Mixed-race marriage refusal shocks U.S. couple
Last Updated Friday, October 16, 2009 | 759 PM ET
CBC News

A Louisiana justice of the peace has drawn criticism for his refusal to marry an interracial couple.

Keith Bardwell, a justice of the peace in Tangipahoa Parish, turned down the request to issue a marriage licence to a couple on the grounds 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, and if they are, he does not marry them, he said. He said he came to the conclusion that neither black nor white society would readily accept the offspring of such relationships.

"I think those children suffer and I won't help put them through it," he said.

Bardwell's stance came as a surprise to Beth Humphrey, 30, and 32-year-old Terence McKay, both of Hammond, La., who attempted to obtain a marriage licence through the justice of the peace on Oct. 6.

Humphrey, who is white, and McKay, who is black, said they did not expect any problem in 2009, when U.S. President Barack Obama is himself the child of a mixed-race marriage.

Bardwell refused to marry them, instead suggesting the couple go to another justice of the peace in the parish, who did agree to marry them.

"That was one thing that made this so unbelievable," said Humphrey, who plans to enrol in the University of New Orleans to pursue a masters degree in minority politics.

"It's not something you expect in this day and age."

Humphrey and McKay said they would consult the U.S. Justice Department about filing a discrimination complaint.
ACLU calls for probe

The American Civil Liberties Union in Louisiana said it has written to the Louisiana Judicial Commission to call for an official investigation into Bartlett.

"It is really astonishing and disappointing at any time, but especially in 2009," said ACLU Legal Director Katie Schwartzmann. "The Supreme Court ruled as far back as 1963 that the government cannot tell people who they can and cannot marry on the basis of race."

The ACLU recommended "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.
With files from The Associated Press

"I'm not a racist... 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."

...just don't believe in mixing the races that way,"...

"I think those children suffer and I won't help put them through it,"

I would say that I can't believe that this still happens in 2009, but I'm not really all that surprised.

With all this public outcry against anything our current President is doing ... you just know it has to be racially oriented.

I heard this was the 4th time he's done this too. Amazing he still has a job.

That being the case....why is it just now the fan has large brown chunks flying thru the blades?Isn't it odd we are just having this made public?

I'm just wondering how long it will be until "certain segments" begin yelling that this is about "playing the race card", not a "race issue".

Because a “certain segment”, who controls most of the mainstream media, is once again trying to paint the racist picture on another “certain segment”.

Bardwell refused to marry them, instead suggesting the couple go to another justice of the peace in the parish, who did agree to marry them

he may have told them he would not, but he didnt say they could not either...its the same as a minister refusing to marry any couple for not taking the church's marital classes and passing. he has his beliefs and so do the faith ministers/rabbi's marry with.

What's with everyone calling everyone a Nazi. First the Left refered to Bush as a Nazi for aight years. Now the right is refering to Obama as a Nazi. And here we have this fellow.

Question OP.. Does Judge Keith Bardwell , wear a brown shirt and swastikas, goose step, have a picture of Adolf Hitler in his court room, send non ayreans to forced labour camps or gas chambers, summarily execute those that disagree with him, and at the end of the day goes home and plays happy families without any conscience of evil doing?

Have you or your familiy lived under NAZI oppression?

Not only is your thread title an insult to the Judge, but a bigger insult to all the victims that suffered at the hand of NAZI oppression...

he may have told them he would not, but he didnt say they could not either...its the same as a minister refusing to marry any couple for not taking the church's marital classes and passing. he has his beliefs and so do the faith ministers/rabbi's marry with.

What's with everyone calling everyone a Nazi.

NOWHERE COULD I FIND... "THE MARRIAGE NAZI"

Question OP.. Does Judge Keith Bardwell , wear a brown shirt and swastikas, goose step, have a picture of Adolf Hitler in his court room, send non ayreans to forced labour camps or gas chambers, summarily execute those that disagree with him, and at the end of the day goes home and plays happy families without any conscience of evil doing?

Have you or your familiy lived under NAZI oppression?

Not only is your thread title an insult to the Judge, but a bigger insult to all the victims that suffered at the hand of NAZI oppression...

GODWIN'S LAW prevails again

he may have told them he would not, but he didnt say they could not either...its the same as a minister refusing to marry any couple for not taking the church's marital classes and passing. he has his beliefs and so do the faith ministers/rabbi's marry with.

a JP also is afforded a responsibility to make judgments that it is going to be a valid union. Much like they could refuse to marry a couple that is obviously entering into a marriage of convenience such as for immigration purposes. It is not unusual for them to refuse to wed these couples and it's never mentioned in the media.

what we need here is an actual half black/half white person saying "I am happy, and I am confident in my identity about who I am and my place in this world" in order to refute this pastor.

NOWHERE COULD I FIND... "THE MARRIAGE NAZI"

Question OP.. Does Judge Keith Bardwell , wear a brown shirt and swastikas, goose step, have a picture of Adolf Hitler in his court room, send non ayreans to forced labour camps or gas chambers, summarily execute those that disagree with him, and at the end of the day goes home and plays happy families without any conscience of evil doing?

you want to explain just what wasn't a valid about this union? the fact that there are people who can't see the difference between not marrying somebody because of immigrations status (not that I've ever heard of such a thing and I seriously doubt there are any examples) explains a lot about race relations in the US.

that whole premise there is absurd.