A California woman named Isis is contesting the state’s request to change a controversial phrase on her personalized license plate, which she’s had for three years.
Recently, the California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) mandated that 26-year-old Isis Wharton alter the wording “Iamisis” on her white Kia, raising concerns that it might be misinterpreted as referring to the terrorist organization known as ISIS, which stands for Iraq and Syria.
Wharton received approval for her custom plates in 2022 and has pushed back against the DMV’s request. She claims that her vanity plates were updated annually without issue.
“My name existed thousands of years before it was associated with a terrorist group,” Wharton told ABC 10. “It feels harmful to come after someone’s name, and I think they should consider this more thoughtfully.”
The design of her sedan includes the words “Iamisis” in yellow letters against a black background, framed by a barbed wire motif.
She insisted that her wish for a personalized plate has nothing to do with any terrorist groups, which were designated as foreign terrorist organizations by the U.S. State Department in 2004.
Wharton explained, “I was named after the Egyptian goddess, who symbolizes healing and motherhood. That’s a lot more peaceful than the way it’s being portrayed.”
A predecessor group to ISIS, Al-Qaeda in Iraq, was established in 2004 before adopting its current name in 2013, according to the National Intelligence Bureau’s office.
Residing near Sacramento, Wharton has been instructed to appeal the DMV’s request by September 25. If she fails to do so, the department will issue her a new plate.
“I was really confused because I’ve had this plate for some time, and it honestly hurt to receive this notice,” Wharton remarked to ABC Los Angeles. “I registered just a few months ago, and they didn’t mention anything at that time.”
She added, “I thought everything was fine since I didn’t get any initial pushback from the DMV.”
Interestingly, “ISIS” isn’t listed among the restricted configurations for license plates, as noted by the California DMV. The agency stated that they must reject any plate wording that could be offensive or misleading.
Wharton noted, “I know they have strict guidelines, so I was genuinely pleased to have my name on a plate, despite the controversy surrounding it.”
The DMV explained that plates may be denied for various reasons, including potential associations with violence or criminal gang affiliations. They emphasized that language and symbols can hold different meanings across various cultures and communities.
