November 1964 Mildred and Richard Loving meet with ACLU lawyers Bernard Cohen and Philip Hirschkop
Mr. Cohen says,
“Mr. and Mrs. Loving,
we’re working on the case.
We have to wait on Judge Bazile.
I know this is frustrating.
He’s clearly stalling—
perhaps he’s hoping to retire
before he has to rule on your case.
But I don’t think that will happen.
It’s not over.
Please be patient.”
He introduces us to Mr. Hirschkop,
who is also working on our case.
Mr. Hirschkop says,
“I’ve requested
a temporary restraining order
against enforcement
of your original sentence.”
He calls it an
“off-the-record truce.”
Richard and I sit
in their itty-bitty office
in Washington, D.C.,
wondering what this means
exactly.
November 1964 Mildred and Richard Loving meet with ACLU lawyers Bernard Cohen and Philip Hirschkop
Richard is slouched low in his chair.
He has nothing to say.
They can see he’s disgusted.
When they leave the room
Richard takes hold of my hand.
When they return,
he’s still holding my hand.
The lawyers say they’ll call us
when they get word.
We’ve heard this before
but I know these men
are working hard for us.
I remind myself that it’s complicated.
We just don’t know why
it takes so long.
It’s so simple.
We want to go home.
I want to call
President Johnson
and for him to say
Mr. and Mrs. Loving,
You may go home.