West Coast Connection Forum
Lifestyle => Train of Thought => Topic started by: Priest on October 15, 2009, 10:16:58 PM
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(http://turbo.inquisitr.com/wp-content/2009/10/Keith-Bardwell.jpg)
http://www.inquisitr.com/42959/keith-bardwell/ (http://www.inquisitr.com/42959/keith-bardwell/)
[b]Louisiana Justice Of The Peace Keith Bardwell Refuses To Marry Interracial Couple [/b]
Meet Keith Bardwell, a Louisiana justice of the peace who in an amazing act of time travel is making headlines because he refused to marry an interracial couple.
Bardwell, channeling 1949 claims that children from interracial couples are discriminated against, and that in his experience interracial marriages don’t last long anyway.
“I’m not a racist. I just don’t believe in mixing the races that way,” Keith Bardwell told AP. “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.”
Apparently though, somebody should think of the children! “There is a problem with both groups accepting a child from such a marriage. I think those children suffer and I won’t help put them through it.”
“But I’m not a racist…I try to treat everyone equally” he helpfully added.
Beth Humphrey, 30, and Terence McKay, 32, are considering filing a discrimination complaint with the U.S. Justice Department.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/33332436/ns/us_news-race_and_ethnicity (http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/33332436/ns/us_news-race_and_ethnicity)
"It is really astonishing and disappointing to see this come up in 2009," said American Civil Liberties Union of Louisiana attorney Katie Schwartzman. "The Supreme Court ruled as far back as 1963 that the government cannot tell people who they can and cannot marry."
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that is messed. and those 2 folks in the pic look like the same race..
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Because one is the judge who wouldn't give the interracial couple a marriage licence
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"It is really astonishing and disappointing to see this come up in 2009," said American Civil Liberties Union of Louisiana attorney Katie Schwartzman. "The Supreme Court ruled as far back as 1963 that the government cannot tell people who they can and cannot marry."
What ths article doesn't say is not because its interracial, its because they are gay lmao
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This is funny.
I got a black mom and a armenian dad who have been married for about 30 years. I get along great with both sites despite how different they are culturally.
And it's not like "same race" marriages last long anyways. He's obviously a bigot hiding behind the "I have black friends" excuse.
I think its time for him to step down. His job is to interpret the law, not put his own spin on things.
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Wait wait wait. Interracial? Is that the picture?? That clearly looks like some fucked up white men. I'm lost.
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Wait wait wait. Interracial? Is that the picture?? That clearly looks like some fucked up white men. I'm lost.
The pic shows the Justice of the Piece dude Keith Dardwell and some dude. They both look like dumb as fucks.
I was thinking the same thing at first...interracial? shit, their gay!
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HOLY SHIT I DIDNT SEE THE PICTURE BEFORE HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
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^ LMFAO
Wait wait wait. That's the Justice Of The Peace???
Aight, what a weird thread.
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^ LMFAO
Wait wait wait. That's the Justice Of The Peace???
Aight, what a weird thread.
Its the picture in the actual article so I guess it is.
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http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/33349991/ns/us_news-race_and_ethnicity (http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/33349991/ns/us_news-race_and_ethnicity)
Rights groups, lawmaker, senator want La. justice of the peace out
NEW ORLEANS - Louisiana’s governor and a U.S. senator joined Friday in calling for the ouster of a local official who refused to marry an interracial couple, saying his actions clearly broke the law.
Keith Bardwell, a white justice of the peace in Tangipahoa Parish in the southeastern part of the state, refused to issue a marriage license earlier this month to Beth Humphrey, who is white, and Terence McKay, who is black. His refusal has prompted calls for an investigation or resignation from civil and constitutional rights groups and the state’s Legislative Black Caucus.
Republican Gov. Bobby Jindal said in a statement a nine-member commission that reviews lawyers and judges in the state should investigate.
“Disciplinary action should be taken immediately — including the revoking of his license,” Jindal said.
Bardwell did not return calls left on his answering machine Friday.
Bardwell has said he always asks if a couple is interracial and, if they are, refers them to another justice of the peace. Bardwell said no one had complained in the past and he doesn’t marry the couples because he’s worried about their children’s futures.
Another Obama?
“Perhaps he’s worried the kids will grow up and be president,” said Bill Quigley, director of the Center for Constitutional Rights and Justice, referring to President Barack Obama, the son of a black father from Kenya and a white mother from Kansas.
Obama’s deputy press secretary Bill Burton echoed those sentiments.
“I’ve found that actually the children of biracial couples can do pretty good,” Burton told reporters aboard Air Force One as it flew to Texas.
Humphrey and McKay were eventually married by another justice of the peace, but are now looking into legal action against Bardwell.
Humphrey said she called Bardwell on Oct. 6 to ask about a marriage license. She said Bardwell’s wife told her that Bardwell would not sign marriage licenses for interracial couples.
Bardwell maintains he can recuse himself from marrying people. Quigley disagreed.
“A justice of the peace is legally obligated to serve the public, all of the public,” Quigley said. “Racial discrimination has been a violation of Louisiana and U.S. law for decades. No public official has the right to pick and choose which laws they are going to follow.”
A spokeswoman for the Louisiana Judiciary Commission said investigations were confidential and would not comment. If the commission recommends action to the Louisiana Supreme Court, the matter would become public.
'A divisive stand'
U.S. Sen. Mary Landrieu, D-La., said in a statement Bardwell’s practices and comments were deeply disturbing.
“Not only does his decision directly contradict Supreme Court rulings, it is an example of the ugly bigotry that divided our country for too long,” she said.
Tangipahoa Parish President Gordon Burgess said Bardwell’s views were not consistent with his or those of the local government. But as an elected official, Bardwell was not under the supervision of the parish government.
“However, I am certainly very disappointed that anyone representing the people of Tangipahoa Parish, particularly an elected official, would take such a divisive stand,” Burgess said in an e-mail. “I would hope that Mr. Bardwell would consider offering his resignation if he is unable to serve all of the people of his district and our parish.”
Bardwell, a Republican, has served as justice of peace for 34 years. He said he has run without opposition each time, but had decided earlier not to run again. His current term expires Dec. 31, 2014.
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Justice Who Denied Marriage Won't Resign
https://www.youtube.com/v/UjuZODZE8R4 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UjuZODZE8R4)
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ha
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Anyone else find this slightly hypocritical??? They get up and arms over there race, yet 2 gay people can't. I hate marriage in general, but I'm just saying.
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Keith Bardwell: Quits Justice Of The Peace Who Refused To Give Interracial Couple Marriage License Resigns
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/11/03/keith-bardwell-quits-just_n_344427.html (http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/11/03/keith-bardwell-quits-just_n_344427.html)
MELINDA DESLATTE
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."
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.
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.
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I can admire a man who stands up for his beliefs.
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The story isnt shocking....whats shocking is that people act like this shit is shocking lol. Theres always some comment like, "I cant believe this is happening in 2009". Wow
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Anyone else find this slightly hypocritical??? They get up and arms over there race, yet 2 gay people can't. I hate marriage in general, but I'm just saying.
Its a completely different argument. The gay issue is a religious issue. The interracial issue is racism.