Nathan Kirk from Oneonta, Alabama is using the popular catchphrase ‘Let’s Go Brandon’ to voice his disapproval of President Joe Biden in his own unique way – by adopting it on the license plate of his silver Ford F-150 truck. Apparently, that display is a tad too extreme for the Alabama Department of Revenue’s Motor Vehicle Division, which has sent a letter to Nathan asking him to surrender the license plate within ten days or have his registration cancelled.
The ‘offensive’ license plate has the letters ‘LGBFJB’. LGB stands for “Let’s Go Brandon” while ‘FJB’ is the original profane version that includes expletives thrown at Joe Biden. The yellow license plate also has a ‘Don’t Tread on Me’ insignia. Also, at the top there’s another instance of the letters ‘FJB’ and at the bottom is the text “Let’s Go Brandon,” making it absolutely clear what Nathan is trying to say.
The reason given by the Department of Revenue? This is what they wrote in the letter, “The Alabama Department of Revenue, Motor Vehicle Division, has determined the above referenced license plate contains objectionable language which is considered by the Department to be offensive to the peace and dignity of the State of Alabama.”
This is a classic violation of the First Amendment – a governmental entity is limiting the speech of an individual. So says Nathan Kirk; “It’s 100 percent suppression of First Amendment rights,” he said.
It’s not like there’s any other valid reason for removing the license plate, such as road safety (it can be argued that it could lead to a road rage incident when a Brandon supporter drives right up behind it). The Department of Revenue specifically said it’s due to ‘objectionable’ and ‘offensive’ language.
Nathan was also puzzled by the fact that they approved the license plate in the first place, and he has been driving around with it for a month. He also lamented about how much it cost him, “They didn’t have any issue taking the six or $700 it cost from me.”
The letter from the Department of Revenue also noted that there’s an appeal process Nathan can pursue if he’s unhappy with the decision. “If you are dissatisfied by the above action of the Department of Revenue, Section 40-12-275, Code of Alabama 1975, as provided in Act 2019-305. ‘An appeal concerning the denial of the issuance or renewal of a license plate shall be made with the circuit court of the county where the motor vehicle is registered,” the letter reads.
Nathan is not backing down; he is vowing to fight a legal battle to protect his First Amendment rights.
