The City of Alexandria took to Facebook on Thursday (June 12) to mark Loving Day, which celebrates the landmark Supreme Court decision that overturned bans on interracial marriage across the U.S.
The day commemorates Mildred and Richard Loving’s victory in the 1967 Loving v. Virginia case. The couple received news of the unanimous ruling in an Alexandria law office on N. Royal Street.
The Supreme Court’s decision declared Virginia’s ban on interracial marriage unconstitutional, citing a violation of the Equal Protection Clause. This ruling effectively nullified similar bans nationwide.
Alexandria encouraged residents to join in the celebration by sharing their own love stories on social media using #LovingDay.
For those interested in the Lovings’ legacy, a historic marker can be found at the corner of Pitt and King streets in Old Town Alexandria.
