Interracial Couple Denied Marriage License

Justin Pierson
Post #5


This article was found at MSNBC.com. In Louisiana a Justice of the Peace, who is authorized to issue marriage licenses, refused to issue an interracial couple a marriage license because he expressed concerns about any children the couple might choose to have. The Justice of the Peace claims not to be racist and concluded that African-American society as well as Caucasian society is less likely to accept an interracial child and this will make it difficult for the child growing up, thus he refused to allow the interracial couple to receive a marraige license. The Justice of the Peace said that it was not just this couple that has been denied a marraige license the Justice said that he refuses to issue any interracial couple a marriage license. The couple has stated that they will file a discrimination complaint with the U.S. Justice Department against the Justice. The article includes a quote from a member of the ACLU, of course, and this individual sites a Supreme Court decision in 1963 that found that the government cannot tell people who they can and cannot marry. The couple, through their appeal, will most certainly receive a marraige license, the question is whether or not the Justice of the Peace will be disciplined for his blantant display of discrimination.

This shows how individuals in positions of power can and will abuse their power. This is why it is extremely important to elect the right officials and report such discriminatory acts to the proper authorities. It is clear to me anyway that this Justice of the Peace overstepped his authority. It is also clear to me that this Justice ought to be punished if not stripped of his position for such discrimination. This also shows that in certain parts of the country racial intolerance and ignorance still exists. The Supreme Court, the highest court in the land, found that people cannot be told who they can and cannot marry, of course this is still a controvertial issue when it comes to same sex marriage but this is neither the time nor the place to discuss that, this Louisiana Justice of the Peace clearly ignored past precedent and allowed for his own personal view to guide his decision. Louisiana, a part of the country where racism still exists, seems a likely place for this to occur. I could not imagine a decision like this being made in a state like California. Within a large country cultures may vary from state to state and it seems as if the racial ignorance that still exists in Louisiana has influenced this Justice. Some individuals in positions of power have control over such important aspects of others lives, those individuals in such positions of power should make unbiased decisions and I'm sure that this Justice will be held accountable for his blantantly discriminatory decision. This article can be found through this link:


http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/33332436/ns/us_news-race_and_ethnicity/