Keith Bardwell Explains Refusal To Perform Interracial Marriage (VIDEO)

The Louisiana Justice of the Peace who refused to perform an interracial marriage was interviewed on CBS News Monday morning and tried to explain his actions.

Bardwell explained that he had seen "countless" interracial couples where the children were rejected by family members, and he didn't want to see that happen again. He defended himself by pointing out that he did not prevent the couple from getting married; he merely would not do it himself. Asked if he would refuse to perform a marriage for any other reason, he said no, but then corrected himself.

"One of them is intoxicated or seems to be or on drugs or whatever, yeah, I can recuse myself and make them come back when they're in a sober state," he added.

At the end of the segment, Bardwell asked to say one more thing.

"I'm sorry that I offended the couple, but I did help them and tell them who to go to," he said. "And they went and got married, and they should be happily married and I don't see what the problem is now."

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Comments

[mstrick]

This is progress...people will no longer ignore this type of behavior...sooner or later Mr Bardwell will have to deal with his choices...even if,its only for a minute...

[EquesLignite]

Punishing this guy or make his life miserable doesn't solve any problem. What we need to do is to show him the power of love and dissolve his prejudice. Vengeance and tit-for-tat mentality, us vs. them thinking, and inability to see from other people's perspective seriously hamper our ability to achieve change. He is also a human (you can deny it, but he is a human) and we should deal with him like a human being, use love and persuasion to change his views. He grew up from a racist background, and his heart is surely not wholly vicious. A great singer Jimmy Hendrix said that our world would be so much better if the power of love overcomes the love of power

[Dyanna Louyakis]

I wonder if Keith Bardwell realizes that it is because of people like him that there are still people out there that wouldn't accept the children of an interracial couple. If we simply break the patterns of racism and other prejudices, we'll begin to see that tolerance and then acceptance will prevail.

[MissusJones]

That's mighty white of you, Judge.

[consider this]

Have a little compassion for the Justice of the Peace. In looking at him, his broad nose and full lips, I am reminded of many "black" Louisianes that I know, indeed am related to. Mr. Bardwell obviously looks to be of mixed race himself: probably an Octaroon. He was probably raised by family that loved him and gave him a healthy dose of revulsion to mixing races in order to insulate him from his own fate. Look at the man. Louisiana considers a person to be black if they are one/32nd. He's a black Louisiane if I ever saw one. Have a little compassion for the man. Any one have time for a little ancestry.com search. Have at it.

[MJHammonds]

I fail to see your point, and your comments are insulting without any purpose that I can see.

[ladyvader]

Can this country please evolve? Please please please?

[Flavor]

The bottom line is this, in the land of equality it does not matter what one thinks will happen to a interacial couples children. These two very capable of thinking people wanted and desired to be married and that should have been granted to them, it does not matter what flavor feels about a matter or anyone else, I am suppose to follow the law of the land. We can go on and on about this, but the simple thing for this judge to have done is to marry this couple and not play god. As I look at whose getting divorce interacial couples are no where in the runnings. Here we are in 2009, and we find people still trying to keep rules of yester year alive.

[polishlogician]

"He refused to marry them BECAUSE of their race - that is casebook racism."
---
First, his acts aren't necessarily racist: "Racism is the belief that race is the primary determinant of human traits and capacities and that racial differences produce an inherent superiority of a particular race." No such thing went on here, no superior race, no disparaging another race.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Racism

Second, in regards to interracial children, there are many 'progressive' groups that don't favor interracial adoptions,like the National Association of Black Social Workers (NABSW) who has suggested that interracial adoption is a form of "gen.o.cide" and that "black children in white homes are cut off from the healthy development of themselves as black people."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Interracial_adoption

Third, stop letting your knee control your reaction, race is often used to determine decisions, such as affirmative action, is that blatant racism too?

[LCLA]

"Second, in regards to interracial children, there are many 'progressive' groups that don't favor interracial adoptions,like the National Association of Black Social Workers (NABSW) who has suggested that interracial adoption is a form of "gen.o.cide" and that "black children in white homes are cut off from the healthy development of themselves as black people."

Racism... it's not just for white people.

Racial bias/prejudice is something that tempts us all, no matter our own color or ethnic origin. And ultimately the most dangerous form of racism is the unacknowledged, latent kind.

Unfortunately, being on the receiving end of racism does not make one immune to its perversions. For example, it is common in black families for there to be bias regarding skin shade, whether one is light skinned or 'chocolate'. One may be favored and the other ostracized.

[MJHammonds]

Affirmative action has absolutely no place in this argument. This is about the law. It really doesn't matter that his actions were racist, and they were, despite any and all theorhetical arguments or definitions you pull up.

The law says that people of different races are free to marry. That is a federal law that supercedes all state rule or jurisdictions. I fail to see any point you post that supports any decision against it.

[MJHammonds]

His acts are racist and against the law of the land. Look that up in wiki.

[alliel]

Do all doctors have to perform abortions? No they have a choice to not perform them even though they are legal procedures in the US. Yes interracial couples can marry, (thankfully since I'm in one) and no one said these two people couldn't get married, he just wasn't going to be the one to do it.
While I'm not a fan of this man's beliefs, this is the US and he does have the right to be a racist, just like I have the right to marry someone of a different race. We might not like this man, but other then offending this couple, I don't see that he did anything illegal. Close-minded, yes - illegal, no.

[glorysong]

I did not know he was God.

[tyger]

He doesn't need to explain, his picture says it all.

[hankmcoy]

This is why this alot of this "old" American has to die off and start a new generation. How do you teach your kids growing up about the law this and law that, when the people who have to power to carry and pass down laws are like this.

[harriscrl3]

There is a battle going on in this country right now between intelligence and ig nor ance and while intelligence outnumber ig nor ance by a vast majority there is no gurantee that intelligence is going to win this battle. In fact I fear that ig nor ance may have already won it.

[Newthron]

Won a battle not a war. See for yourself how the country has evolved. They will slow unavoidable changes, but they can't stop it.

[MJHammonds]

We live in times of great change. It might be difficult to see the wheel turning, but in the short amount of time I have lived, unbelievable changes have taken place. When I was born, black equality was a fighting point. Look around now, and see how much ignorance has become obsolete. Ten years ago, this story would not have even made the news.

[Char59]

As Redd Foxx used to say: "When people tell me I married out of my race, I say to them, what... did I marry a duck?" Now that would be out of anyone's race.

[beyobi]

"...and I don't see what the problem is now."

And that's the problem...

[LP86]

EXACTLY. Couldn't have said it better myself.

[WANSU]

When is this guy going to get interviewed in right wing talk radio to cry for reverse discrimina­tion??????­??/

[MJHammonds]

He can't be interviewed on a subject he knows nothing about.