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North Carolina will no longer allow specialty license plates depicting the Confederate battle flag, citing the symbol's "potential to offend."
“The Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV) has determined that license plates bearing the Confederate battle flag have the potential to offend those who view them," the statement read. "We have therefore concluded that display of the Confederate battle flag is inappropriate for display on specialty license plates, which remain property of the state."
"Efforts were made, and will continue to be made, to work with the Sons Of Confederate Veterans to develop artwork for these specialty plates that does not contain the Confederate battle flag," said NCDOT officials. "Since these efforts have proven unsuccessful so far, the DMV determined the agency would no longer issue or renew these specialty plates."
Larry McCluney Jr., the commander in chief of the Sons of Confederate Veterans, said in an interview on Monday night that the license plates were no different than those displayed by members of other civic organizations and accused North Carolina officials of trying to erase history. “What we see here is just an attack on American history,” Mr. McCluney said. “We live in an era where all it takes is for one or a couple of people to say, ‘I’m offended by it,’ yet the majority has to kowtow to it.”