A federal judge issued a preliminary injunction Monday preventing the state from issuing "Choose Life" anti-abortion license plates while the new state law faces a legal challenge.
The American Civil Liberties Union of North Carolina filed the lawsuit on behalf of four "pro-choice automobile owners" who contend that the license plate constitutes state-sponsored discrimination. The organization is seeking an injunction to block the plate's issuance as it nears the required 300 applications. (More on the plates here.)
U.S. District Judge James C. Foxx issued the injunction from the bench this morning, according to the ACLU.
“We are extremely pleased that the court sided with fairness today,” said Katy Parker, the group's legal director. “This case is ultimately about free speech and equal treatment for all North Carolinians, regardless of their point of view on abortion. The state should not be allowed to use its authority to promote one side of a debate while denying the same opportunity to the other side.”
The law offers no alternative to express the opposite viewpoint. Six attempts to amend the legislation to include "Respect Choice" plates or "Trust Women. Respect Choice" plates failed.
A 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruling in 2004 struck a similar law in South Carolina. The court's jurisdiction includes North Carolina.
But state Rep. Mitch Gillespie, the bill's sponsor, was unfazed when the legal challenge was filed. He points to rulings in other states that endorse "Choose Life" plates.
Comments
Killing your own children is
December 6, 2011 - 3:18am — SpottySpotKilling your own children is the very worst kind of murder. . .
Old, tired, stupid canard
November 29, 2011 - 8:05am — Isaac136This is one of the oldest, most idiotic lies the right wing is fond of spreading. What I've never understood about anti-choice activists is their willingness to perpetuate falsehoods for the cause. If the cause is just, why do you need to lie to defend it?
And why am I even bothering pointing this out? #futileeffort
The Right to Procreate or Not
November 28, 2011 - 9:52pm — bgsw11That is one statistic I would love to see proof of " I cannot imagine that the Womb is the MOST DANGEROUS FOR AFRICAN AMERICAN BABIES " . Well with the current rates of infant deaths , low weight and or premature births, often African American babies are born to families that are at risk for high poverty levels which usually are accompanied by lack of appropriate health care, food, housing, education, and work/job insecurities of the parents. African Americans children are usually the "last to be adopted often going through "dangerous cycles of foster care homes" etc. Most African American children usually "age out of the foster care/orphanage system". I do understand the point of the writer that "Abortion is Not Morally Correct and should be Abolished period. Women where having abortions before it was constitutional law, and will continue if it ever was/is repealed and believe me not one single male that performs this procedure will ever go to jail or lose any sleep over the fact.
Women of all ethnicities do not make the "choice to carry a baby or terminate lightly "the African American woman does not make this choice lightly but gives serious well informed thought to terminating a pregnancy". A license plate will not change anyone mind but the state and some prochoice agencies coffers would become bigger.
The most dangerous place in america for an African-American
November 28, 2011 - 8:14pm — justmaybeThe most dangerous place is in the womb, where more AA have had their lives ended since 1973 than by violent crime, aids, cancer and heart disease put together.
A distinctive life, with different DNA from the mother, is ended by every abortion.
I don't agree that an 'unwanted' fetus is better off dead.
There are a lot of people having to go to foreign lands to get a baby today because of abortion.
a Choice of words
November 28, 2011 - 8:04pm — justmaybeChoose Death should be permitted as a license plate, since it is the antonym -- comment
Choose Choice would probably be the right wording.
Choose Death
November 28, 2011 - 8:04pm — RoroCAWhat are folks smoking thinking saying Choose Death is the alternative. That is not a fair approach. If you want to argue that I would suggest
Freedom to choose for pro-abortion folks.
Limit Freedom to make choices on unwanted/rape baby/severly deformed baby for anti-abortion. Same argument.
personalized license plates
November 28, 2011 - 5:03pm — annerussellI agree, but these plates bring in revenue which the State won't wish to do without.
abortion license plate
November 28, 2011 - 5:01pm — annerussellI agree that Choose Death should be permitted as a license plate, since it is the antonym of Choose Life. Then there would be no discrimination on the part of State of NC. But somehow I betcha pro-choicers won't want this logical kind of fairness.
Freedom to choose
November 28, 2011 - 3:53pm — profbamDo the anti-abortionists understand that this plate says "Choose". That implies free will to make a decision: the right to choose life or choose to abort. Are they supporting the right to choose? I had thought they supported government control of all wombs. If this plate is allowed, would "Free to Choose" be acceptable as a counterbalance?
Choose Death
November 28, 2011 - 3:07pm — PlainAndSimpleThere you go! I have no problem with that one being added.
good for the court
November 28, 2011 - 2:04pm — carbonLibthey SHOULD stop this.....if you can't have a pro-choice plate, you shouldn't be able to have a pro-life plate...
actually, neither of these messages need to be on a plate......
Root of the problem
November 28, 2011 - 1:58pm — newenglandThe core problem is the whole idea of vanity/special license plates.
The purpose of having a license plate is publishing the registration# of the car on the road. By adding the ability to personalize a message, the state is opening a can of worms. The state needs to allow either any personal message on any plate, or no personal message at all.
Would be best to go back to totally plain NC state plates with random numbers and letters. If you want a personal message on your car, advertising your name or your favorite sports team mascot, then buy a bumper sticker. What's so bad about that?
absurd law; absurd slogan
November 28, 2011 - 12:31pm — FlowerpowerThis IS a ridiculous and unconstitutional law. The state has no jurisdiction in these matters, and has no business promoting some religious nut's ideas.about godliness. Further, the state has much more pressing matters for its lawmakers to confront, among them, the sorry state of the economy and the jobs picture.