From CNN
NEW ORLEANS, Louisiana (CNN) -- A justice of the peace in Louisiana who has drawn widespread criticism for refusing to issue a marriage license to an interracial couple says he has no regrets about his decision.
Keith Bardwell says he has no regrets for denying a marriage license to an interracial couple. "It's kind of hard to apologize for something that you really and truly feel down in your heart you haven't done wrong," Keith Bardwell told CNN affiliate WAFB on Saturday.
Bardwell, a justice of the peace for Tangipahoa Parish's 8th Ward, refused to issue a marriage license to Beth Humphrey, 30, and her boyfriend, Terence McKay, 32, both of Hammond. Bardwell's actions have elicited reactions from some top officials, including Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal, who called for Bardwell's dismissal. "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," the Republican governor said Friday.
Bardwell told Hammond's Daily Star in a story Thursday that he did not marry the couple 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. "I'm not a racist," Bardwell told the newspaper. "I do ceremonies for black couples right here in my house. My main concern is for the children." Bardwell, stressing that he couldn't personally endorse the marriage, said his wife referred the couple to another justice of the peace.
Humphrey and McKay received their marriage license October 9 from another justice of the peace in the same parish. They have reached out to an attorney to determine their next step, Humphrey said. "We would like him to resign," Beth McKay said. "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, saying in a statement that Bardwell's actions were "a huge step backward in social justice."
The U.S. Supreme Court tossed out any racially-based limitations on marriage in the landmark 1967 Loving v. Virginia case. In the unanimous decision, the court said 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."
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I think that the couple should have went to talk to Bardwell when they were planning on getting married to make sure that everything was okay. If they would have done this then they would of known that he didn't want to marry them because of their races and this wouldn't have been such a big issue. They could of found someone else to marry them. Also I think that Bardwell should have married them no matter what their race is because it's not really affecting him as a person..if they want to get married nobody should try to stop them.
ReplyDeleteI completly agree with hayden.They should have discussed it before they just made an appointment.I do thnk it is wrong that he did it but he has the power to say no and not marry them thats why you should check things before you just jump in to it.The other thing he most likely destroied his reputation by denieing them to be married because the whole country knows and im prety sure they are not to happy with him.
ReplyDeleteI think what Bardwell did wasn't right because, just cause one person is black and one is white doesn't mean he can't marry them . Like he said, he has married black couples and gave them a marrige license before, whats the difference ? It's completely "their" choice . I Know he isn't racist but race doesn't matter .
ReplyDeleteBardwell doesn't have right to refuse to issue a marrage license to them, an interracial couple. He is saying that he just has been concerned for the children who might be borne by the interracial couple, but that is what they would determine and might be already discussed and considered by them.
ReplyDeleteFor that reason, what he's saying just sounds forward to me.
-Edan Uhm
I think it was wrong that Bardwell didn't give the interracial couple a marriage license. It is the couples choice to be a couple. I also agree with Hayden, they should of went to Bardwell before hand and made sure it was all ok with him. But it is also not Bardwell decision if they should get married or not.
ReplyDeleteI also agree with Hayden and Chris, they should have discussed it with Bardwell on whether they should marry. It also should be the peoples decision to marry another race. It doesn't matter if the marriage will last cause there are plenty of divorces that go on with white marraiges and black marraiges. That shouldn't be a concern for Bardwell.
ReplyDeleteIn my opinion this priest made a huge mistake. I agree with the other students, that’s only their own choice if they want to be together or not. They are aware that they are a different race, but it does not matter to them. Bardwell thought about children? What could be a problem about children? Even, if there are a lot of interracial couples who breaks up after a while, that is exactly the same risk like with any other marriage. He can’t be sure that a white couple who are together won’t change their mind after a few years. It doesn’t depend on race, if the couple will be happy together. Now divorces are rampant, and of course that isn’t good for anybody, but one priest can’t change all of them. I’m not sure if he is or isn’t a racist, but I think that his point of view isn’t right.
ReplyDeleteI think that the decision of the justice of peace is totally wrong and makes absolutly no sense.
ReplyDeleteThe way he reacted is more than just being disrespectful. I think it is a totally racist decision. Even though he gives a reason for his decision, it is absolutly ridiculous. His reason makes absolutly no sense to me.
Even he doubts that he is a racist, I think he is.
I think what he did was very wrong.. how is he suppose to know what the children are gunna be like or are what kind of family they are gunna grow up in.if they want to get married then that is their choice and even if he wont marry them doesnt mean that they wont get married by someone else or that they wont have kids even if they arent married!
ReplyDelete-courtney
I think that Bardwell was extremely wrong in denying this couple a marriage license. He has no idea what's going to happen to their children if they are even going to have any. It shouldn't matter that they're an interracial couple because other couples get divorces all the time and he doesn't stop them from getting married.
ReplyDeletei think what bardwell did was totally wrong. just cause one person was black and one was white doesnt mean that they shouldnt be able to get married. i mean its really up to them isnt it? if a person wants to marry another that choice should be up to them. no one should be able to tell you who you can and cant marry.
ReplyDeleteI thing that Bardwell should not have denied the right to an interacial couple's marriage license. That's going against part of our freedom as Americans. And with the rate of divorce so high in America already then why not, he doesn't know for sure what will happen and if they will even devorce.
ReplyDelete