Open Letter From National Urban League
America's Dirty Secret
Civil rights advocates are sounding a growing sense of alarm that Americans are becoming complacent about issues of racial sensitivity and discrimination in light of President Obama's election. Unfortunately, hatred and ignorance are alive and well in large corners of this country. A judge's refusal to marry interracial couples in Tangipahoa Parish, Louisiana underscores this concern. In a landmark ruling in 1967, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that interracial marriages were legal in the case of Loving v. Virginia. According to some estimates, there are now over four million interracial marriages in America. This recent offence by Judge Keith Barwell is a huge step backward in social justice and must not be tolerated.
The National Urban League requests your support and your voice to combat the spread of this attack on civil rights. With your help, we can start conveying the message to our over two million clients and millions of others we touch with our advocacy work.
While the judge's unconstitutional actions have been condemned by some and made a few headlines, some individuals are defending the judge's actions on the grounds of religious or personal beliefs. Beyond this fringe argument, the lack of a general rage at the judge's behavior and comments potentially points to the larger hidden issue of latent racism that threatens our country.
We need your donation today to send a message that we cannot accept bigotry in any form in this country. Your donation, no matter the size, makes a difference and goes a long way towards helping us in our fight for justice and equality! Please forward this message to as many of your friends as possible.
To donate now, visit the National Urban League website:
