Plate proceeds will benefit the U.S. government's anti-terrorism fund

Columbia, S. C. - Governor Jim Hodges on Tuesday introduced a plan for South Carolinians to fight terrorism with a new United We Stand anti-terrorism license plate.

"South Carolinians have asked 'what can I do'. Here's the answer," Hodges said. "This specialty plate will allow South Carolinians to directly contribute to stopping terrorism and punishing evil-doers."

The Governor's plan calls for the creation of a new United We Stand license plate. Proceeds from license plate sales will benefit the Rewards for Justice Fund, a private, non-profit organization formed in the days following the September 11 attacks. The Norwalk, Connecticut-based Fund raises money that supports the U.S. State Department's Rewards for Justice Program.

Established in 1984, Rewards for Justice is one of the most successful federal anti-terrorism programs in the nation's history. The program uses reward payments to identify and capture individuals who have committed or are planning to commit terrorist acts. Rewards for Justice is responsible for the capture of a number of terrorists, including Ramzi Ahmed Yousef, organizer of the1993 World Trade Center bombing.

"With these new plates, South Carolinians can express their patriotism while increasing the bounty on the heads of terrorists like Osama Bin Laden," Hodges said.

Florida and Connecticut have introduced legislation for similar plates in recent months.