In 1967, a very important Supreme Court case called Loving v. Virginia helped fight against unfair treatment based on race in marriage. This case was about Richard and Mildred Loving, a couple from Virginia who were punished with a year in prison for breaking a law that said people of different races could not marry.

Important Results of Loving v. Virginia:

1. Supreme Court Decision:

   • The Supreme Court made a unanimous decision (9-0), saying that laws stopping interracial marriage went against the Equal Protection and Due Process rights in the Fourteenth Amendment of the Constitution.

2. Effect on State Laws:

   • Before this ruling, 16 states had laws that made interracial marriage illegal. After Loving v. Virginia, all those laws were canceled, allowing interracial couples to marry without being afraid of discrimination.

3. Impact on Society:

   • After the decision, more and more interracial marriages happened. Between 1970 and 2010, the number of interracial marriages in the U.S. grew from 0.7% to 12.0%.
   • By 2021, around 17% of new marriages were interracial, showing that people were becoming more accepting of these unions.

4. Legacy:

   • Loving v. Virginia paved the way for future cases about marriage equality. It had a big influence on the Supreme Court's decision in Obergefell v. Hodges (2015), which allowed same-sex marriage across the country.

Overall, Loving v. Virginia was a key moment in fighting against racism in marriage. It confirmed that everyone has the right to marry, a right protected by our Constitution.