Post by Tim Collins on Oct 16, 2009 4:23:14 GMT -7
My calandar must be broken I thought this was 2009, not 1909
www.wafb.com/Global/story.asp?S=11323963
Justice of the peace rejects interracial couple
Posted: Oct 15, 2009 6:51 PM MDT
Updated: Oct 15, 2009 11:29 PM MDT
Terence McKay says he has no plans to speak to Bardwell
By David Spunt - email
HAMMOND, LA (WAFB) - A Tangipahoa Parish justice of the peace is taking a lot of heat, after refusing to marry an interracial couple.
Keith Bardwell, of the parish's eighth ward says he believes interracial marriages are morally wrong, and says it is his right not to marry the couple.
Beth Humphrey and Terence McKay say they have been looking forward to their wedding for a long time. McKay says he's still in shock that his dream wedding turned into a racial nightmare.
"It's disheartening. Seriously it's 2009 and we are still dealing with a form of racism," he says.
Keith Bardwell has been a justice of the peace since 1976.
"He's saying that 99 percent of [interracial marriages] winds up in divorce and how many people get married that winds up in divorce, black or white?" McKay asks.
Bardwell declined to speak on camera, so he spoke by phone:
"I stand by my decision, and it is my right not to marry an interracial couple. It's wrong," Bardwell says.
According to the Louisiana Judicial Code of Conduct, "A judge shall perform judicial duties without bias or prejudice."
After being denied by Bardwell, the couple traveled to Tickfaw and was married by Terri Crosby, another justice of the peace.
"I consider myself performing a marriage a privilege, given to me by the state of Louisiana," Crosby says.
McKay says he will talk with Beth about where they will take their fight. In the meantime, he has no plans to speak to Bardwell.
"Good luck. I wish him the best. I don't wish him harm, but he was wrong," he says.
Pat Morris with the Hammond NAACP says she spoke to the organization's national headquarters in Baltimore, and is calling for Bardwell to resign.
Bardwell's term expires Dec 31, 2014.
Copyright 2009 WAFB. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
www.wafb.com/Global/story.asp?S=11323963
Justice of the peace rejects interracial couple
Posted: Oct 15, 2009 6:51 PM MDT
Updated: Oct 15, 2009 11:29 PM MDT
Terence McKay says he has no plans to speak to Bardwell
By David Spunt - email
HAMMOND, LA (WAFB) - A Tangipahoa Parish justice of the peace is taking a lot of heat, after refusing to marry an interracial couple.
Keith Bardwell, of the parish's eighth ward says he believes interracial marriages are morally wrong, and says it is his right not to marry the couple.
Beth Humphrey and Terence McKay say they have been looking forward to their wedding for a long time. McKay says he's still in shock that his dream wedding turned into a racial nightmare.
"It's disheartening. Seriously it's 2009 and we are still dealing with a form of racism," he says.
Keith Bardwell has been a justice of the peace since 1976.
"He's saying that 99 percent of [interracial marriages] winds up in divorce and how many people get married that winds up in divorce, black or white?" McKay asks.
Bardwell declined to speak on camera, so he spoke by phone:
"I stand by my decision, and it is my right not to marry an interracial couple. It's wrong," Bardwell says.
According to the Louisiana Judicial Code of Conduct, "A judge shall perform judicial duties without bias or prejudice."
After being denied by Bardwell, the couple traveled to Tickfaw and was married by Terri Crosby, another justice of the peace.
"I consider myself performing a marriage a privilege, given to me by the state of Louisiana," Crosby says.
McKay says he will talk with Beth about where they will take their fight. In the meantime, he has no plans to speak to Bardwell.
"Good luck. I wish him the best. I don't wish him harm, but he was wrong," he says.
Pat Morris with the Hammond NAACP says she spoke to the organization's national headquarters in Baltimore, and is calling for Bardwell to resign.
Bardwell's term expires Dec 31, 2014.
Copyright 2009 WAFB. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.