ST. CLOUD, Mn.– The Minnesota Department of Public Safety says personalized license plates that say “FMUSLMS” should have never been issued and that DPS agents will be revoking the offensive plates immediately. According to Fox 9 confirmed the plates were registered to a man from Big Lake, Minn.
“This personalized license plate should never have been issued; it is offensive and distasteful,” DPS said in a statement. “We are in the process of revoking and taking possession of the plates today. The Department of Public Safety apologizes for this error. The Driver and Vehicle Services Division is reviewing its process for approving personalized license plates today and will immediately provide additional review and oversight of applications.”
A photo taken with Snapchat of the license plate was shared by a Somali community activist, Haji Yusuf, on Facebook. He told Fox 9 that the photo was taken by a St. Cloud high school student. Yusuf is a member of the advocacy group Unite Cloud, which is working with the entire St. Cloud community to stop discrimination, especially against Muslims.
The DPS confirmed that the license plates were issued in June 2015. The application for the plates was processed at a deputy registrar’s office in Foley, Minn. and reviewed by DVS. MINNCOR Industries is the producer of the plates.
“I am appalled that this license plate was issued by the State of Minnesota. It is offensive, and the person who requested it should be ashamed,”Minnesota Gov. Mark Dayton said in a statement. “That prejudice has no place in Minnesota. I have instructed the Commissioner of Public Safety to retrieve this plate as soon as possible and re-review agency procedures to ensure it does not occur again.”
