HAMMOND , Louisiana ( CNN ) -- The actions of a justice of the peace in Louisiana who refused to issue a marriage license to an interracial couple have prompted some top officials , including Gov . Bobby Jindal , to call for his dismissal . Beth Humphrey and Terence McKay say they were denied a marriage license because of their race . Jindal said the state judiciary committee should review the incident in which Keith Bardwell , justice of the peace for Tangipahoa Parish 's 8th Ward , refused to issue a marriage license to Beth Humphrey , 30 , and her boyfriend , Terence McKay , 32 , both of Hammond . `` This is a clear violation of constitutional rights and federal and state law . ... Disciplinary action should be taken immediately -- including the revoking of his license , '' the Republican governor said . Sen. Mary L. Landrieu , D-Louisiana , said the committee should `` use its authority to have Justice Bardwell dismissed from his position . '' `` Not only does [ Bardwell 's ] decision directly contradict Supreme Court rulings , it is an example of the ugly bigotry that divided our country for too long , '' she said . Watch Terence McKay react to the denial of a marriage license » . Bardwell has not returned repeated calls from CNN this week . However , Bardwell told Hammond 's Daily Star in a story published Thursday that he was concerned for the children who might be born of the relationship and that , in his experience , most interracial marriages do n't last . `` I 'm not a racist , '' Bardwell told the newspaper . `` I do ceremonies for black couples right here in my house . My main concern is for the children . '' Bardwell , stressing that he could n't personally endorse the marriage , said his wife referred the couple to another justice of the peace . The bride says the case boils down to discrimination . Humphrey said on Thursday that she called Bardwell on October 6 to ask about getting a marriage license , and was asked by his wife whether it would be an interracial marriage . Humphrey said she was told that Bardwell does not sign off on interracial marriages . She said the couple , who received their marriage license October 9 from another justice of the peace in the same parish , have reached out to an attorney to determine their next step . `` We would like him to resign , '' she said . `` He does n't believe he 's being racist , but it is racist . '' Patricia Morris , president of the NAACP branch of Tangipahoa Parish said her NAACP chapter has forwarded the case to the state and national levels of the civil rights group . `` He 's an elected public official and one of his duties is to marry people . He does n't have the right to say he does n't believe in it , '' Morris said Thursday . `` If he does n't do what his position calls for him to do , he should resign from that position . '' According to the Census Bureau , Tangipahoa Parish is about 70 percent white and 30 percent black . The U.S. Supreme Court tossed out any racially based limitations on marriage in the landmark 1967 Loving v. Virginia case . In the unanimous decision , the court said that `` Under our Constitution , the freedom to marry , or not marry , a person of another race resides with the individual and can not be infringed by the state . '' CNN 's Samira Simone contributed to this report .
Louisiana officials criticize justice of peace for denying license to interracial couple . Keith Bardwell told newspaper he 's not racist , claims interracial marriages do n't last . Score: 7