Effort to change name over slavery stalls
Published: June 30, 2009
PROVIDENCE—An effort to change Rhode Island’s formal name over slavery appears to have stalled for the moment in the State House.
Senate lawmakers were not planning to vote Tuesday afternoon on whether to permit a constitutional referendum next year allowing residents to decide whether to shorten the state’s formal name, the “State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations.“
African-American lawmakers have argued the word “plantations” conjures up painful images of slavery.
House and Senate lawmakers have separately adopted identical bills permitting the referendum. One of those bills must be adopted by both chambers to authorize a statewide referendum.
Although lawmakers have finished the bulk of their annual work, they plan to meet later this summer. Exact dates have not been set.
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Reader Reactions
All that I can say is “GET OVER IT”!! I’ve heard this song too many times already
there you have it—this is yet another false issue promulgated by the elite to sow false division among the people so that we cannot unite and demand accountability from our elected officials.
ristinks
I agree with you 100%!
it’s the African-American lawmakers who are the “racist” here. I have NEVER heard one person EVER complain about the name of our state. Now it’s a problem nearly 150 yrs later? Give me a break. They are the ones dividing the races in this country….......get a life you losers!!!
Slavery End in 1865? 144 years ago.
so ya! let it GO!
I am with you hazard626
Plus if these people feel that the name of this state congers up bad memories of slavery MOVE and love to know why “WE” are always responsible for something that someone did what 100 years ago! LET IT GO!!!!!!!!!!!!
not true—this “issue” has been being pushed for years.
dont make this about bush/obama. there IS no difference between the bush and obama administrations. both are front men for the bankers and military-industrial complex.
They wouldn’t be trying to change the name if Bush were still in office…. all of a sudden they have a sense of entitlement.
stupid black politics, why does it always have to be about race affirative action and all of this garbage. If i am a white guy and i assault another white guy its just assault. If im a white guy and i assault a black guy its a hate crime? stupid i think ,honestly its all garbage,-) peace
I see a Sunday Journal cartoon already…...two politicians arguing over the state name in front of a field of pot as we go broke! Does it get any funnier than in our little state? You can’t make this stuff up!
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