BellaOnline Forums News and Politics Civil Rights Interracial couple denied marriage license in La.

A Judge in Louisiana refused an interracial couple a marriage license because they are an interracial couple.

Read the article here

Wow. I'm speechless after reading that.

I wonder why the couples he'd refused to marry before Beth and Terence came along never make a stink about it. (Or maybe they did, and it just didn't make the headlines...?)

wow, just OH WOW!

Wow that is just amazing. I cannot believe this happened in the US in this year. I like how he says he lets "blacks use his bathroom" and therefore he's not a racist.

Very interesting. He knew it was not legal what he did, but chose to do it anyway. I can see equality and tolerance still has a row to hoe.

Remove Justice of the Peace, Keith Bardwell's license to issue marriage licenses. Period. No need for an investigation with use of taxpayers' dollars. He publicly admitted he violated the oath he took to uphold the law. He has been making his own rules as he has been going along. Take his income or side job away from him--plain and simple. Maybe he'll see the error of his ways.

His license should be removed and he should also be removed as Justice of the Peace as well.

Vance-

I found this issue to be so offensive! I can not believe in this day and age that there are people out there still this ignorant and blatant about their discrimination as well.

Not only should he be pulled from the licensing, but he should be removed from anything in regards to LAW! This can really open up a Pandora's box if you think about it. Justifiably, others could come forward and state that his previous legal decisions may have been based on his discriminatory actions. This could cause a huge headache and a domino effect of problems.

At the very least, remove him from the BAR Association and some kind of restitution for his actions. If you get any updated information on this case, could you please follow up and let us know? I am curious to know the outcome and how the state plans on rectifying this crime!

What an idiot! I'm sorry, but this isn't 1959. The excuse he gave was stupid at best. I live in Alabama and asked my friends that are in inter-racial marriages if their kids ever had problems. They all answered no.

I agree, he needs to be voted out.

Yeah, that excuse holds SO much water these days with a biracial president... obviously, Barak Obama just didn't turn out too well...

I don't agree with this person's actions. If he's being paid and working for a city, county, state, federal, organization - then he needs to follow the rules that apply, and put his prejudice aside and just do his job. However, welcome to America. I believe that this person has the right to his opinion. He has the right to express his opinion. He has the right NOT to do what HE DOESN'T WANT to do. There are still a lot of people with similar views. Unfortunately, these people don't get the media attention, for whatever reason. Thus, most people, who may be "more informed"(my observation/opinion)tend to think that this kind of discrimination is rare, limited and not perpetuated in the U.S. Ignorant, sounds so defamatory to me, so I really don't want to use it when referencing people who think differently than myself. Their opinion, as much as I'd like to see it changed, brings about the positive in people. Diversity is the only way to have harmony. If everyone was tuned into just one note, after awhile, that too is unpleasant. BTW, I love, adore, and enjoy the beauty of the mixture within my family.

Update on him


He resigned instead of being removed. I would have removed him before he could save face.

Bardwell knows he violated the law and is accused of "blatant bigotry". As long as the couples can go elsewhere to get married, just let the guy be and he will bring on himself the reprimands/justice needed to set him right. His is a personal issue from the way I look at it. He speaks of Blacks as if they are not of equal status and brags that he allows them in his life - even in his very own bathroom. I get the impression that he is telling everyone how very generous and tolerant he is, as if Blacks are beneath him. Justice will reign.

Whoa! I just read your update, Jase. He did the right thing by resigning, but, still says he would deny interracial marriage - even though he knows he would lose the case in court. I wonder how many of his "tons" of black friends really support his thoughts on this issue.

His black friends may very well support his thoughts on the issue. He is not against blacks being married, just blacks being married to whites. Unfortunately, there are plenty of people from both races who are against interracial marriage.

I am just glad he is gone from the bench.