Louisiana JP rejects interracial couple
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| Fri, 10-16-2009 - 11:23am |
Justice of the peace rejects interracial couple
http://www.wlox.com/Global/story.asp?S=11323963
HAMMOND, LA (WAFB) - A Louisiana justice of the peace says he believes interracial marriages are morally wrong and recently refused to perform the ceremony between a black man and white woman.
According to Keith Bardwell of the Tangipahoa Parish eighth ward, it is his right not to marry Beth Humphrey and Terence McKay. According to McKay, the couple had been looking forward to their wedding for a long time. He said he's still in shock that his dream wedding turned into a racial nightmare.
"It's disheartening," he said. "Seriously, it's 2009 and we are still dealing with a form of racism."
According to the Louisiana Judicial Code of Conduct, "A judge shall perform judicial duties without bias or prejudice." When contacted by phone the justice would only say he stands by his decision and it is his right not to marry an interracial couple because he believes it is wrong. According to McKay, Bardwell is saying 99 percent of interracial marriages end up in divorce.
Pat Morris with the Hammond NAACP said she spoke to the organization's national headquarters in Baltimore and is calling for Bardwell to resign. He has been a justice of the peace since 1976 and his current term doesn't expire until Dec. 31, 2014.
After being denied by Bardwell, the couple traveled to Tickfaw and was married by Justice of the Peace Terri Crosby. She said she considers herself performing a privilege given to her by the state of Louisiana. McKay said he will talk with Beth about where they will take their fight, but he has no plans to speak to Bardwell.
"Good luck. I wish him the best. I don't wish him harm, but he was wrong," McKay said.



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Your examples are not comparable.
im not sure why he thinks his personal beliefs matter. i mean, seriously, what if a doctor personally believes that very ill patients should not be recessitated? or what if a person at mcdonalds personally believes you should be on a diet? personal beliefs should not affect the job you do no matter what it is that you do.
i am personally in an interracial marriage and i know some (silly) people dont agree but that's my choice and not the person who provides the contract to sign.
Similair experience but it's to do with age. My DH is quite a bit younger. We had a mutual friend we were pretty close with, go to lunch together & drinks sometimes after work, but when we married you'd have thought she didn't know us. Just celebrated our 28th anniversary in Sept. so
That “I���m not prejudiced; I’m just worried about the children”. garbage has been used by bigots forever.
OK. He is a J.P.. He is going to abide by his duties. He said he would not marry them. He has his reasons. I understand that. He is thinking about the children. In an interracial marriage the children often do have a hard time growing up in this world. People can be or are cruel and in the world today that is bad. He said he was not against them getting married he just was not going to marry them.
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That's the problem. He refused to follow the law with respect to his duties.
celis1000 and also you too, ddnlj:
Exactly.
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