Last month, an interracial couple seeking a marriage license was turned away by a Louisiana justice of the peace on the grounds that their marriage was "mixed." The refusal was met with an eruption of criticism from civil rights groups and public officials, including Louisiana's governor, Bobby Jindal.
Finally bowing to mounting pressure, the justice in question, Keith Bardwell, resigned Tuesday, according to an Associated Press article.
We say good riddance.
When asked about the incident, Bardwell, a white man, admitted that he has a habit of turning away interracial couples because the children of these couples will suffer in life.
It's 2009. We have an interracial president. We are shocked that people like this justice still exist, let alone that they are allowed to hold public office.
But apparently Bardwell is not a relic of bad times passed. Rather, he is an example of the work America has left to do.
So, it is without any sense of irony that the liberal-socialist-left-wing-conspirators at the Alligator Editorial Board congratulate Republican Gov. Jindal - gasp - for his outspoken criticism of this man and his ignorant bigotry.
Jindal, an ethnic Indian born and raised in the southern state of Louisiana, likely faced some of the same bigotry that he publicly denounced in the weeks since this issue hit the headlines.
It would have been easy to stay out of the public discourse, or at the very least, make a few passing remarks about the issue. But Gov. Jindal kept the pressure on, with public statements that undoubtedly contributed to Bardwell's resignation.
For that, we thank Gov. Jindal.
