Mildred Loving and her husband Richard had to fight against Virginia's racist "anti-miscegenation" laws. Forty years ago, they won that fight in the U.S. Supreme Court. Here's her statement on their battle on the anniversary of that landmark decision from our highest court, including a chilling description of their arrest in the middle of the night and the unbelievably ignorant declaration of the local trial court judge. I'll highlight her conclusion, which is relevant today given Virginia's current anti-marriage equality laws: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.As much as I'm proud of this Virginian for fighting for her right to marry the person she loves, I'm embarrassed that my state created such awful barriers that ultimately were highlighted forever by this landmark Supreme Court decision. And I'm just as embarrassed that my state continues to enact barriers against marriage equality today.
The Virginia Supreme Court justice who wrote the unanimous 1966 opinion upholding the anti-miscegenation statute was Harry L. Carrico, who served as Chief Justice of the Virginia Supreme Court for 42 years, and retired in 2003, yes, 2003. The Virginia State Bar still gives out the Harry L. Carrico Professionalism Award in honor of Justice Harry L. Carrico, who "exemplifies the highest ideals and aspirations of professionalism in the administration of justice in Virginia."
When the VSB begins to give out the Bernard S. Cohen and Philip J. Hirschkop Professionalism Award, honoring the Lovings' attorneys and exemplifying the highest ideals and aspirations of equal rights, fairness, and the rule of law, we will know that Virginia's shameful legacy has finally ended.