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Civil rights advocates in eastern Louisiana are calling for a justice of the peace of Tangipahoa Parish to resign after he refused to issue a marriage license to an interracial couple.
"He's an elected public official and one of his duties is to marry people. He doesn't have the right to say he doesn't believe in it," Patricia Morris, president of the NAACP branch of Tangipahoa Parish, located near the Mississippi line, said Thursday.
"If he doesn't do what his position calls for him to do, he should resign from that position."
The demands for Keith Bardwell, justice of the peace for Tangipahoa Parish's 8th Ward, to step down came after he wouldn't issue a marriage license to Beth Humphrey, 30, and her boyfriend, Terence McKay, 32, both of Hammond.
"I was just really shocked, because he's an elected official," Humphrey said.
| Cindy |
October 16th, 2009 11:36 am ET OK..so wasn't the justice denying them a marriage license based on race against the law? Then why is he not in jail!? Is it because they still have the good ole boys club going on there? Cindy..Ga. |
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| Ilona, Tempe, AZ |
October 16th, 2009 12:03 pm ET What exactly is his concern for the children? |
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| Steven Maples |
October 16th, 2009 12:34 pm ET Despite the fact that he was an elected official, he was just doing what he believed in. I know it's not the same but my church pastor refused to marry me and my wife because she had been divorced. He wasn't refusing because of me or my wife but because of his religious beliefs. I guess I could have filed a law suit but why? He didn't do anything to me, he just couldn't do anything for me. I found another pastor and got married, problem solved. Being an elected official doesn't mean that you can't do what you believe in. It was wrong in the eyes of the law but not his eyes. I always say, follow your heart, and filing a law suit to get some honeymoon money is following your greed! |
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| Beverly |
October 16th, 2009 2:40 pm ET this stuff would happen only in the south...... |
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| C. Farrell, Houston, Tx |
October 16th, 2009 2:41 pm ET This justice was elected to do exactly what he did and he knows those who elected him will support him. Think about it. |
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| Mari |
October 16th, 2009 3:27 pm ET There is a major difference between a pastor of a church refusing to marry a couple because of his religious beliefs. And a justice of the peace, which represents the State/government denying someone a...... marriage license! Are we surprised people? Racism is still very much alive. Sad but true. |
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