Interracial couple denied marriage license in Louisiana
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La. official quits after interracial marriage flap
He refused to marry a couple because bride was white, groom was black
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/33609707/ns ... ethnicity/
updated 8:07 p.m. CT, Tues., Nov . 3, 2009
BATON ROUGE, La. - A Louisiana justice of the peace who refuses to marry interracial couples resigned Tuesday, after weeks of calls for his ouster from civil rights groups and several public officials, including the governor.
Keith Bardwell quit with a one-sentence statement to Louisiana Secretary of State Jay Dardenne: "I do hereby resign the office of Justice of the Peace for the Eighth Ward of Tangipahoa Parish, Louisiana, effective November 3, 2009."
Gov. Bobby Jindal called Bardwell's resignation "long overdue."
Beth Humphrey, who is white, has said she and her now-husband, Terence McKay, who is black, received their marriage license from the parish clerk of court, where they also got a list of people qualified to perform the ceremony. When she called Bardwell's office on Oct. 6 to ask, Humphrey said Bardwell's wife told her that the justice wouldn't sign their marriage license because they were a "mixed couple."
‘I think those children suffer’
When questioned, Bardwell, who is white, acknowledged he routinely avoids marrying interracial couples because he believes children born to them end up suffering. In interviews, he said he refers the couples to other justices of the peace, who then perform the ceremony, which happened in this case.
"There is a problem with both groups accepting a child from such a marriage," Bardwell said in an October interview with The Associated Press. "I think those children suffer, and I won't help put them through it."
Bardwell didn't return repeated calls Tuesday to comment about his resignation, which followed calls for his removal from officials including Jindal and U.S. Sen. Mary Landrieu.
"We're saddened that it took national attention to this issue, which was decided back in 1967 by the Supreme Court, and also that it took public admonishment from other elected leaders in order for him to resign," said Laura Catlett, a lawyer for Humphrey and McKay.
Jindal said Bardwell made the right decision.
"What he did was clearly wrong and this resignation was long overdue," the governor said in a statement.
‘We are better off without him’
Landrieu said Bardwell's refusal to marry the couple reflected terribly on the state.
"By resigning ... and ending his embarrassing tenure in office, Justice Bardwell has finally consented to the will of the vast majority of Louisiana citizens and nearly every governmental official in Louisiana ... We are better off without him in public service," she said.
Humphrey and McKay have filed a federal civil rights lawsuit against Bardwell. Catlett said the resignation won't stop the lawsuit, which also names Bardwell's wife as a defendant.
"This does not in any way change the fact that he, with his wife's help, discriminated against an interracial couple while he was a public official," Catlett said.
Bardwell was elected in 1975 as justice of the peace in Ponchatoula, La., a town 55 miles north of New Orleans. His term was set to run through 2014, and he had said that even before the flap, he hadn't intended to run for re-election.
HAHAHA, thanks for playing Mr. Bardwell.....Buh bye.."You can tell the greatness of a man by what makes him angry." - Lincoln
"Well, you tell him that I don't talk to suckas."0 -
Humphrey and McKay have filed a federal civil rights lawsuit against Bardwell. Catlett said the resignation won't stop the lawsuit, which also names Bardwell's wife as a defendant.
"This does not in any way change the fact that he, with his wife's help, discriminated against an interracial couple while he was a public official," Catlett said.
Bardwell was elected in 1975 as justice of the peace in Ponchatoula, La., a town 55 miles north of New Orleans. His term was set to run through 2014, and he had said that even before the flap, he hadn't intended to run for re-election.
I wonder if those in charge of this JOP knew he was denying couples that were interracial? I also question whether this resignation was due to this impending lawsuit?
Peace*We CAN bomb the World to pieces, but we CAN'T bomb it into PEACE*...Michael Franti
*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)0 -
g under p wrote:Humphrey and McKay have filed a federal civil rights lawsuit against Bardwell. Catlett said the resignation won't stop the lawsuit, which also names Bardwell's wife as a defendant.
"This does not in any way change the fact that he, with his wife's help, discriminated against an interracial couple while he was a public official," Catlett said.
Bardwell was elected in 1975 as justice of the peace in Ponchatoula, La., a town 55 miles north of New Orleans. His term was set to run through 2014, and he had said that even before the flap, he hadn't intended to run for re-election.
I wonder if those in charge of this JOP knew he was denying couples that were interracial? I also question whether this resignation was due to this impending lawsuit?
Peace
does this lawsuit bug anyone else? ... granted i haven't read everything that's going on here but i thought it was just one JP and now he's resigned ... what more do people want ... continuing with the lawsuit just smells of greed and opportunism ... something that is ruining the fabric of society ...0 -
polaris_x wrote:g under p wrote:Humphrey and McKay have filed a federal civil rights lawsuit against Bardwell. Catlett said the resignation won't stop the lawsuit, which also names Bardwell's wife as a defendant.
"This does not in any way change the fact that he, with his wife's help, discriminated against an interracial couple while he was a public official," Catlett said.
Bardwell was elected in 1975 as justice of the peace in Ponchatoula, La., a town 55 miles north of New Orleans. His term was set to run through 2014, and he had said that even before the flap, he hadn't intended to run for re-election.
I wonder if those in charge of this JOP knew he was denying couples that were interracial? I also question whether this resignation was due to this impending lawsuit?
Peace
does this lawsuit bug anyone else? ... granted i haven't read everything that's going on here but i thought it was just one JP and now he's resigned ... what more do people want ... continuing with the lawsuit just smells of greed and opportunism ... something that is ruining the fabric of society ...
I hesitate to get back into this thread, but what the hell......I had actually posted your exact same paragraph (and then deleted it and moved on) saying that while it is a good thing he resigned, why are they still going on with this civil suit? He is gone, his office apologized, isn't that what they wanted? NOPE. They want MONEY! That's what bothers me the most out of all of this. It doesn't seem like it was anything to do with being wronged, it's about being paid for being wronged, which in itself is hypocritical.
So getting a payday will reverse time so this never happened? Gimme a break. The honourable thing to do here is for this group to say "we got what we wanted, and what was right, thank you and goodnight", and fade away into the distance.
Sometimes I think today some groups are just waiting for the politically incorrect mouse to walk by, if for no other reason than for the greedy money-hungry opportunistic cat can pounce on him.Gimli 1993
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polaris_x wrote:g under p wrote:Humphrey and McKay have filed a federal civil rights lawsuit against Bardwell. Catlett said the resignation won't stop the lawsuit, which also names Bardwell's wife as a defendant.
"This does not in any way change the fact that he, with his wife's help, discriminated against an interracial couple while he was a public official," Catlett said.
Bardwell was elected in 1975 as justice of the peace in Ponchatoula, La., a town 55 miles north of New Orleans. His term was set to run through 2014, and he had said that even before the flap, he hadn't intended to run for re-election.
I wonder if those in charge of this JOP knew he was denying couples that were interracial? I also question whether this resignation was due to this impending lawsuit?
Peace
does this lawsuit bug anyone else? ... granted i haven't read everything that's going on here but i thought it was just one JP and now he's resigned ... what more do people want ... continuing with the lawsuit just smells of greed and opportunism ... something that is ruining the fabric of society ...
We on the outside of this case don't know what this couple went through or how it affected them. That said maybe they want to make sure that this doesn't happen again. That's why I asked if the powers that be knew whether he was turning away interracial couples. Those in power that govern that city muust know in one form or another that this kind of discrimination won't be tolerated.
Peace*We CAN bomb the World to pieces, but we CAN'T bomb it into PEACE*...Michael Franti
*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)0 -
g under p wrote:We on the outside of this case don't know what this couple went through or how it affected them. That said maybe they want to make sure that this doesn't happen again. That's why I asked if the powers that be knew whether he was turning away interracial couples. Those in power that govern that city muust know in one form or another that this kind of discrimination won't be tolerated.
Peace
yeah ... but it says the lawsuit is civil against the JP himself ... i suppose if suing someone is there idea of preventing it from happening again ... maybe ... but it doesn't seem right to me ...0 -
polaris_x wrote:g under p wrote:We on the outside of this case don't know what this couple went through or how it affected them. That said maybe they want to make sure that this doesn't happen again. That's why I asked if the powers that be knew whether he was turning away interracial couples. Those in power that govern that city muust know in one form or another that this kind of discrimination won't be tolerated.
Peace
yeah ... but it says the lawsuit is civil against the JP himself ... i suppose if suing someone is there idea of preventing it from happening again ... maybe ... but it doesn't seem right to me ...
This case may get thrown out who knows but the message is sent to the powers that be or to any individuals who may want inflict their ways society should or should not conduct themselves. Basically discrimination is still a suitable offense right? Sad case that this kind of behavior towards people STILL exists in America today.
Peace*We CAN bomb the World to pieces, but we CAN'T bomb it into PEACE*...Michael Franti
*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)0 -
someone gets their feelings hurt and they want to sue. i expect no less. its the american way.
I'll be back0 -
g under p wrote:This case may get thrown out who knows but the message is sent to the powers that be or to any individuals who may want inflict their ways society should or should not conduct themselves. Basically discrimination is still a suitable offense right? Sad case that this kind of behavior towards people STILL exists in America today.
Peace
well ... therein lies the rub ... it appears too many things are sue-worthy ...
at the end of the day - this was one JP abusing his power to support his prejudices vs. an entire organization or entity ... sadly, discrimination occurs on a daily basis around the world and ultimately will not change unless we educate people ... i find lawsuits like this excessive and ultimately counter to progress ...0 -
Everyone is entitled to their opinion about mixed-race marriages, but when a government official abuses his power as this fella is, it is just plain wrong.0
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polaris_x wrote:g under p wrote:This case may get thrown out who knows but the message is sent to the powers that be or to any individuals who may want inflict their ways society should or should not conduct themselves. Basically discrimination is still a suitable offense right? Sad case that this kind of behavior towards people STILL exists in America today.
Peace
well ... therein lies the rub ... it appears too many things are sue-worthy ...
at the end of the day - this was one JP abusing his power to support his prejudices vs. an entire organization or entity ... sadly, discrimination occurs on a daily basis around the world and ultimately will not change unless we educate people ... i find lawsuits like this excessive and ultimately counter to progress ...
the JP violated this couple's right to life, liberty, and property/pursuit of happiness because his personal biases got in the way. i am pretty certain that there is no established legal precedent on the books that states that it is ok to discriminate against a couple and deny them the right to enter into the legal agreement that is marriage based on race. there is no legal precedent that states whites must marry whites, blacks marry blacks, etc. . who knows how many people that this JP denied marriage due to racism and his personal opinions? this could very well become a class action lawsuit if he denied a hundred couples this right. he was in office 20 something years, if he denied 4 couples a year over 25 years, then that is 100 couples. i think this could get pretty ugly, and this couple will take him to the cleaners. but then again it is the south, and racism is pretty much the norm in a lot of states down there so if they can't get a sympathetic jury then they might not get any damages."You can tell the greatness of a man by what makes him angry." - Lincoln
"Well, you tell him that I don't talk to suckas."0 -
gimmesometruth27 wrote:the JP violated this couple's right to life, liberty, and property/pursuit of happiness because his personal biases got in the way. i am pretty certain that there is no established legal precedent on the books that states that it is ok to discriminate against a couple and deny them the right to enter into the legal agreement that is marriage based on race. there is no legal precedent that states whites must marry whites, blacks marry blacks, etc. . who knows how many people that this JP denied marriage due to racism and his personal opinions? this could very well become a class action lawsuit if he denied a hundred couples this right. he was in office 20 something years, if he denied 4 couples a year over 25 years, then that is 100 couples. i think this could get pretty ugly, and this couple will take him to the cleaners. but then again it is the south, and racism is pretty much the norm in a lot of states down there so if they can't get a sympathetic jury then they might not get any damages.
they were denied for 1 day or however long it was to find another ... they were able to marry without hassle - they just had to use someone else ... again - i'm not condoning this behaviour ... simply that the JP has now resigned - what is suing doing?0 -
polaris_x wrote:gimmesometruth27 wrote:the JP violated this couple's right to life, liberty, and property/pursuit of happiness because his personal biases got in the way. i am pretty certain that there is no established legal precedent on the books that states that it is ok to discriminate against a couple and deny them the right to enter into the legal agreement that is marriage based on race. there is no legal precedent that states whites must marry whites, blacks marry blacks, etc. . who knows how many people that this JP denied marriage due to racism and his personal opinions? this could very well become a class action lawsuit if he denied a hundred couples this right. he was in office 20 something years, if he denied 4 couples a year over 25 years, then that is 100 couples. i think this could get pretty ugly, and this couple will take him to the cleaners. but then again it is the south, and racism is pretty much the norm in a lot of states down there so if they can't get a sympathetic jury then they might not get any damages.
they were denied for 1 day or however long it was to find another ... they were able to marry without hassle - they just had to use someone else ... again - i'm not condoning this behaviour ... simply that the JP has now resigned - what is suing doing?
how the hell do i know what suing is doing? i am not them and nobody here can get into their heads and figure it out. i would think it would be them establishing a legal precedent to be used in all future discrimination cases to make sure that this does not happen again anywhere, in louisiana or anywhere in the US. and if it were me i would take that bastard for everything he has. if he discriminates against me and my family and stands in the way of me getting married because he does not like the color of my skin, he is going to pay. simple as that. it is 2009 and this pre 1965 bullshit does not fly anymore. even in the south. how can any of these "freedom loving" folks on here be ok with this infringement on this couple's freedoms?"You can tell the greatness of a man by what makes him angry." - Lincoln
"Well, you tell him that I don't talk to suckas."0 -
gimmesometruth27 wrote:polaris_x wrote:gimmesometruth27 wrote:the JP violated this couple's right to life, liberty, and property/pursuit of happiness because his personal biases got in the way. i am pretty certain that there is no established legal precedent on the books that states that it is ok to discriminate against a couple and deny them the right to enter into the legal agreement that is marriage based on race. there is no legal precedent that states whites must marry whites, blacks marry blacks, etc. . who knows how many people that this JP denied marriage due to racism and his personal opinions? this could very well become a class action lawsuit if he denied a hundred couples this right. he was in office 20 something years, if he denied 4 couples a year over 25 years, then that is 100 couples. i think this could get pretty ugly, and this couple will take him to the cleaners. but then again it is the south, and racism is pretty much the norm in a lot of states down there so if they can't get a sympathetic jury then they might not get any damages.
they were denied for 1 day or however long it was to find another ... they were able to marry without hassle - they just had to use someone else ... again - i'm not condoning this behaviour ... simply that the JP has now resigned - what is suing doing?
how the hell do i know what suing is doing? i am not them and nobody here can get into their heads and figure it out. i would think it would be them establishing a legal precedent to be used in all future discrimination cases to make sure that this does not happen again anywhere, in louisiana or anywhere in the US. and if it were me i would take that bastard for everything he has. if he discriminates against me and my family and stands in the way of me getting married because he does not like the color of my skin, he is going to pay. simple as that. it is 2009 and this pre 1965 bullshit does not fly anymore. even in the south. how can any of these "freedom loving" folks on here be ok with this infringement on this couple's freedoms?
if setting a legal precedent is all they really want, they'd sue him for a dollar plus lawyer fees. I don't know what amount they are suing for, but I bet it ain't peanuts.
I just don't get the relation between someone pissing me off and me therefore gaining the right to ruin his life and taking "the bastard for everything he has", as you put it. What does that accomplish? That has nothing to do with legal precedent. It's greed. If you want anything that's black and white in this discussion, it's that.
Monetary settlements are meant for people missing work, hospital expenses, as a result of negligence and whathaveyou. Spending an extra 20 minutes finding another JP to marry you does not constitute lottery-esque windfalls.Gimli 1993
Fargo 2003
Winnipeg 2005
Winnipeg 2011
St. Paul 20140 -
johnny i am going to just disagree with you and be done with it. you are still defending this douchebag justice of the peace andi am finished debating you on this topic. you have to have the last word so you can have it. maybe they do things differently in canada, but the guy is a racist and he will pay the penalty and hopefully some hefty damages to this couple. the only way to make him learn a lesson for his discrimination is to hit him where it hurts. his wallet."You can tell the greatness of a man by what makes him angry." - Lincoln
"Well, you tell him that I don't talk to suckas."0 -
gimmesometruth27 wrote:how the hell do i know what suing is doing? i am not them and nobody here can get into their heads and figure it out. i would think it would be them establishing a legal precedent to be used in all future discrimination cases to make sure that this does not happen again anywhere, in louisiana or anywhere in the US. and if it were me i would take that bastard for everything he has. if he discriminates against me and my family and stands in the way of me getting married because he does not like the color of my skin, he is going to pay. simple as that. it is 2009 and this pre 1965 bullshit does not fly anymore. even in the south. how can any of these "freedom loving" folks on here be ok with this infringement on this couple's freedoms?
first of all - where did i say i was ok with this JP's action!?? NO WHERE ... in fact, knowing that some would not actually read what i wrote - i specifically re-iterated that i didn't condone this JP's action ...
if you think that having to find another JP caused so much hardship that he should be sued for all his worth ... i suppose that explains why ambulance chasing lawyers make a killing in the US ... let's show some perspective here ... are interacial marriages being denied all the time there or anywhere in the US? ... is it so rampant that this couple sees fit to launch a civil suit and think they are gonna fix it?
i can guarantee you that on a daily basis - someone is being discriminated against this minute ... maybe you're right ... maybe everyone should launch a civil suit every time ... is that gonna fix ignorance?0 -
polaris_x wrote:gimmesometruth27 wrote:the JP violated this couple's right to life, liberty, and property/pursuit of happiness because his personal biases got in the way. i am pretty certain that there is no established legal precedent on the books that states that it is ok to discriminate against a couple and deny them the right to enter into the legal agreement that is marriage based on race. there is no legal precedent that states whites must marry whites, blacks marry blacks, etc. . who knows how many people that this JP denied marriage due to racism and his personal opinions? this could very well become a class action lawsuit if he denied a hundred couples this right. he was in office 20 something years, if he denied 4 couples a year over 25 years, then that is 100 couples. i think this could get pretty ugly, and this couple will take him to the cleaners. but then again it is the south, and racism is pretty much the norm in a lot of states down there so if they can't get a sympathetic jury then they might not get any damages.
they were denied for 1 day or however long it was to find another ... they were able to marry without hassle - they just had to use someone else ... again - i'm not condoning this behaviour ... simply that the JP has now resigned - what is suing doing?
teaching him a lesson?
i sped the other day and the cop pulled me over. he started trying to write me a ticket but i told him that was stupid becos i clearly wasn't speeding anymore. he didn't buy it.0 -
gimmesometruth27 wrote:johnny i am going to just disagree with you and be done with it. you are still defending this douchebag justice of the peace andi am finished debating you on this topic. you have to have the last word so you can have it. maybe they do things differently in canada, but the guy is a racist and he will pay the penalty and hopefully some hefty damages to this couple. the only way to make him learn a lesson for his discrimination is to hit him where it hurts. his wallet.
I am not defending him, gimme. Read my post. I said it was good he resigned. My post was all about how it makes no sense to be asking for money in this situation. And I don't need the last word. Jesus, man, you seem to think I'm here to debate you, when I'm debating the ISSUE. Why can't you get that?
It has nothing to do with the last word. If I have something to say, I say it. You know, LIKE YOU DO. Quit your crying.
You continued this thread after you said you were done with it. I responded to the article you posted, NOT YOU, but then you feel the need to chime in on me when I say something, then when I respond to you, you childishly turn around and say you won't respond to me anymore. I don't give a shit if you do or not. Ignore me if you like, because it's obvious you just can't deal with anyone that doesn't agree with your point of view. It's called a discussion, which is a free exchange of ideas, not a "let's listen to how right gimmesometruth is this time". :roll:
I agreed he was a racist. Let it go. This is odd. But, since you seem to think I'm so hellbent on having the last word, then fine, I'll take it.
Word.Gimli 1993
Fargo 2003
Winnipeg 2005
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gimmesometruth27 wrote:johnny i am going to just disagree with you and be done with it. you are still defending this douchebag justice of the peace andi am finished debating you on this topic. you have to have the last word so you can have it. maybe they do things differently in canada, but the guy is a racist and he will pay the penalty and hopefully some hefty damages to this couple. the only way to make him learn a lesson for his discrimination is to hit him where it hurts. his wallet.
AND ONE LAST TIME. I NEVER DEFENDED THIS IDIOT. I MERELY DON'T JUDGE AS QUICKLY AS YOU OBVIOUSLY DO. WHICH MAKES YOU A HYPOCRITE IN THIS SITUATION.
I wanted to know all of the facts before I jumped on the racism bandwagon.Post edited by Hugh Freaking Dillon onGimli 1993
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soulsinging wrote:teaching him a lesson?
i sped the other day and the cop pulled me over. he started trying to write me a ticket but i told him that was stupid becos i clearly wasn't speeding anymore. he didn't buy it.
by that token - everyone who speeds should get sued ... the JP has resigned - that's his "ticket" ...0
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