Today, many Civil Liberties groups are calling for the resignation of Louisiana Justice, Keith Bardwell. Apparently, the Louisiana Justice of Peace of Tangipahoa Parish in the southeastern part of the state, refused to issue a marriage license to an interracial couple. Earlier this month, Beth Humphrey, a white woman, and Terence McKay, a black man, were refused a marriage license by the Louisiana justice.
In response, Baldwell, the white Lousiana justice said that he thinks that any future children of interracial couples will have a troubled life. Wow, what a strong statement! I mean, I think Barack Obama, the child of an interracial couple, is completely troubled, being the president and all. Many other people with Liberties groups have expressed similar sentiments. In fact, Bill Quigley, director of the Center for Constitutional Rights and Justice, specifically said "Perhaps he's worried the kids will grow up and be president," ("he" referring to the justice).
After other angry people started to show their distaste, the Justice stopped answering his phone and Thursday, he specifically stated "No one's ever complained about it before...I do it to protect the children. The kids are innocent and I worry about their futures." This is exactly an example of stepping backwards into a time when the US was very racist. This very action is undermining the efforts of the Civil Rights Movements in the 1960s.
The justice actually believes that what he is doing is correct and is in no way racist at all. This is the kind of ignorance that damages the American image. Although I can't say whether Baldwell deserves to lose his job, it is clear that he just hurt his public opinion very much, just like Kanye and his embarrasing episode at the MTV awards.
Baldwell was a justice for 34 years, and he says that everytime he ran without opposition. However, after his current term expires, he will not try for another. Smart move.
-Henry Zhang
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11 comments:
If people want to get married they should be able to get married. I dont care about race or gender you cant really help who you love. I bealive that if you commit your life to god or the church or what ever you do you should be excepting of everyone. If you bealive god created this earth and everything on it You should exept everyone and what they bealive is right to them and not to judge. Im glad that he has decided to not continue his job. Its ashame that his life work led to his downfall.
I wonder if he denies white couples or black couples licenses on the same ground he denies interracial couples licenses. What's even more intriguing would be statistical data to see if what he says is true.
"If people want to get married they should be able to get married."
What if it's just for money? Or what if it's just a scheme to get citizenship?
Well, I still feel that people should have the right to get married. If it's just for money or citizenship, well, that should not stop all the other people who really do want to get married from doing so. Just because there are a few loopholes to the system does not mean everyone should suffer.
-Henry Zhang
So. Bardwell has apparently been doing this for some time now, and everyone's only now getting angry over it when the couple want to pursue legal action.
"it is an example of the ugly bigotry that divided our country for too long"
Yeah! Down with bigotry! How dare that racist judge prevent couples from getting married and having children by referring them to other judges!
-Francis Wang
I don't know why this guy is trying to claim that he's "looking out for the kids". The statement he made about them having problems in life is racist in itself!
He's only making the image of America worse.
This is truly disgusting. It is like discriminating against a person with a disability because "he's worried about their children's futures." Children of biracial couples don't have any sort of disadvantage, except for perhaps being discriminated by racists like this judge. (Personally, I think most of them are super beautiful, haha just saying.) I hope this judge gets he's licensed taken away and he is removed from office. It says that he's term expires in 2015. That's still 4 more years of this judge making ignorant rulings.
I search the town on Wikipedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tangipahoa_Parish,_Louisiana#Politics), and it says he "came to the conclusion that most black society does not readily accept offspring of such relationships, and neither does white society." He's quoted, "I don’t want to put children in a situation they didn’t bring on themselves." Perhaps the reason he's held office for is because he's appealing to he's constituencies. This is just speculation. The demographics is a majority White (about 70%) and then African American (30%).
-Sandy Chen
What hes not running again?... why not I'm confused((Sarcasm intended))
Hopefully he really is just ignorant and not racist
If those are really his reasons.."children should be kept innocent" then he obviously haven't seen the world then. Children will one day learn and experience some sort of racial discrimination even if they are white. In fact, it is really disappointing that the Justice would even make up a reason in why this couple cannot be married. A couple doesn't have to have children.
I am glad a lot of people are calling Bardwell's resignation. At least the world is changing and the people who do not agree with his refusal of marrying the Black and White couple are speaking up against it.
Back in the 1800's-1900's individuals who did not conform to racist southern whites did not step up and defend Blacks.
It is really sad how people cannot get married because of ignorant people like Bardwell.
-Emily Niemann
This judge makes me so mad! I don't even understand what he's talking about when he claims its for the children (the hypothetical children they have not even had!!) If it weren't for non-inter-racial marrige then a lot of us would have never been born.
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