Alabama man receives free speech victory after state demanded he surrender 'LGBF JB' license plate

Another score for the First Amendment.

The state of Alabama has apologized to a resident after demanding that he surrender a license plate that paid homage to the "Let's Go, Brandon" phenomenon.

What is the background?

In January, Nathan Kirk received his state-issued personalized license plate for his a new Ford-150 King Ranch truck. Kirk's yellow plate, which resembles the Gadsden flag, reads, "LGBF JB," an acronym that stands for, "Let's Go Brandon, F*** Joe Biden."

After receiving the tag, Kirk received a letter from the Alabama Department of Revenue, Motor Vehicle Division demanding he surrender the plate because it contained "objectionable language" that the state found "offensive to the peace and dignity of the State of Alabama."

What is happening now?

After Kirk's story received national attention, Alabama officials rescinded their demand and even issued Kirk an apology.

"The Alabama Department of Revenue, Motor Vehicle Division, has determined the above referenced license plate will not be recalled," the state wrote to Kirk in a letter dated March 9, AL.com reported. "We apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused."

Kirk told the Trussville Tribune that he believes the national spotlight "lit a fire under whoever was making a decision."

"I didn’t have an appeal process or something like that, I never did that, I didn’t have an attorney reach out," he explained. "The response went everywhere. I don’t even know who all posted it, but it was posted in probably every state and almost every newspaper, and Ben Shapiro, Crowder, it just went crazy, Newsmax with Greg Kelly, and OAN News Live. So I think that had a lot to do with it."

Kirk added that he believes the whole ordeal stems from a few state officials who "got their feelings hurt."

In an interview with AL.com, Kirk described the reversal as a "victory" for free speech principles.

"I see it as a goofy tag," he said. "But the meaning behind it does seem like a victory. Not like I was just throwing a fit that somebody told me I couldn’t do something, it was the principle is what I was fighting for."

The Alabama Department of Revenue, Motor Vehicle Division has not said why it reversed its decision.

A spokesman for the agency previously said the plate was revoked because Alabama "does not allow the ‘F-word,’ or any acronym for such, on a personalized license plate."

"They can come take it": State wants man's custom 'LGB FJB' license plate back | Greg Kelly Reportswww.youtube.com