Recently, in the midst of the healthcare debate, persistent economic woes, and wars in the Middle East, an interesting story has made its way to the forefront of popular news media. The story is from Hammond, Louisiana where justice of the peace Keith Bardwell refused to grant marriage rights to Beth Humphrey and Terence McKay because they are an interracial couple.
Hammond is a small town located in southeastern Louisiana close to the Gulf of Mexico. The racial profile of Hammond is dominated by blacks (45%) and whites (52%). Despite the roughly balanced demographics of the community, the residue of racial bias still lingers in the judiciary. The incident has sparked nationwide outrage; America has been shocked by the blatant defiance of legal precedence and racism of such a prominent public official.
