Interracial couple denied marriage license in Louisiana
inmytree
Posts: 4,741
coo coo Crazy Cooter couldn't bring himself to marry this couple... 
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20091016/ap_ ... ial_rebuff
Interracial couple denied marriage license in La.
By MARY FOSTER, Associated Press Writer Mary Foster, Associated Press Writer Fri Oct 16, 4:50 am ET
NEW ORLEANS – A white 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.
"I'm not a racist. I just don't believe in mixing the races that way," Bardwell told the Associated Press on Thursday. "I have piles and piles of black friends. They come to my home, I marry them, they use my bathroom. I treat them just like everyone else."
Bardwell said he asks everyone who calls about marriage if they are a mixed race couple. If they are, he does not marry them, he said.
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.
"There is a problem with both groups accepting a child from such a marriage," Bardwell said. "I think those children suffer and I won't help put them through it."
If he did an interracial marriage for one couple, he must do the same for all, he said.
"I try to treat everyone equally," he said.
Bardwell estimates that he has refused to marry about four couples during his career, all in the past 2 1/2 years.
Beth Humphrey, 30, and 32-year-old Terence McKay, both of Hammond, say they will consult the U.S. Justice Department about filing a discrimination complaint.
Humphrey, an account manager for a marketing firm, said she and McKay, a welder, just returned to Louisiana. She is white and he is black. She plans to enroll in the University of New Orleans to pursue a masters degree in minority politics.
"That was one thing that made this so unbelievable," she said. "It's not something you expect in this day and age."
Humphrey said 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. Bardwell suggested the couple go to another justice of the peace in the parish who agreed to marry them.
"We are looking forward to having children," Humphrey said. "And all our friends and co-workers have been very supportive. Except for this, we're typical happy newlyweds."
"It is really astonishing and disappointing to see this come up in 2009," said American Civil Liberties Union of Louisiana attorney Katie Schwartzmann. She said the Supreme Court ruled in 1967 "that the government cannot tell people who they can and cannot marry."
The ACLU sent a letter to the Louisiana Judiciary Committee, which oversees the state justices of the peace, asking them to investigate Bardwell and recommending "the most severe sanctions available, because such blatant bigotry poses a substantial threat of serious harm to the administration of justice."
"He knew he was breaking the law, but continued to do it," Schwartzmann 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.
"I've been a justice of the peace for 34 years and I don't think I've mistreated anybody," Bardwell said. "I've made some mistakes, but you have too. I didn't tell this couple they couldn't get married. I just told them I wouldn't do it."
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20091016/ap_ ... ial_rebuff
Interracial couple denied marriage license in La.
By MARY FOSTER, Associated Press Writer Mary Foster, Associated Press Writer Fri Oct 16, 4:50 am ET
NEW ORLEANS – A white 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.
"I'm not a racist. I just don't believe in mixing the races that way," Bardwell told the Associated Press on Thursday. "I have piles and piles of black friends. They come to my home, I marry them, they use my bathroom. I treat them just like everyone else."
Bardwell said he asks everyone who calls about marriage if they are a mixed race couple. If they are, he does not marry them, he said.
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.
"There is a problem with both groups accepting a child from such a marriage," Bardwell said. "I think those children suffer and I won't help put them through it."
If he did an interracial marriage for one couple, he must do the same for all, he said.
"I try to treat everyone equally," he said.
Bardwell estimates that he has refused to marry about four couples during his career, all in the past 2 1/2 years.
Beth Humphrey, 30, and 32-year-old Terence McKay, both of Hammond, say they will consult the U.S. Justice Department about filing a discrimination complaint.
Humphrey, an account manager for a marketing firm, said she and McKay, a welder, just returned to Louisiana. She is white and he is black. She plans to enroll in the University of New Orleans to pursue a masters degree in minority politics.
"That was one thing that made this so unbelievable," she said. "It's not something you expect in this day and age."
Humphrey said 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. Bardwell suggested the couple go to another justice of the peace in the parish who agreed to marry them.
"We are looking forward to having children," Humphrey said. "And all our friends and co-workers have been very supportive. Except for this, we're typical happy newlyweds."
"It is really astonishing and disappointing to see this come up in 2009," said American Civil Liberties Union of Louisiana attorney Katie Schwartzmann. She said the Supreme Court ruled in 1967 "that the government cannot tell people who they can and cannot marry."
The ACLU sent a letter to the Louisiana Judiciary Committee, which oversees the state justices of the peace, asking them to investigate Bardwell and recommending "the most severe sanctions available, because such blatant bigotry poses a substantial threat of serious harm to the administration of justice."
"He knew he was breaking the law, but continued to do it," Schwartzmann 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.
"I've been a justice of the peace for 34 years and I don't think I've mistreated anybody," Bardwell said. "I've made some mistakes, but you have too. I didn't tell this couple they couldn't get married. I just told them I wouldn't do it."
Post edited by Unknown User on
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Comments
I hope they get him fired and sue him for everything that he has.
Maybe because there are people like you out there, Bardwell...
was like a picture
of a sunny day
“We can complain because rose bushes have thorns, or rejoice because thorn bushes have roses.”
― Abraham Lincoln
that? I bet you would find some white sheets hanging in his closet.
wow is right, where does mr baldwell gets to determine whether a couple's child suffer or not. Some still say race doesn't matter or isn't a factor in this country in this day and age.
Peace
*MUSIC IS the expression of EMOTION.....and that POLITICS IS merely the DECOY of PERCEPTION*
.....song_Music & Politics....Michael Franti
*The scientists of today think deeply instead of clearly. One must be sane to think clearly, but one can think deeply and be quite INSANE*....Nikola Tesla(a man who shaped our world of electricity with his futuristic inventions)
Maybe he'll be interviewed about this and break out into a "won't somebody please think of the children?" moment
was like a picture
of a sunny day
“We can complain because rose bushes have thorns, or rejoice because thorn bushes have roses.”
― Abraham Lincoln
Puh-lease!
Wembley 18/06/07
If there was a reason, it was you.
O2 Arena 18/09/09
what?!?! people can't have sex unless they are married. God wants us to have a piece of paper promising an emotion for eternity before we can fornicate.
Seriously, I'd call this guy an asshole, but that's an insult to the assholes.
I treat them just like everyone else, I just won't let them get married to white people...
what an ass
was like a picture
of a sunny day
“We can complain because rose bushes have thorns, or rejoice because thorn bushes have roses.”
― Abraham Lincoln
What race is Mr. Bardwell ?
Not saying Bardwell was right...he could be right about the kids
I have seen a few documentaries were bi-racial teenagers were interviewed and told their stories of growing up bi-racial (white and black). They did talk about how they had not felt connected to either race do to the fact neither race seemed to want to accept them. Only if they were prominently white or prominently black would they be accepted in one or the other groups.
White, according to the first line of the article posted above.
Even if he has that belief, what fucking authority does a JP have to decide that a biracial couple can't be married because he feels that way?
was like a picture
of a sunny day
“We can complain because rose bushes have thorns, or rejoice because thorn bushes have roses.”
― Abraham Lincoln
you're kidding right...?
could you share the information on these "documentaries"...?
it seems odd to me that people who seem to have a "conservative" or "republican" outlook end up supporting things like eugenics. I attribute that to the whole Rush/Beck/Ann Coulter/Wilsonian Idealism movement... because that sure as hell isn't part of traditional conservatism.
I have nothing against being biracial. I taught my kids to see no color.
My son had a thing for Black and Asian girls when he was a teen. Now that I think about it...does that make him raciest that he did not want to date a white girl? Maybe the raciest word gets thrown around too easily. Throwing that word around lately seems to be doing more harm than good and does not help blur the lines of racism.
Because I am white, my ancestors are accused of being slave owners...what’s up with that? Isn’t that prejudice?
this is not the one I saw on tv....it's been along time
http://www.eurthisnthat.com/2009/07/22/ ... k-damn-it/
if your son hooks up with a black/asian girl, would you worry about your grandchildren...?
and what's with the random "Because I am white, my ancestors are accused of being slave owners...what’s up with that? Isn’t that prejudice?"
where did that come from....?
That caught me off guard too? wtf? I'm white and my ancestors have never been accused of being slave owners.
was like a picture
of a sunny day
“We can complain because rose bushes have thorns, or rejoice because thorn bushes have roses.”
― Abraham Lincoln
and what's with the random "Because I am white, my ancestors are accused of being slave owners...what’s up with that? Isn’t that prejudice?"
I would not worry about there color...my worries would come from them trying to put a label on them selves.....which the only label should be human, intelligent, ethical, mannerly, charitable...with these traits how can the color of your skin matter?.
and what's with the random "Because I am white, my ancestors are accused of being slave owners...what’s up with that? Isn’t that prejudice?"
where did that come from....?[/quote]
A point to show how anyone can claim racism on a whim. Or is it for attention, is it an easy out?.....I just don’t get it......
I agree that the term is used too much these days, but I don't get why you are bring that issue up in a thread about a guy who is clearly a racist... how can anyone say that they "just don't believe in mixing the races that way" and not be some sort of racist?
was like a picture
of a sunny day
“We can complain because rose bushes have thorns, or rejoice because thorn bushes have roses.”
― Abraham Lincoln
If you think this is just some couple crying racist with no foundation, you have serious problems. I haven't seen a more clear cut example of racism before.
Why the label raciest? He was not hating on anyone because of their skin color . He is clearly concerned for the children of mixed couples. It’s not his fault people need to label themselves. If people would teach their children to be kind to others, be the better person, etc. and stop dwelling on skin color, we could all get along!
Excuse me but what planet are from? So I gather you really believe ALL he's concerned about is the children of mixed couples? Get real how does he even know this couple or ANY other mixed couple can even have children? He's making an assumption then, to further his ideals and that to me that is more about not having mixed couples get married. He's fine with someone else getting them married (JUST NOT HIM) so what does that tell the kind of man he really is?
Peace
*MUSIC IS the expression of EMOTION.....and that POLITICS IS merely the DECOY of PERCEPTION*
.....song_Music & Politics....Michael Franti
*The scientists of today think deeply instead of clearly. One must be sane to think clearly, but one can think deeply and be quite INSANE*....Nikola Tesla(a man who shaped our world of electricity with his futuristic inventions)
un-fucking-believable.
yes he is hating on someone for there skin color...and he's hating on mixed race children...just because he looks down on it, doesn't mean everyone does...also, how does this fuckhead, a.k.a. Mr. Bardwell, know this couple will have children...?
this justification for his action is just plain stupid...
Why the label raciest? He was not hating on anyone because of their skin color . He is clearly concerned for the children of mixed couples. It’s not his fault people need to label themselves. If people would teach their children to be kind to others, be the better person, etc. and stop dwelling on skin color, we could all get along![/quote]
yes he is hating on someone for there skin color...and he's hating on mixed race children...just because he looks down on it, doesn't mean everyone does...also, how does this fuckhead, a.k.a. Mr. Bardwell, know this couple will have children...?
this justification for his action is just plain stupid...[/quote]
He is afraid of how others will treat the kids.
I wonder how old he is...he maybe just stuck in his ways, like my mother 89 she still uses the N word. She says she doesn't mean it in a derogatory way. You see way back that is what all blacks were called (in Va.). I'm like mom it is not a nice thing to say in fact you just can't say that no matter how you mean it. She really does not understand why. Hey I don’t get her sometimes.
I was very rebellious in my youth.... anything adults said was wrong . . . so in the long run her prejudice made me hate prejudices. You can’t change old people.
your grandma is not a public office holder denying US citizens their rights. he doesn't give a damn about the kids, that's just a lame justification for his racism. if he is, why doesn't he ask about their religion? will the catholic family except the offspring of a jewish-catholic marriage? or how about economics? if a rich person marries poor, that's going to lead to a lot of tension and it might be bad for the kid. maybe we should see if the couple is ugly... becos then the kid will be and we know other kids are going to make fun of him.
this has nothing to do with the well-being of the kids, this is purely the guys belief that the races shouldn't be mixing.
Just when I thought this couldn't get any worse. Let me get something straight, do you think that Mr Bardwell is thinking that when a mixed couple has a child or children they somehow all turn out to be albino? This is the only way possible I can think of that he seems to think he's THAT concerned about how a mixed couple's child or children are going to turn out. Geez
Do you allow your children to be around your mother much cause you can see the possible consequences if you do right?
Peace
*MUSIC IS the expression of EMOTION.....and that POLITICS IS merely the DECOY of PERCEPTION*
.....song_Music & Politics....Michael Franti
*The scientists of today think deeply instead of clearly. One must be sane to think clearly, but one can think deeply and be quite INSANE*....Nikola Tesla(a man who shaped our world of electricity with his futuristic inventions)