VOA慢速英語：美國跨種族婚姻直到1967年才合法

Mixed-Race Marriage Illegal in the US Until 1967

美國跨種族婚姻直到1967年才合法

This case goes all the way back to the 1691. At that time, the colony of Virginia said people of different races could not get married. Restrictions against interracial marriage remained in effect well into the 20th century.

這起案例可以追溯到1691年。當時，弗吉尼亞州殖民地宣稱，不同種族的人們不能結婚。對跨種族婚姻的限制一直到進入20世紀仍然有效。

The restrictions did not prevent two Virginians, named Richard and Mildred, from falling in love. Richard's family was white. Mildred's was a mix. In 1958, Richard and Mildred went to Washington, D.C. Interracial marriage was legal there, and the couple wed. Then, they returned to the small town in Virginia where they lived.

這些限制并未能阻止名為理查德和米爾德里德的兩位弗吉尼亞人墜入愛河。理查德是白人，米爾德里德是混血兒。1958年，理查德和米爾德里德前往了華盛頓特區(qū)，在那里跨種族婚姻合法，這對情侶結了婚。然后他們回到了自己居住的弗吉尼亞州的小鎮(zhèn)。

Five weeks later, police came into their house in the middle of the night and took them to jail. Richard and Mildred were ordered to leave Virginia.

五個星期之后，警察在半夜闖入了他們家，并把他們送進了監(jiān)獄。理查德和米爾德里德被命令離開弗吉尼亞州。

The couple settled in Washington, D.C., and had three children. But they missed their friends, family and home. So they took their case to the Supreme Court.

這對夫婦在華盛頓特區(qū)定居，并生了三個孩子。但是他們想念他們的朋友、家人以及家鄉(xiāng)。所以他們將官司打到了最高法院。

Richard's argument was simple. He said, "I love my wife, and it is just unfair that I can't live with her in Virginia."

理查德的理由很簡單。他說，“我愛我的妻子，禁止我和她住在弗吉尼亞州是不公平的!”

The justices all agreed. They struck down laws banning interracial marriage, saying the U.S. Constitution permitted individuals, not the state, to decide whom to marry.

法官們也都認同。他們廢除了禁止跨種族婚姻的法律，并稱美國憲法允許個人決定跟誰結婚，而不是由州來決定。

By the way, the couple's last name? Loving. The case is known as Loving versus Virginia.

順便說一句，這對夫婦姓什么?他們姓洛文(Loving)。這起案件被稱之為洛文告弗吉尼亞州案。