Today is June 12th, and it`s Loving Day! While not yet an official US holiday, it is significant to many of us, particularly to Alexandria. The Loving v. Virginia case, decided on June 12, 1967, was a unanimous decision that overturned state laws prohibiting interracial marriage in 16 states.
It was the Alexandria law firm of Bernard Cohen and Philip Hirschkop (just up the street at 110 N Royal Street) that represented the Lovings in their case. This interracial couple from Caroline County, Virginia got married in DC in 1958, as it was not legal for them to marry in Virginia. When they returned to our state and their home, they were arrested and jailed for violating state laws regarding interracial marriage. Their case eventually landed in the Supreme Court, where the racist laws against interracial marriage and relationships were struck down in a unanimous decision.
Loving Day is now a day to promote understanding and acceptance of interracial relationships, and remember the story of Mildred and Richard Loving whose battle for love had an incredible impact on civil rights in the United States.
#lovingday #lovingvvirginia #virginiaisforlovers #alexandriava
