Beautiful statement by Mildred Loving on the 40th anniversary of Loving v Virginia

It was one of the most important civil rights decisions of my life time. Hard to think that as little as 40 years ago it was against the law to marry someone of a different race in many (most?) states.

"When my late husband, Richard, and I got married in Washington, DC in 1958, it wasn’t to make a political statement or start a fight. We were in love, and we wanted to be married.

snip

Not long after our wedding, we were awakened in the middle of the night in our own bedroom by deputy sheriffs and actually arrested for the “crime” of marrying the wrong kind of person. Our marriage certificate was hanging on the wall above the bed. The state prosecuted Richard and me, and after we were found guilty, the judge declared: “Almighty God created the races white, black, yellow, malay and red, and he placed them on separate continents. And but for the interference with his arrangement there would be no cause for such marriages. The fact that he separated the races shows that he did not intend for the races to mix.” He sentenced us to a year in prison, but offered to suspend the sentence if we left our home in Virginia for 25 years exile.

We left, and got a lawyer. Richard and I had to fight, but still were not fighting for a cause. We were fighting for our love.

snip

I believe all Americans, no matter their race, no matter their sex, no matter their sexual orientation, should have that same freedom to marry. Government has no business imposing some people’s religious beliefs over others. Especially if it denies people’s civil rights.

I am still not a political person, but I am proud that Richard’s and my name is on a court case that can help reinforce the love, the commitment, the fairness, and the family that so many people, black or white, young or old, gay or straight seek in life. I support the freedom to marry for all. That’s what Loving, and loving, are all about.



http://positiveliberty.com/2007/06/mildred-lovings-statement.html

Whenever we would see one of the rare mixed couples in our 99.9% white county in Wisconsin.

There's was also the weirdness that a black woman with a white man wasn't as bad as a black man and white woman.

in the 21st Century, that kind of weirdness is still occurring. It is rarer now, true, but tragically, some still believe the races should not intermarry...even here in Massachusetts....I suspect the same people who are so hateful toward homosexual couples will also cringe at racially mixed marriages.

...that he didn't believe in creating "half-breeds". He said this, of course, not knowing that I am the very proud dad of a "half-breed". You should have saw the look on his face when I brought my wife and daughter into the office one day.

Gay marriage is fine and interracial is not. Irrational fear trumps intelligence.

When Mrs. Deadmessengers (a beautiful black woman) and I (a quite unbeautiful white man) first started seeing each other back in 1993, my mother made it VERY clear to me that she did not approve - she muttered something about "any children you 2 might have someday" having some vague, nebulous "social problems".

Fast forward 14 years, and we're still together, and we're still happy, and we're still very, very much in love. And I'm still thankful for the Lovings' fight 40 years ago.

:7

I did meet a beautiful Japanese woman, which my (I'm white) family embraced very well.

I do think, though, that if I had brought home an African-American woman it would have been problematic. The family probably could have handled a hispanic woman, and probably wouldn't have minded an actual African woman, but I daresay that, even with some interracial relationships in my wider family, that "black" is still a no-no.

I can't wait til one of the younger cousins, of the more open minds, brings home an African-American significant other. Especially a same sex one. That'll be cool!

Although we now live in Georgia, my wife and I both grew up in the Bronx, and our families still live there.

I always like to point something out about NYC when people refer to NYC as being relatively enlightened: Although a fictional character, the name "Archie Bunker" is practically synonymous with bigotry & ignorance, and he was from Queens. And, even to this day, that Archie Bunker mentality is very much alive and well in the blue-collar areas of the outer boroughs, like the area where I grew up. Maybe it's just a touch less prevalent than it was years ago, but it's still VERY much there.

Could that possibly be a more appropriate name? They loved not only each other, obviously fiercely, but they loved mankind enough to fight that battle for all of our sakes.

Moral decency, thy name is Loving

nt

better. And really, it wasn't that long ago, either. I remember the decision in 67.

I read the case years ago...it's beautiful.

God how I miss the Supreme Court that used to care about people.

So, does that mean that there should not be any white people in North America? What an amazing story-anyway, you're right-it wasn't that long ago. I wonder what happened to those law enforcement officers that invaded their home, and that wingnut judge.

when I was in elementary school...fifth grade I think...we were studying the civil war and the teacher said the bible was used by BOTH SIDES to justify their position. That was a real turning point for me in terms of religion.

How can anyone recognize that fact and not believe religion must be taken out of government?

Blows my mind.

Darned meteorological phenomena scattered people all over the place! (Following the good judge's logic, not only should the God-fearing whites creep back to Europe, but must also accept blame for kidnapping Africans and dragging them across the ocean by force, in explicit violation of the heavenly edict!)

Sometimes, the law really is an ass ...

I'm glad she issued this statement. It's easy to forget how it used to be, and the brave pioneers who changed things.

There's never a convenient time to be courageous. Civil rights are won by people who stand up for what is right even when the majority is against them.

We're still strong as ever, living up to our promise which began when we were one of the original 13 colonies, and the sky hasn't fallen. About the only thing that has changed is that people get to live their lives authentically and maybe a few caterers, venue coordinators, and associated party planners have enjoyed a slight uptick in their business.

If so I take that as a sign it was Approved by some benign power ;)

interracial marriage was.

People need to remember how certain injustices have been overcome and that those of the present can be overcome also.

Everybody should send a copy of this to their representatives, or at least call them and read it over the phone to whoever answers.

Things have to change.

:cry:

What a WONDERFUL post!