We are outraged. We've been told we shouldn't rush to judgment about the Louisiana Justice of Peace who refused to marry an interracial couple, Beth Humphrey and Terence McKay. Why not rush to judgment on this issue?
Apparently this isn't the first time that Keith Bardwell has refused to marry interracial couples saying that most interracial marriages do not last long. Bardwell has been a justice of the peace in Tangipahoa Parish's 8th Ward for 34 years.
Bardwell who does not consider himself a racist said "They come to my home, I marry them, they use my bathroom. I treat them just like everyone else ... 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."
We hope Bardwell resigns. If he doesn't resign, we hope he is forced to resign by the state of Louisiana.
Whatever his motives, whether truly of concern for the marriage and any possible children or if he is a closet racist, it is not up to him whether or not to allow any people to marry. It is up to him to perform marriages in accordance with the law.
I agree with you completely, he needs to resign or forced to resign.
Any other boss can’t force you to perform job duties against your religious beliefs. Therefore, this judge should be able to conduct his courtroom within his beliefs. They can always get married somewhere else. He isn’t telling them that they can’t get married; just that he won’t perform the ceremony. It is no different than a doctor insisting that a Christian/Catholic nurse perform an abortion. Abortion is legal; they should have the right to refuse to perform one as well. The couple CAN get married because this is America, the land of the free. Freedom to choose is obviously rapidly disappearing though-atleast in the minds of others
Whether or not the Bardwell considers himself a racist, are reflected in his comments are blazing facts confirming that he is a racist. His views about sparing the children of a biracial couple is none of his business and should remain so. He should resign asap and choose to refraim from publicly making those comments and keep his opinions private where he can share his views openly with the KKK.
Just because the judge is against bi-racial marriage doesn’t necessarily make him a racist. He just believes different races shouldn’t marry. Why are people so quick to point fingers and call others racist? I do think the children do suffer when their parents are different races. No one is saying one race is better than another.