Georgia's Decision on Confederate License Plates

The state of Georgia has ceased the issuance of a specialty license plate that displays two Confederate battle flags, following directives from the Department of Revenue. Spokesman Nick Genesi announced that Commissioner Lynne Riley has mandated a redesign of the Sons of Confederate Veterans plate. Although Governor Nathan Deal indicated the need for a redesign, he did not clarify whether the Confederate flag would be omitted. Currently, around 3,500 of these plates are in circulation among Georgia's approximately 9 million active vehicle tags. The decision comes in light of heightened scrutiny regarding Confederate symbols, particularly after a racially motivated shooting incident linked to a suspect with white supremacist ties. In response, various officials, including Democratic legislators, are advocating for the termination of state recognition of Confederate Memorial Day and History Month. They urge the governor to take decisive action against symbols associated with the Confederacy, which many see as a painful reminder of the region's history.