On this day 53 years ago, the Supreme Court ruled that laws banning interracial marriage violated the Constitution in the landmark case of Loving v. Virginia. Mildred and Richard Loving married in 1958 in Washington — where interracial marriage was legal — then moved to their home in Central Point, Virginia. Weeks later, the local sheriff came into their home in the middle of the night and they were charged with violating several Virginia codes, including one that made it "unlawful for any white person in the state to marry any save a white person." Mr. and Mrs. Loving pleaded guilty and were sentenced to either a year in prison or a 25-year banishment from the state. They chose the latter, moved to Washington, and had three children. In 1967, they were arrested while visiting Virginia. The case's path to the Supreme Court was an interesting one, however, since the couple had said they were guilty and had no right to an appeal. The case found itself in the Virginia Supreme Court befo...