Just a bit over a month shy of the 41st anniversary of the landmark Supreme Court case, we learn that litigant Mildred Loving has died.
Loving and her white husband, Richard, changed history in 1967 when the U.S. Supreme Court upheld their right to marry. The ruling struck down laws banning racially mixed marriages in at least 17 states.
What the Richmond Times fails to mention was that the case originated in Virginia. The judge who convicted the couple was Harry L. Carrico, who served as Chief Justice of on the Virginia Supreme Court for 42 years, 22 years as Chief Justice, retired in 2003 and now has annual award issued by the Virginia State Bar in his “honor.”
The honor belongs to Mildred Loving and her husband Richard. Rest in peace, dear trailblazer.
Hello, roaming uninformed Brit here:
I only happened to come to this blog because Vivian tried to help me with a problem on my own site.
I’m glad I did because I would never have heard about these two courageous and inspirational people – Mildred and Richard Loving. I think the world is a better place for their efforts.
It seems extraordinary that this would be an issue anywhere in the world in my lifetime but I guess there were stranger things happening on this side of the pond at the time.
Thanks Vivian.
Posted by smith3000 | Tuesday, May 6, 2008, 12:06 pm