March 23, 2015: This image provided by the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles shows the design of a proposed Sons of Confederate Veterans license plate.(AP) <\/p>\n
In a dispute over a proposed Confederate battle flag license plate, the Supreme Court struggled Monday to balance worries about government censorship and concerns that offensive messages could, at worst, incite violence. <\/p>\n
Nearly 150 years after the end of the Civil War, the justices heard arguments in a case over Texas' refusal to issue a license plate bearing the battle flag. Nine other states allow drivers to display plates with the flag, which remains both a potent image of heritage and a racially charged symbol of repression. <\/p>\n
Specialty license plates are big business in Texas. They brought in $17.6 million last year and state officials said there are now nearly 450 messages to choose from, from \"Choose Life\" to the Boy Scouts and hamburger chains. <\/p>\n
The state rarely rejects a specialty plate, but it did turn down a request by the Texas division of the Sons of Confederate Veterans for a license plate with its logo bearing the battle flag. The group's lawsuit led to Monday's hearing. <\/p>\n
The justices seemed uncomfortable with arguments advanced by both sides -- the state in defense of its actions, and the Sons of Confederate Veterans in their appeal for the symbol. <\/p>\n
If the court finds the state must permit the battle flag on license plates, Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg asked in a series of questions, would it be forced also to allow plates with a swastika, the word \"jihad,\" and a call to make marijuana legal? <\/p>\n
Yes, lawyer R. James George Jr., a law clerk to Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall 45 years ago, responded each time on behalf of the veterans group. <\/p>\n
\"That's okay? And `Bong hits for Jesus?\"' Ginsburg said, reaching back to an earlier case involving students' speech rights. <\/p>\n
Again, George said yes, and remained firm even when Justice Elena Kagan added in \"the most offensive racial epithet you can imagine.\" <\/p>\n
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Justices struggle with free speech case over Confederate license plates<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" March 23, 2015: This image provided by the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles shows the design of a proposed Sons of Confederate Veterans license plate.(AP) In a dispute over a proposed Confederate battle flag license plate, the Supreme Court struggled Monday to balance worries about government censorship and concerns that offensive messages could, at worst, incite violence. Continue reading