Equal Hearts Worksheet
Loving Day Reading Practice
EQUAL HEARTS
Name:
Date: June 12, 2026
Class:
Today is June 12! Around the world, people celebrate Loving Day. This day honors a famous court case from June 12, 1967, that protected the right to love and marry who you choose. Let's read their story.
1 Mildred and Richard
Mildred Jeter was a Black and Native American woman. Richard Loving was a white man. They grew up in a small town in Virginia. They fell in love and decided to get married. However, in 1958, Virginia had an unjust law. It was illegal for interracial couples to marry.
2 An Unfair Arrest
To get married, Mildred and Richard traveled to Washington, D.C., where it was legal. When they returned home to Virginia, police arrested them in their own bedroom. A judge told them they had two choices: go to jail, or leave Virginia. They had to leave their home and families.
3 The Supreme Court Case
Mildred did not give up. She had the courage to write a letter to the U.S. government asking for help. Civil rights lawyers helped them take their fight to the Supreme Court. On June 12, 1967, the judges voted unanimously. They declared that any ban on interracial marriage was unconstitutional. Love won!
Word Spotlight
Use these helpful words to understand the story and answer the questions on page 2.
interracial adjective / in-ter-RAY-shul
Involving people of different racial groups.
courage noun / KER-ij
Bravery; facing a scary situation with strength.
ban noun / ban
An official rule that says something is not allowed.
unconstitutional adjective / un-con-sti-TOO-shun-al
Against the highest laws of a country; illegal.
Turn over for comprehension activities
Page 1
Loving Day Student Activities Read & Respond
A Quick Check (Multiple Choice)
1. Why did Mildred and Richard have to leave Virginia in 1958?
A They wanted to find new jobs in Washington D.C.
B Virginia law made their interracial marriage illegal.
C They did not like living near their families.
D The Supreme Court told them to pack their bags.
2. What did the Supreme Court decide on June 12, 1967?
A They banned marriage in the United States.
B They ruled that couples cannot write letters to the government.
C They sent Mildred and Richard Loving back to prison.
D They ruled that bans on interracial marriage were unconstitutional.
B Short Answer Writing
Use the "Sentence Helper" to start your answers. Write in complete sentences.
1. How did Mildred show courage when her family was forced to leave Virginia? Sentence Helper: Mildred showed courage by...
2. Why is June 12 called "Loving Day"? Explain using facts from the reading. Sentence Helper: It is called Loving Day because...
C Reflection
Loving Day celebrates diversity, family, and equal rights for everyone. In the box below, draw or write about a family member, friend, or person you care about. Explain why they are special to you.
Draw your picture here
Write here:
Page 2
