LOS ANGELES (AP) — The California Department of Motor Vehicles has apologized for an “unacceptable and disturbing” personalized truck license plate that the agency said displayed hate speech related to the Oct. 7 attack on Israel. But a relative of the vehicle's owner said the whole controversy was an unfortunate misunderstanding.
A photo posted on X by the watchdog group StopAntisemitism showed a license plate on a Tesla Cybertruck near Los Angeles that read “LOLOCT7.” LOL is an abbreviation for “laugh out loud.”
The group said the plate seemed to reference Oct. 7, 2023, when Hamas militants attacked Israel, killing hundreds of people and prompting an Israeli retaliation against Palestinians in Gaza.
But the son of the truck's owner told ABC 7 in Los Angeles that the personalized plate was not a reference to the Oct. 7 attack at all. He said it referred to the owner, who is a Filipino grandfather. “LOLO” means grandfather in Tagalog, “CT” refers to the Cybertruck, while 7 represents the owner’s seven children, according to the news station.
The DMV issued a statement Thursday, saying the department is “taking swift action to recall these shocking plates, and we will immediately strengthen our internal review process to ensure such an egregious oversight never happens again.”
A spokesperson for the DMV told the Los Angeles Times the license plate should not have passed the review process and, after it was flagged on social media, many people who alerted the department found it offensive.
“The use of hateful language is not only a clear violation of our policies but also a violation of our core values to proudly serve the public and ensure safe and welcoming roadways,” the DMV statement said.
The DMV said the license plate owner will be notified about the recall of their license plate because of the language. The owner of the vehicle has the right to appeal the department’s decision.
FILE — In this April 9, 2019 file photo is the California Department of Motor Vehicles office in the Arleta neighborhood of Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Richard Vogel, File)
MANCHESTER, England (AP) — Amad Diallo struck a 90th-minute winner as Manchester United staged a stunning late comeback to beat Manchester City 2-1 in the Premier League on Sunday.
Four-time defending champion City led the Manchester derby 1-0 going into the 88th minute at the Etihad Stadium. But the game was turned round in dramatic fashion as Bruno Fernandes leveled the game from the penalty spot and Diallo sealed victory for United.
“We know what the derby means. We are not in a position to be bouncing about anything. We are moving forward,” Fernandes said.
City fans jeered at the final whistle as their once dominant team’s woeful run of form extended to one win and eight losses in 11 games.
“I’m the boss, I’m the manager and I’m not good enough. It’s as simple as that,” Guardiola said.
It was a first derby victory for new United head coach Ruben Amorim, who led Sporting Lisbon to a 4-1 win against City in one of his last games in charge of the Portuguese club in November.
But for a long time it looked like being a third-straight league loss for United after Josko Gvardiol’s headed goal in the 36th.
Fernandes was guilty of missing the target when through on goal in the second half and United struggled to create chances against a City team that rarely looked like adding to its lead.
But in a dramatic end to the match, Diallo raced after an underhit backpass from Matheus Nunes. Nunes then brought down the United forward in the box and referee Anthony Taylor pointed to the penalty spot.
Fernandes made no mistake this time — sending Ederson the wrong way.
Moments later, Diallo ran onto a long pass from Lisandro Martinez, flicked the ball high and past Ederson before rolling it into the net from a tight angle.
United is 13th and five points behind fifth-place City.
Chelsea, in second, closed the gap to Liverpool to two points after a 2-1 win against Brentford. Tottenham thrashed last-place Southampton 5-0 with all the goals in the first half.
Ismaila Sarr scored twice as Crystal Palace beat Brighton 3-1 in the Premier League on Sunday.
The forward also provided an assist for Trevoh Chalobah in the win at the Amex Stadium, which lifted Palace four points clear of the relegation zone.
Brighton is ninth and without a win in four matches.
Palace went ahead in the 27th minute through Chalobah, and Sarr doubled the lead for the visitors in the 33rd.
Sarr scored his second in the 82nd before Marc Guehi’s own-goal pulled one back for Brighton. It was Guehi’s second own-goal in his last four games.
James Robson is at https://twitter.com/jamesalanrobson
AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer
Manchester United's Diogo Dalot reacts during the English Premier League soccer match between Manchester City and Manchester United at the Etihad Stadium in Manchester, Sunday, Dec. 15, 2024. (AP Photo/Dave Thompson)
Manchester City's head coach Pep Guardiola reacts during the English Premier League soccer match between Manchester City and Manchester United at the Etihad Stadium in Manchester, Sunday, Dec. 15, 2024. (AP Photo/Dave Thompson)
Manchester United's Bruno Fernandes celebrates after scoring his side's second goal during the English Premier League soccer match between Manchester City and Manchester United at the Etihad Stadium in Manchester, Sunday, Dec. 15, 2024. (AP Photo/Dave Thompson)
Manchester United's Amad Diallo celebrates after scoring his side's second goal during the English Premier League soccer match between Manchester City and Manchester United at the Etihad Stadium in Manchester, Sunday, Dec. 15, 2024. (AP Photo/Dave Thompson)
Manchester City's Josko Gvardiol, left, celebrates after scoring his side's opening goal during the English Premier League soccer match between Manchester City and Manchester United at the Etihad Stadium in Manchester, Sunday, Dec. 15, 2024. (AP Photo/Dave Thompson)
Manchester City's Phil Foden kicks the ball ahead of Manchester United's Kobbie Mainoo during the English Premier League soccer match between Manchester City and Manchester United at the Etihad Stadium in Manchester, Sunday, Dec. 15, 2024. (AP Photo/Dave Thompson)
Manchester City's head coach Pep Guardiola reacts during the English Premier League soccer match between Manchester City and Manchester United at the Etihad Stadium in Manchester, Sunday, Dec. 15, 2024. (AP Photo/Dave Thompson)
Manchester City's Phil Foden kicks the ball ahead of Manchester United's Kobbie Mainoo during the English Premier League soccer match between Manchester City and Manchester United at the Etihad Stadium in Manchester, Sunday, Dec. 15, 2024. (AP Photo/Dave Thompson)
Manchester United owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe, left, talks with Manchester City chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak ahead the English Premier League soccer match between Manchester City and Manchester United at the Etihad Stadium in Manchester, Sunday, Dec. 15, 2024. (AP Photo/Dave Thompson)
Manchester City's Josko Gvardiol, centre, scores his side's opening goal during the English Premier League soccer match between Manchester City and Manchester United at the Etihad Stadium in Manchester, Sunday, Dec. 15, 2024. (AP Photo/Dave Thompson)
Manchester City's Ruben Dias, left, challenges for the ball with Manchester United's Rasmus Hojlund during the English Premier League soccer match between Manchester City and Manchester United at the Etihad Stadium in Manchester, Sunday, Dec. 15, 2024. (AP Photo/Dave Thompson)
Crystal Palace's Ismaila Sarr celebrates scoring during the English Premier League soccer match between Brighton and Hove Albion and Crystal Palace, at the American Express Stadium, in Brighton and Hove, England, Sunday, Dec. 15, 2024. (Zac Goodwin/PA via AP)
