Raimondo to sign executive order removing ‘Providence Plantations’ from official documents

WPRI, CBS 12, Providence Plantations ^ | Jun 22, 2020 09:50 AM EDT | Melanie DaSilva

[Olog-hai]

The smallest state in the country has the longest name, and it’s not sitting well with some.

Rhode Island Gov. Gina Raimondo announced plans to sign an executive order Monday afternoon to remove the phrase “Providence Plantations” from all gubernatorial orders and citations, executive agency websites, official correspondence, and state employee pay stubs.

“Our work to dismantle systemic racism in Rhode Island did not start today and it will not end today, but we can rise together and make meaningful progress toward racial equity now,” Raimondo said.

Officially, Rhode Island was established as “The State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations” when it declared statehood in 1790. Now, those against the official state name say the plantations reference evokes the legacy of slavery.

“Rhode Island was founded on the principles of acceptance and tolerance, and our state’s name, and actions, should reflect those values,” Raimondo continued. “The steps I am announcing today are just the beginning, and I am fully committed to continuing to work alongside the community in stamping out individual and institutional racism in our state.”

Changing the name would require a constitutional amendment and Raimondo suggested a referendum should go before voters in November. …

[Olog-hai]

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They tried this a decade ago, JFTR, one year deep into the Obama presidency.

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Correction: this was almost two years deep into that presidency.

[Olog-hai]

Not the official name.

[JBW1949]

???

[Fedora]

Despite its name, most of Rhode Island is located on the mainland of the United States. Its official name is State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, which is derived from the merger of four Colonial settlements. The settlements of Newport and Portsmouth were situated on what is commonly called Aquidneck Island today but was called Rhode Island in Colonial times.[16][17] Providence Plantation was the name of the colony founded by Roger Williams in the state's capital of Providence.[18] This was adjoined by the settlement of Warwick; hence the plural Providence Plantations. . . .Advocates for excising plantation claimed that the word symbolized an alleged legacy of disenfranchisement for many Rhode Islanders, as well as the proliferation of slavery in the colonies and in the post-colonial United States. Advocates for retaining the name argued that plantation was simply an archaic synonym for colony and bore no relation to slavery.: Rhode Island. Typical Marxist move: pretend that a traditional word has a connotation that it doesn't, then manufacture phony outrage.

[Olog-hai]

“State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations” is the state’s official name.

They tried voting on removing “and Providence Plantations” a decade ago, but that didn’t happen; so along comes Gina R. to try to remove it via executive decree.

[ChronicMA]

Since most of the state (land and people) is on the mainland, the name should be changed to...

Rhode Mainland and Islands

[Olog-hai]

How does “Rhode Coastland” sound?

[myerson]

Idiots. A “plantation” is a farm.

[SunkenCiv]

Officially, Rhode Island was established as “The State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations” when it declared statehood in 1790.

If memory serves, Commonwealth, not State.

[Redmen4ever]

Rhode Island never had slavery, had peaceful relations with the Indians, and had equal rights from the start, thanks to Anne Hutchinson, a true hero. But, now, the Democrats have to trash her and Rhode Island’s shining example of what we could achieve.

[ken in texas]

- Idiots. A “plantation” is a farm. -

Indeed. As the fellow said in Sweet Home Alabama -

"A plantation by any other name is just a farm. But it does roll off the tongue a little sweeter now, doesn't it?"

[JBW1949]

It isn’t listed that way here:

https://www.thegreenpapers.com/slg/statehood.phtml

Also, North and South Carolina each have 13 letters...;>)

[ConservativeDude]

100% correct

[Vendome]

Planters Peanuts is next...

[Lazamataz]

Can plantains be far behind?

[aquila48]

Bookmark

[JBW1949]

Oh wow!!!

I stand corrected...In the link I posted, if you click on “Rhode Island” it gives the “full” official name...

[plain talk]

“Just change the state name to BLM.”

Excellent idea!

[aquila48]

“I thought...”

I see your problem...

What does thinking have to do with any of this?

[eyedigress]

Dude.

State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations is the official name.

Get over it.