June 12 - National Loving Day

Happy National loving Day! Each year, this day on June 12 commemorates the anniversary of the 1967 U. S. Supreme Court decision Loving vs. Virginia. This decision struck down all anti-miscegenation laws remaining in sixteen American states. 

 

The ruling cited, “There can be no doubt that restricting the freedom to marry solely because of racial classifications violates the central meaning of the equal protection clause.” 

In the United States, anti-miscegenation laws were U.S. state laws banning interracial marriage. 

 
Childhood friends, Mildred and Richard, met when she was eleven, and he was seventeen. Over the years, they began courting. 

In 1958, when Mildred turned eighteen, the couple married in Washington and returned to their hometown north of Richmond, Virginia.  

However, two weeks later, authorities arrested the couple. Mildred and Richard did not realize the state of Virginia viewed interracial marriage as illegal. The Lovings pleaded guilty, and to avoid jail time, they agreed to leave Virginia. 

While living in Washington D.C., the Loving’s started legal action by writing to Robert F. Kennedy.  

Kennedy referred the case on to the American Civil Liberties Union. 

Fortunately, the Warren Court unanimously ruled in their favor, and the Loving’s returned to their Virginia home, where they resided with their three children. 

HOW TO OBSERVE 

Learn more about the Loving Vs. Virginia Supreme Court decision. You can do so by reading books, listening to podcasts, or watching documentaries about the case and the events leading to the decision. We provide a few suggested sources to get you started: 

• • The Loving Story (2011) 

• • Podcast - Stuff You Missed in History Class – Loving vs. Virginia Part 1 (aired April 15, 2013) 

• • Loving Vs. Virginia: A Documentary Novel of the Landmark Civil Rights Case by Patricia Hruby Powell (2017) 

Use #NationalLovingDay to post on social media. 

 
HISTORY 

 
The celebration, Juneteenth, inspires National Loving Day, and the observance seeks both to commemorate and celebrate the 1967 ruling of the U.S. Supreme Court.  

 
The goal is to keep its importance fresh in the minds of a generation that has grown up with interracial relationships being legal as well as explore issues facing couples currently in interracial relationships.  

 
While National Loving Day is not yet an officially recognized holiday by the U.S. government, a movement aims to persuade the government to do so. 

 
#NationalLovingDay

#ThisIsLoving

#LoveIsColorblind 

@UsSupremeCourt 

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