You Might Be a Racist: Louisiana Justice of the Peace Denies Interracial Couple Right to Marry

Consider, for a moment, the following story.

A Louisiana justice of the peace, Keith Bardwell (left picture), has decided he has the right to deny an interracial couple (right picture) their right to marry.


As if that were not inflammatory enough, he attempts to explain away his decision as not racist on the following grounds:


"I don't do interracial marriages because I don't want to put children in a situation they didn't bring on themselves," Bardwell said. "In my heart, I feel the children will later suffer."


Basically he argues that he marries white couples and black couples, but wont marry interracial couples because neither community accepts the children. (because he totally has the right to make that decision)


A quick note on why he is stupid.  As I've said before, your religion or personal beliefs are indeed protected by the constitution, but you are NOT allowed to act on them!  so it's fine if you believe this couple's children will be miserable, but you are not, under any circumstances allowed to deny this couple their rights, just because you believe that, because then you will have infringed on their rights.

my only consolation on the supreme stupidness of this man is that knowledge that:
1) He does not, in fact, have this right.  The 1967 Loving case will be brought up and he'll be smacked down and likely have to pay civil damages as well.  sucks for him.
2) he'll be fired from his job for breaking the law, negligence, incompetence, or some combination of these three things.
3) most of society seems to recognize that this guy is in fact a racist.


P.S. is anyone noticing a striking similarity to gay/lesbian marriage here?


Common Sense