The California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) has issued an apology after approving a personalized license plate that some interpreted as mocking the Hamas attack on Israel on October 7, 2023. The plate, which read “LOLOCT7,” drew attention after the watchdog group StopAntisemitism shared a photo of it on social media, criticizing its approval.
Stop Antisemitism, an organization focused on identifying and exposing antisemitic incidents, claimed the plate’s combination of letters and numbers could be seen as offensive, particularly during the ongoing conflict in Gaza. The license plate was reportedly seen on a Tesla Cybertruck in Culver City at the intersection of Jefferson and Sepulveda Boulevards. The group questioned how such a plate had passed through the DMV’s approval process and called for its immediate recall.
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The DMV responded by acknowledging the issue as “unacceptable and disturbing” and pledged to strengthen its internal review procedures to prevent similar incidents in the future.
The owner of the Tesla Cyber truck and their family defended the plate’s meaning, stating it was misunderstood. The owner’s son told KTLA that “Lolo” is a term for “grandfather” in Tagalog, the language of the Philippines. He explained that “CT” stands for “Cyber truck,” and the number “7” represents the owner’s seven children. Despite the family’s clarification, they decided to change the plate to avoid further controversy.
Stop Antisemitism’s executive director, Liora Rez, maintained that regardless of the owner’s intent, the plate could evoke antisemitic sentiments.
The DMV acknowledged the potential for cultural misinterpretation, stating that “language and symbols can hold different meanings across cultures and communities.” The department confirmed that the plates would be recalled despite the owner’s explanation, emphasizing its commitment to avoiding offensive or harmful interpretations in future approvals.
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