Texas License Plate
Artist: Sons of Confederate Veterans
Year: 2011
Date of Action: March 2015
Region: North America
Location: Texas
Subject: Racial/Ethnic
Medium: Design, Personal Opinion, Public Speech
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: The case has been taken to the United States Supreme Court, but has not yet been resolved. A decision is expected by late June.