Sales Up for Georgia Confederate Battle Flag License Plate

The new Georgia specialty license plate featuring the Confederate battle flag has been a hit for some.

In March, the Georgia Department of Revenue sold almost 500 of the plates that were designed by the Sons of Confederate Veterans (SCV).

The design was a source of controversy earlier this year and fueled a clash between those who believe it honors Confederate heritage and others who view it as a racially charged symbol of oppression

In a press release, the SCV said, “Even though the new design was not released to the media until the middle of February, reports show that total sales of the SCV plate [in February] were up to 175% of sales of the SCV plate during the preceding month of January this year — a considerable increase and a much different response than predicted by opponents of the SCV.”

Remarking that March sales were double those in January, the SCV claims more than 5,000 of the plates will be on Georgia vehicles by the end of the year.

“Some members of the media, as well as leaders of groups who oppose Southern heritage, attempted to dismiss the specialty plate back in February saying that it would not attain much success among Georgia drivers, especially considering the increased tag fees for specialty plates added by the state of Georgia in recent years,” the SCV said in a statement.

Other states with SCV approved plates include Alabama, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia.

The SCV says it views the plates as a way for people to honor their heritage. A spokesman for the Georgia Division of the SCV said earlier this year, "We believe that everyone has the right to preserve their heritage. Southerners have as much right to be proud of their heritage as anybody else."

At the same time, Southern Christian Leadership Conference spokesman Maynard Eaton said the state should not have sanctioned the battle emblem to appear on a Georgia tag, said ABC News.