We are pleased that the government has agreed to stop using taxpayer dollars to fund the Silver Ring Thing's religious activities. The ACLU supports the right of Silver Ring Thing to offer religious programming, but it may not do so using government funds.

Public funds were being used to fund a road show, really, to convert teens to Christianity.

Tennessee cannot pick and choose who among its residents is allowed to speak freely. We are hopeful that the Supreme Court will recognize that only allowing an anti-choice plate violates free speech rights and that the appeals court will prevent production of the plate while the case is under review.

We are hopeful that the Supreme Court will agree that Tennessee cannot discriminate against people because of their point of view. If the state is going to give some people the opportunity to express their opinions on their license plates, it must allow people with opposing viewpoints the same opportunity.