Campaign to Support Question 1 Launches - Effort to Remove “Providence Plantations” from RI’s Name
Sunday, October 11, 2020
The theme for the effort to remove “Providence Plantations” from Rhode Island's official state name is “It’s Rhode Island. Period.”
The campaign officially launched this week for the passage of State Question 1 on the General Election ballot.
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."
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLASTThey continue, "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.”
In 2010, voters overwhelmingly rejected changing the name, with 77.9% against to 22.1% in favor.
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.
According to the group:
Question 1 would remove "Providence Plantations" from official state name references in the Preamble, Article III, and Article IX of the Rhode Island Constitution. The current official name of Rhode Island is the "State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations." Other government officials have already removed "Plantations" from state and local documents. On June 19, 2020, the mayor of Providence, Jorge Elorza (D), signed an executive order that removed "Plantations" from city documents and oath ceremonies. On June 22, 2020, Rhode Island Governor Gina Raimondo (D) issued an executive order that removed "Plantations" from all documents and stationery used by her office. She also ordered that all executive agencies under the governor's control remove "Plantations" from agency stationery, electronic letterhead, pay stubs, and all other mediums of communication.
Rhode Islander’s who want to learn more about the campaign to “Vote Yes on 1” can learn more at www.yeson1ri.org
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- NEW: Raimondo Expected to Sign Executive Order Removing “Plantations” From RI State Documents
- Thank You, Raimondo, on Removing Plantations, Please Consider Naming a Minority to the High Court
