No Confederate Flag License Plates in Texas

[douglas9]

AUSTIN, Texas (CN) - The Texas Department of Motor Vehicles did not violate the First Amendment by refusing to issue license plates depicting the Confederate battle flag, a federal judge ruled.
The state turned down the request for customized plates by the Texas Division of the Sons of Confederate Veterans (SCV), prompting the nonprofit group to sue the DMV Board for constitutional discrimination in December 2011.
The SCV consists of male descendants of Confederate veterans who seek "to honor and keep alive the memory of the Confederacy and the principles for which Confederates fought, thus giving the world an understanding and appreciation of the Southern people and their brave history," according to the group's website.
The proposed design included the organization's name and its seal bearing the Confederate battle flag. The SCV noted that nine other states, all of them southern, issued similar license plates.
After receiving public comments -- most opposed to the plates -- the board voted unanimously to reject the plates as potentially offensive to members of the public.

http://www.courthousenews.com/2013/04/15/56692.htm

[Downwinder]

1. That is too bad, they would have made good targets.

[Turbineguy]

2. They can always put on

an offensive bumpersticker.

[ashling]

3. whatever

The judge also noted that the group could turn to state lawmakers to get its license plates approved.
"Although suggesting a petitioner for judicial relief should look to the legislative branch for assistance is usually the practical equivalent of there being no relief available, here the Texas Legislature can and frequently has approved a variety of plates -- including controversial plates, such as 'Choose Life' -- by direct legislative action," Sparks states.
The order concludes: "It is a sad fact the Confederate battle flag has been co-opted by odious groups as a symbol of racism and white supremacy. There is no reason to doubt the SCV and its members are entirely heartfelt in their condemnation of this misuse. It is to be hoped the passage of time, and efforts such as the SCV's resolution, will eventually remove a blight from the flag under which feats of great heroism and fortitude were accomplished. All the traditional avenues of public discourse are open to those who would fully redeem the battle flag. Nevertheless, the state of Texas has chosen to abstain from this debate, and the First Amendment does not require it to open up state-issued license plates as an additional forum in which to contest the flag's meaning."

[TexasTowelie]

4. It turns out that there is a SCV cemetery about four miles southeast of Brenham.

I was out driving on the back county roads (that was a TexasTowelie past time called "rolling" ) and rounded the top of a hill to see a Confederate flag flying at full mast in front of a graveyard that appeared to have 100-200 headstones. I wouldn't be surprised to learn that the descendants maintain the traditions of their ancestors since I constantly hear people complain about that NITWH and this county doesn't even field any Democratic candidates in local elections.

Thank goodness that the DMV board rejected those license plates because the area would be inundated with that damn symbol. With the divisiveness among the racial groups the symbolism might spark (intentional entendre) lynchings that would be as popular as Maifest and Blue Bell ice cream. This place is so backwards that I'm grateful to keep that crap out of here. Wearing caped hoods while driving is detrimental to public safety.