Effort to Remove “Providence Plantations” From Rhode Island’s Official Name Up 52-47
Wednesday, November 04, 2020
When the results are official, Rhode Island could no longer have the longest state name in America.
The effort to remove "Providence Plantations" from Rhode Island's official state name is looking like it could win.
In 2010, voters overwhelmingly rejected changing the name, with 77.9% against to 22.1% in favor.
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLASTIn 2020, with 100% of precincts reporting, ballot question one -- to remove "Providence Plantations" -- is up 52.8% to 47.2%.
About Campaign
The theme for the effort to remove “Providence Plantations” from Rhode Island's official state name was “It’s Rhode Island. Period.”
According to the supporters, "In the wake of escalating racial and justice tensions that followed the horrific killing of George Floyd in June, support for the Black Lives Matter movement set record participation for protests and marches in Rhode Island. It also put a spotlight on Rhode Island’s long and prominent history with slavery and the slave trade."
They continued, "Rhode Island’s history with slavery traces back to the powerful DeWolf Family in Bristol and the Brown family who founded one of our most iconic institutions of higher education. Both families made their fortunes in the slave trade. For too many Rhode Islanders, the inclusion of “Plantations” in our state name connotes a racist and pro-slavery past. Changing our state’s name is one step we can take, together, to address this history in our language and say once and for all that the name of our state is: Rhode Island. Period.”
Though the General Assembly has limited its activity due to the pandemic, it passed a resolution to place the removal of “plantations” from our state’s name on the November ballot. State and local officials have already taken the step to remove “and Providence Plantations” from all letterhead.
Related Articles
- NEW: Raimondo Expected to Sign Executive Order Removing “Plantations” From RI State Documents
- Metts Introduces Resolution to Allow Voters to Remove “Providence Plantations” from RI’s Name
- Thank You, Raimondo, on Removing Plantations, Please Consider Naming a Minority to the High Court
- RI to Vote on Removing Providence Plantations From State’s Name
- RI Republican Splinter Group Urges Voters to Keep ‘Providence Plantations’ in State Name
- Campaign to Support Question 1 Launches - Effort to Remove “Providence Plantations” from RI’s Name
