Representative Brown heads bill for Confederate flag license plates

The controversial stars and bars of the Confederate Flag could soon find their way to Florida license plates.

State Rep. Don Brown, R-DeFuniak Springs, has worked with the Sons of Confederate Veterans to sponsor a bill that would allow the group to create a non-profit license plate that bears the Dixie flag. The tag would cost roughly $25 from the Department of Motor Vehicles.

SCV Executive Director Ben Sewell said his organization has been successful in the past at getting the license plates in numerous states and feels they’ve met the requirements in the state of Florida to acquire the tag.

“The laws have been relatively even for non-profit organizations,” he said. “In Tennessee we’ve been able to do a lot of things with the money such as sponsoring museums that preserve historical flags.”

According to the group’s estimates, the process for the acquiring the tag in Florida has cost nearly $200,000 and taken three years to be adopted into a bill.

Florida SCV Division Adjunct John Adams said he thinks the bill has a pretty good chance of passing and commends Rep. Brown for stepping up to the plate for them.

“There was a lot of uproar over the MLK and right to live tags,” he said. “In the end, people didn’t care because it didn’t cost anyone a dime. These tags will raise revenue for our organization and spread awareness.”

But not everyone feels these tags will be beneficial.

“We respect Rep. Brown, but we think he is wrong on this,” said Northwest Florida National Advancement of Colored People Director Sabu Williams. “We will fight and do anything to stop this from getting state sponsored. That includes putting some boots (protesting) in front of his office.”

Sabu said he understands the meaning to certain individuals and believes the flag has its place, but does not agree the state should have anything to do with it.

“Why ask the state to sponsor something that we know causes pain?” he said. “I just don’t understand it.”

Rep. Brown has previously sponsored a bill that would name part of Highway 90 Dr. Martin Luther King Dr and said his decision to support the tag is something he thinks “is right.”.

Rep. Clay Ford, R-Pensacola, said he agrees with Brown’s intentions.

“Many license plates depict heritage, environmental causes, professions, and achievements,” he said. “In fairness, I believe any group that meets the requirements of the statute should be allowed to participate in its benefits. Government should treat every group the same. Rep. Don Brown has been a good House member for his district.”

Although the bill is on the table, it still has a long way to go before it is put into legislation.

“We’re not going to let it happen,” said Williams. “Rep. Brown does not want this fight.”