. "The Supreme Court ruled as far back as 1963 that the government cannot tell people who they can and cannot marry."
‘He knew he was breaking the law’
The ACLU was preparing a letter for the Louisiana Supreme Court, which oversees the state justices of the peace, asking them to investigate Bardwell and see if they can remove him from office, Schwartzman said.
"He knew he was breaking the law, but continued to do it," Schwartzman said.
According to the clerk of court's office, application for a marriage license must be made three days before the ceremony because there is a 72-hour waiting period. The applicants are asked if they have previously been married. If so, they must show how the marriage ended, such as divorce.
Other than that, all they need is a birth certificate and Social Security card.
The license fee is $35, and the license must be signed by a Louisiana minister, justice of the peace or judge. The original is returned to the clerk's office.
Views: 27
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by cynthia Hunter on
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The man needs to read the Bible, Moses wife was Black, Aaron his brother and sister in law gave Moses greif over his choice and God made Aaron and his wife leave for a week until they repented.
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Permalink Reply by Mark F on
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I love the line where he says "I try to treat everyone equally". Umm, yeah, about that, you might want to try a little harder.
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no I didnt say that at all man can you guys twist things into something else.what the man did was wrong no matter where your from as far as I;m concerned.
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Permalink Reply by Mark F Lamb on
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Cynthia,
In the penultimate paragraph I tried to use "argumentably". I was refused. I looked it up and discovered that although used by many educated speakers and used in a variety of high tech articles that Arumentably is not a word. The proper word is "arguably." I suspect that is because "argue" is a verb and "argument" is a noun. Big deal. Big deal! I say when so many elitist use a word the very least Mr Oxford and Mr Webster could include the word "argumentalby" as an accepted slang. But since I have always been lousy in learning and using English I probably should shut my mouth. (Yes, I know, I should shut my mouth when it comes to discussing politics and religion.
I am not understanding the venom behind the criticism of your Biblical entry. But I thought the rest of the story went: "God says not a critical word against Moses for marrying a black Cushite woman. But when Miriam criticizes God’s chosen leader for this marriage God strikes her skin with white leprosy." If you ever thought black was a biblical symbol for uncleanness, be careful; a worse white uncleanness could come upon you.
There are some churches though that take this further, in that Moses was sixty-six and his marriage did not have a sexual relationship. Therefore it was basically a non-marriage and could not be used arguably as an approval by God their having an inter-racial marriage. So why did God strike Marian with white leprosy?
Another thought: Just as there are "tribes" today that believe marrying outside your religion or "tribe" is morally wrong I get the strong impression that belief was basic law of the land back then. -
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PS he has resigned.
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PS he has resigned.
I think his troubles have only just begun.
As for him reading the bible..(and honestly, I'm not trying to start a religious debate, but am geniunely curious), what if the person in question wasn't Christian? What would you suggest then? The Bible isn't the end-all, be-all for everyone in every situation, especially if they aren't Christian. -
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I think they really need to dig into the mans past. what else has he done for the welfare of the children?
True but that is a how I was looking at it , as a christian I look to the Bible for answers.God created all people if He wanted only one race that is what there would have been. -
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To me it is not a question even of the constution, it is what is moraly right and wrong. we all agree at what the JP did was wrong. We judt may be comming to that from different veiws. My only hope is that there arent that many more JP's out there that think like he did.
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But I have a conflict with putting the guy down. What does his church believe. Even among Christians there are many differences of opinions when it comes down to Race or Sexual Orientation. If the church they belong to does not recognize the rights of mixed race couples then wouldn't you agree that the couple has a right to marry but they would have to find a church that will perform the ceremony or get married by an Authorized person of the state. After all you would not expect a Muslim Minister to marry a Jew and a Christian.
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Permalink Reply by Nebs Jima on
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Well, I see Marks' point, all worship places have rights to preach and practice any form of religous and spritual beliefs, however, they should n't be authorized to be parts of the states to legitmize their views of marriage. Thats to say, unless we just trying to split hair to make our arguments valid. The klans have right burn flag any where they want unless it is in the living rooms the people they dislike.
In 2009, after we elected second generation immigrant, who came out of of black and white couple, I didn't think we would have such discussions. Then again, such things are not easily eradicated in short time. What gives me hope and confidence is that when I see many universities, highschools and elementary schools, they are not as poisoned as ours with trivial issues as cues or colors.
I just came back a long trip covering many counties, Dispite all these, this is as best as it gets. This American experiment is a road map to the world how one country strives to the perfect union (country). You have no idea how the world has scared of where America was heading for the last 8 years. Sometimes our system or politics darts of the path but at the end it shows the world the ways. -
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Jac,
You are right. I totally slipped a cog when I did that entry. JP are state officials. The man had no right to not perform. For some reason I forgot that it was a JP and not a minister. It is good to hear he has resigned. As far as I am concerned a public chastisement would suit the crime as what will be gained in any other punishment.
While there are times we sit on opposite sides of issues I applaud you heartily for both your reasoning and your sentimentality regarding DNA and what you would do under the situations mentioned. -
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Permalink Reply by Just-a-Writer on
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Children of a mixed race marriage? Why, they might grow up to be president some day!!
Did that idiot just drop in from 1950? -
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