Texas License Plate: Difference between revisions

Latest revision as of 19:44, 9 November 2016

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Artist: Sons of Confederate Veterans

Year: 2011

Date of Action: March 2015

Region: North America

Location: Texas

Subject:

Medium: Design

Confronting Bodies: Sons of Confederate Veterans and Texas

Description of Artwork: A specialty Texas State license plate prominently depicting a Confederate flag, which reads "Sons of Confederate Veterans" at the bottom.

The Incident: The Texas Division of the Sons of Confederate Veterans filed a lawsuit after they were refused their request to produce specialty license plates depicting the Confederate flag, which is offered on license plates in 9 other states. The request was rejected, according to the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles Board, because many members of the public take offense to depictions of the Confederate flag. Texas offers more than 400 specialty plates with a wide array of visuals and messages. The Sons of Confederate Veterans say that the license plate is not intended to spread hatred. The lawyer representing the Sons of Confederate Veterans argues that the message displayed on a license plate while driving is private speech, not government speech. However, others argue that the production of the plates imply a government endorsement of the imagery and message.

Results of Incident: Supreme Court ruled that Texas can reject Confederate Flag license plates. The Court held that license plates are government speech and are consequently more easily regulated/subjected to content restrictions than private speech under the First Amendment.

Source:
• http://www.nytimes.com/2015/03/23/us/a-test-of-free-speech-and-bias-served-on-a-plate-from-texas.html?_r=0

Supreme Court Says Texas Can Reject Confederate Flag License Plates

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
 {{Display censorship incident
-|ongoing=yes
+|ongoing=no
 |year=2011
 |region=North America
 |artist=Sons of Confederate Veterans
-|subject=Racial/Ethnic
 |confronting_bodies=Sons of Confederate Veterans and Texas
-|medium=Design, Personal Opinion, Public Speech
+|medium=Design
 |date_of_action=March 2015
 |location=Texas
 |description_of_content=A specialty Texas State license plate prominently depicting a Confederate flag, which reads "Sons of Confederate Veterans" at the bottom.
 |description_of_incident=The Texas Division of the Sons of Confederate Veterans filed a lawsuit after they were refused their request to produce specialty license plates depicting the Confederate flag, which is offered on license plates in 9 other states.  The request was rejected, according to the Texas  Department of Motor Vehicles Board, because many members of the public take offense to depictions of the Confederate flag.  Texas offers more than 400 specialty plates with a wide array of visuals and messages.  The Sons of Confederate Veterans say that the license plate is not intended to spread hatred.  The lawyer representing the Sons of Confederate Veterans argues that the message displayed on a license plate while driving is private speech, not government speech.  However, others argue that the production of the plates imply a government endorsement of the imagery and message.
-|description_of_result=The case has been taken to the United States Supreme Court, but has not yet been resolved.  A decision is expected by late June.
+|description_of_result=Supreme Court ruled that Texas can reject Confederate Flag license plates. The Court held that license plates are government speech and are consequently more easily regulated/subjected to content restrictions than private speech under the First Amendment.
 |image=Unnamed.jpg
 |source=http://www.nytimes.com/2015/03/23/us/a-test-of-free-speech-and-bias-served-on-a-plate-from-texas.html?_r=0
+[http://www.nytimes.com/2015/06/19/us/supreme-court-says-texas-can-reject-confederate-flag-license-plates.html Supreme Court Says Texas Can Reject Confederate Flag License Plates]
 }}