Interracial Marriage: Fighting For Civil Rights

Words: 817
Pages: 4

Interracial marriage was also a major problem during the period of fighting for civil rights. Interracial marriage is when two people of different backgrounds or race marry. There was a case like this. Once there was a 17 year old black female named Mildred Jeter and her love which was a 23 year old white construction worker named Richard Loving. This couple was in love and wanted to get married. However, it was against the “laws”. They disobeyed still and this brought even more problems. Since they got married, a major U.S. Supreme Court case came about to ban this unjust interracial law. During the late 1950s- late 1960s, the civil rights movement was a major worldwide event taking place. Many African Americans were fighting for their rights …show more content…
On January 6, 1959, they pleaded guilty to the charge. They were sentenced to one year in jail. However, this sentence was suspended for 25 years under one condition. The Lovings had to leave Virginia. They could return to Virginia in 25 years but not together anymore. They moved to Washington D.C. On November 6, 1963, the Lovings asked a state trial court to set aside the Virginia court case against them because it was unjust. They said this because it was in violation of the fourteenth …show more content…
They requested this in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia. On January 22, 1965, the state trial judge denied to vacate the sentences. The Lovings were not giving up without a fight for what was right according to their rights which were in the amendments. They continued by getting an appeal to the Supreme Court of Appeals of Virginia. On February 11, 1965, the three judge District Court continued the case to allow the Lovings to go to the highest state court and present their case. Overall, the court case ended well on the Lovings behalf. The Supreme Court ruled that the laws banning interracial marriage were in fact unconstitutional. Following the Court decision, the Lovings were able to return to Virginia still married and without any