Court Strikes Down State Bans on Interracial Marriage

In 1958, Richard and Mildred Loving returned to their home in Virginia, after marrying in Washington, D.C. He was white; she was black. They were arrested and charged with felony offenses, as interracial marriage was illegal under Virginia law. They left the state as part of a plea bargain, but went on to challenge the law. On June 12, 1967, the Supreme Court unanimously ruled in their favor.