A woman in New Jersey has filed a lawsuit against the state Motor Vehicle Commission for denying her a license plate that reads 8THEIST. She claims her online application was rejected after the website told her that her message was potentially offensive.
Shanon Morgan filed her lawsuit on April 17 on grounds that her freedom of speech rights had been violated. While requesting for her license plate reading 8THEIST, she was told that the message “may carry connotations offensive to good taste and decency.” After her initial request was rejected by the website, Morgan filled up another application for a license plate reading BAPTIST. Apparently, this application was accepted. When Morgan tried to contact the agency via mail and phone calls, she received no response from their end.
“There is nothing offensive about being an atheist… I should be able to express my sincerely held beliefs with a license plate just like everyone else,” said Morgan.
Sandy Grossman, spokesperson for the commission, said, “We review every request personally and we review them for anything that’s offensive or objectionable... We have no objection and continue to issue plates with these types of configurations.”
According to Grossman, other people in the state have been issued atheist-themed license plates. Reportedly, the commission issued a license plate reading ATHE1ST to David Silverman, president of American Atheists, after the rejection of his first application led to some upheaval among non-believers in the state.
Ayesha Khan, legal representative for Morgan, said such discrimination in New Jersey has taken place at least twice earlier and this incident goes on to show that the problem remains unaddressed.
“The New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission’s actions are mean-spirited and derogatory. They’re also unconstitutional because the government cannot endorse belief over nonbelief,” she said.
In her suit, Morgan is demanding her requested license plate be issued to her and she be compensated for all attorney expenses.
Americans United executive director Barry Lynn said, “The state of New Jersey is favoring religion while disparaging non-belief. It simply has no right to do that. This license plate issue may seem like a small matter but it is indicative of a much larger problem — atheists are often treated by the government as second-class citizens.”
Photo Credits: Thomas Anderson
