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Eugene

(67,115 posts) Fri Dec 5, 2014, 03:28 PM Dec 2014

U.S. justices to hear Confederate license plate free speech case [View all]

Source: Reuters

BY LAWRENCE HURLEY
WASHINGTON Fri Dec 5, 2014 2:12pm EST

(Reuters) - The U.S. Supreme Court on Friday agreed to weigh in on whether Texas officials should have approved a specialty license plate that displays the Confederate flag.

The case raises the issue of how states can allow or reject politically divisive messages on license plates without violating free speech rights.

The Texas division of the Sons of Confederate Veterans Inc said its members’ free speech rights were violated when the state, which has a program that allows groups to suggest messages to be used on specially designed plates, declined to approve the plate.

The proposed design featured a Confederate battle flag surrounded by the words “Sons of Confederate Veterans 1896.” The flag, synonymous with the states that fought to secede from the United States in the U.S. Civil War, is a blue cross inlaid with white stars over a red background.

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Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/12/05/us-usa-court-freespeech-idUSKCN0JJ21520141205

106 replies

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U.S. justices to hear Confederate license plate free speech case [View all] Eugene Dec 2014 OP

You have the right to say what you want nichomachus Dec 2014 #1

Right and especially right when the platform they want to use elleng Dec 2014 #3

There is a University of Oklahoma license plate in Texas dariomax Mar 2015 #98

'TEXAS' is the State, elleng Mar 2015 #99

U. Of Oklahoma also sponsors its logo and message dariomax Mar 2015 #100

So a city that puts up a Christmas creche, may ban a menorah? eallen Dec 2014 #13

Where did that come from? nichomachus Dec 2014 #16

The government doesn't have to provide a platform. But if it provides that for some... eallen Dec 2014 #19

The confederate flag is the symbol of treason over slavery. When Texas allows other merrily Dec 2014 #22

I agree. And when the court rules the state may not discriminate here... eallen Dec 2014 #86

That's ridiculous. The states deny vanity plates with things they consider offensive. HERVEPA Dec 2014 #28

Actually the vanity plate situation is also a free speech issue... PoliticAverse Dec 2014 #36

Yes, but all speech is not protected by the First Amendment. merrily Dec 2014 #38

And this will be yet another case the SC gets to decide the limits. n/t PoliticAverse Dec 2014 #40

Yep. But, sadly, the SCOTUS is neither infallible nor objective/apolitical. merrily Dec 2014 #41

Do you consider yourself infallible or apolitical? Nt dariomax Mar 2015 #104

Did you read past the subject line of my post #41 before you replied to it? merrily Mar 2015 #105

Not at all nichomachus Dec 2014 #29

Plate on one's property is required by the state and if plates are allowed to be personalized then lonestarnot Dec 2014 #74

A city that puts up a creche is still free to deny a display to groups that believe in human merrily Dec 2014 #31

I doubt it. eallen Dec 2014 #87

I don't doubt it. merrily Dec 2014 #88

Just weird. Just get regular plate like the super yeoman6987 Dec 2014 #62

Sounds silly to me. elleng Dec 2014 #2

I don't know why the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals LeftInTX Dec 2014 #11

SCOTUS heaven05 Dec 2014 #4

are there not anti abortion plates--same dif dembotoz Dec 2014 #5

Yep, Here in weirdland (Florida) , they make Choose Life plates that have children on them. BlueJazz Dec 2014 #6

They'll tell u the Choose Life tags are pro adoption, not antiabortion 7962 Dec 2014 #8

What does abortion have to do with a symbol of treason and/or slavery? merrily Dec 2014 #32

One ought to at least have to prove they are direct descendant of Tx confederate, not just a racist. Hoyt Dec 2014 #7

The 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals LeftInTX Dec 2014 #9

How many of the 4 liberal judges... dariomax Mar 2015 #103

License plates issued by government under regulation are subject to free speech rights? Silly. Fred Sanders Dec 2014 #10

Sounds like it to me LeftInTX Dec 2014 #12

What if they allowed a license plate with a Christian message but not an atheist one? Nye Bevan Dec 2014 #15

It's time for the Satanists to get their plates LeftInTX Dec 2014 #21

Should a "Rape a Minor Tonight" plate be allowed? Please see Reply 22 merrily Dec 2014 #39

It is just like saying that your ancestors randr Dec 2014 #14

To the core homegirl Dec 2014 #17

Flying the confederate flag is yet another example of trolling.... Spitfire of ATJ Dec 2014 #18

It's a symbol of treason over the "right" to extend slavery to the territories. merrily Dec 2014 #37

What's sad is they like to think of themselves as "rebels"..... Spitfire of ATJ Dec 2014 #42

Yes, violent rebellion against one's own government is treason. merrily Dec 2014 #43

I would have loved to have been there for this... Spitfire of ATJ Dec 2014 #46

LOL! Amazing how fast something a few of the 99% FINALLY said got to be a talking point. merrily Dec 2014 #47

The Ferguson riots make that a little less clear, no? n/t Psephos Dec 2014 #48

I'm sorry, but I am not understanding your question. Make what less clear? merrily Dec 2014 #49

Whether violent rebellion against government is treason. Psephos Dec 2014 #50

I am not sure that Ferguson was even attempting violent overthrow of government. merrily Dec 2014 #53

Yes, I read each of your posts in this thread in their entirety. Psephos Dec 2014 #70

I don't think the definition of treason depends on whether one side with the rebels or not merrily Dec 2014 #72

Not really. Justifiable homicide is still homicide. Allegedly justifiable treason is still treason. merrily Mar 2015 #106

The Confederates were trying to secede Yupster Dec 2014 #82

I knew this dude who'd wear a t-shirt just for the reaction. Inkfreak Dec 2014 #81

Yeeup... Spitfire of ATJ Dec 2014 #83

Georgia issues those plates Feral Child Dec 2014 #20

Technically, the issue for the court was not whether a state that wishes to do so merrily Dec 2014 #35

I see. Feral Child Dec 2014 #76

PS, I bet if 500 people requested a "Fire on the Governor of Georgia" license plate, Georgia merrily Dec 2014 #45

Yes, I believe there is a group. Feral Child Dec 2014 #75

I understand. It's a complex sphere. merrily Dec 2014 #78

Indeed. Feral Child Dec 2014 #90

Doesn't flying the flag of a sworn enemy of the United States make you an enemy combatant? DFW Dec 2014 #23

Here's a solution hollowdweller Dec 2014 #24

The confederate flag is associated with treason over the issue of slavery. merrily Dec 2014 #34

Easy accusation to make - but not as easy to prove. [After the war] "...Jefferson Davis, President 24601 Dec 2014 #57

? The flag is associated today with treason over slavery. That is easy to prove. Just take a poll. merrily Dec 2014 #59

Just re-read the Constitution and it's silent on polls. The law I posted has never been repealed 24601 Dec 2014 #60

The constitution is silent on polls? What is the significance of that in the context of merrily Dec 2014 #61

I thought all polls were crap. yeoman6987 Dec 2014 #63

You never heard that from me, but that is beside the point. Do you believe that they are merrily Dec 2014 #65

I was being facetious yeoman6987 Dec 2014 #67

Nothing to be sorry about. The actual point here, originally, was simply merrily Dec 2014 #69

Deleted-wrong spot. merrily Dec 2014 #64

If we go on polls, there is no end things that are tied to racism. You could probably get a poll 24601 Dec 2014 #94

S_L_A_V_E_R_Y does not spell "racism." T_R_E_A_S_O_N does not spell "racism" either. merrily Dec 2014 #95

Just to keep the record straight, secession without the consent of all states IS unconstitutional. merrily Dec 2014 #66

If unconstitutional equals treason, President Obama qualified when his recess appointments were 24601 Dec 2014 #85

Please stop twisting my words. I never said unconstitutional = treason. Not even close. merrily Dec 2014 #89

Ah, I did find something about Chase and Davis, but not a "finding." merrily Dec 2014 #68

Chase ruled that a state could NOT succeed, read his opinion in Texas vs White: happyslug Dec 2014 #92

Public Law 85-425 adopted May 23, 1958 as H.R. 358 is a Welfare Program. happyslug Dec 2014 #93

confederates were terrorists joe_stampingbull Dec 2014 #25

License plates should just be letters and numbers. Enough with the cutesy bullshit. Throd Dec 2014 #26

Keep it up you racist pukes...keep it up NoJusticeNoPeace Dec 2014 #27

Driving is a privilege Politicalboi Dec 2014 #30

Glorifying treason is not a free speech right in this country. merrily Dec 2014 #33

In this case the SCOTUS should also sadoldgirl Dec 2014 #44

Let the racists Self-Identify ... JoePhilly Dec 2014 #51

Way to regress, Texas Dont call me Shirley Dec 2014 #52

The State of Texas refused to issue the license plate. merrily Dec 2014 #54

Oops, overlooked that. Getting tired. Although, Texas is regressing even without the plate. Dont call me Shirley Dec 2014 #58

It will be interesting to see how Justice Thomas votes on this court case. TexasTowelie Dec 2014 #55

Great comment in the Dallas Morning News article: TexasTowelie Dec 2014 #56

LOVE how this argument is for the Confederate tags... but considering states have laws against... JustFiveMoreMinutes Dec 2014 #97

After WW2 Germany made displaying the Nazi flag illegal. Odin2005 Dec 2014 #71

The USA has the First Amendment, Germany does not. branford Dec 2014 #73

The state has the right to free speech too bluestateguy Dec 2014 #77

Never thought of a state as having a free speech right. merrily Dec 2014 #91

What do the "Sons of Confederate Veterans, Inc." do? YarnAddict Dec 2014 #79

If they win, we'll know whose a bigot/racist/rwinger real easy. (nt) Inkfreak Dec 2014 #80

The cowardly prostitute majority on the "Supreme" Court tabasco Dec 2014 #84

How many liberal judges, if any, will side with Texas... dariomax Mar 2015 #102

The Confederate flag stands for everything that is wrong with this country mb999 Dec 2014 #96

This message was self-deleted by its author Corruption Inc Mar 2015 #101