A previous effort to strike "Providence Plantations" from the state name met sound defeat in 2010, but Metts said he, Williams and other state legislators have continued to push for the change. © 2020 CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved. Senior Staff Writer. Gov. Tim Stelloh is a reporter for NBC News based in California. ", First published on June 23, 2020 / 3:50 PM. Nicholas Michael / Herald. The governor has removed the phrase "Providence Plantations" from official websites and state documents, and legislators agreed the question of changing the name should go to … ", The order will shorten the name to "Rhode Island" in official communications from the governor's office, including executive orders and citations, and will also change the state's website. Copyright © 2021 CBS Interactive Inc. All rights reserved. The seal of the state of Rhode Island on a lectern during a news conference in Providence on June 22. Today, Rhode Islanders should reflect on that past, and pay their respects by removing “Providence Plantations” from its name. New U.S. laws for 2021: Virus aid, minimum wage, legal weed, 26 retirees die after visit by COVID-infected Santa, North Korea's Kim sends rare New Year's cards to his people, 2 new cops identified in Black man's death; lawyer rips "coverup", Arrest made in alleged spoiling of hundreds of vaccine doses, Wild brawl erupts at end of Tulsa-Mississippi State bowl game, Biden outlines plan for next round of COVID relief, Biden committed to immigration pledges, advisers say, Biden announces Miguel Cardona as education secretary nominee. He references images of the plantations in Virginia where his grandmother lived. Gina Raimondo signed an executive order to that could lead to “and Providence Plantations” being removed from the state’s official name (Rhode Island and Providence Plantations). By Caelyn Pender. Rhode Island Governor Gina Raimondo signed an executive order on Monday to change what appears on government documents, and the state's legislature is moving forward with a bill to alter the name entirely. Officially, Rhode Island was incorporated as The State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations when it declared statehood in 1790. Gina Raimondo said it should be up to voters to decide if "Providence Plantations" is removed from the state's full name due to slavery implications. Thursday, November 5, 2020. Name Origins of the name. Gina Raimondo said it should be up to voters to decide if "Providence Plantations" is removed from the state's full name due to slavery implications. A previous effort to strike "Providence Plantations" from the state name met sound defeat in 2010, but Metts said he, Williams and other state legislators have continued to push for the change. And if you're eager to make your own lexicon more inclusive, start by ditching these 7 Common Phrases That You Didn't Know Have Racist Origins. Voters approved a constitutional amendment Tuesday that strips part of what has long been the state's official name — "Rhode Island and Providence Plantations.". Previous attempts to change the state’s name have failed after the issue was put on the ballot. "The pain that this association causes to some of our residents should be of concern to all Rhode Islanders and we should do everything in our power to ensure that all communities can take pride in our State. Attitudes may have changed substantially, even in the past few years — and even in the past few weeks," Metts said in a statement. Biden's inauguration will be virtual. Our state’s official name is The State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations. A recent Change.org petition calling for the removal of “and Providence Plantations” from the state’s official name has garnered thousands of signatures. "Rhode Island was founded on the principles of acceptance and tolerance, and our state's name — and actions — should reflect those values," she said at the time. STATE NAME CHANGE. Reason for Name Change (be specific): Petitioner Requests a Name Change to: If applicable, the name on the birth record should be changed to: CHANGE OF NAME RIGL 33-22-28 PC-8.1 (Rev. PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) — Rhode Island voters have approved Question 1 to remove the phrase “and Providence Plantations” from the state’s official name, The Associated Press projects. And if you're eager to make your own lexicon more inclusive, start by ditching these 7 Common Phrases That You Didn't Know Have Racist Origins. But the order would shorten it to just “Rhode Island”. / CBS News. Rhode Island Governor Gina Raimondo signed an executive order on Monday taking the 'first steps' to change the state's full name: 'The State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations.' An online petition this year pointed to the state's history as a slave-trading hub and argued that its name "holds the memory of an economic foundation built on slavery, and only keeps us connected to a shameful past.". Rhode Island To Change State's Controversial Full Name Voters in Rhode Island have passed a ballot measure that will drop the words "Providence Plantations" from the official state name. June 24, 2020 / 11:44 AM The current official name of Rhode Island is the "State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations." I understand the issues that Senator Metts raises and respect how feels regarding his proposal to change the full name of our State. Officially, the tiniest state's name remains Rhode Island and Providence Plantations. A previous effort to strike "Providence Plantations" from the state name met sound defeat in 2010, but Metts said he, Williams and other state legislators had continued to push for the change. Name alterations have been attempted before - most recently in 2010, when nearly eight in 10 voters rejected the shorter name in a referendum. I am very disappointed in the vote to remove our 387-year-old name from the state's nomenclature. The petition calling for the three-word deletion, which was directed to Gov. An effort in 2010 to tweak the state's name failed, with only 22 percent of voters supporting the measure. Rhode Island’s name will no longer include “plantations” after a referendum passed to remove the word on Tuesday, ending a decade-long push. A previous effort to strike "Providence Plantations" from the state name met sound defeat in 2010, but Metts said he, Williams and other state legislators have continued to push for the change. "Rhode Island was founded on the principles of acceptance and tolerance, and our state's name – and actions – should reflect those values," Raimondo tweeted Monday. According to a report from the Providence Journal, nearly 78 percent of voters in 2010 rejected an amendment that would have removed "Providence Plantations" from the state's name. This isn't the first time the state has attempted to change its name: When the state tried in 2010, 78% of voters opposed the removal of "Providence Plantations." June 24, 2020 / 11:44 AM / CBS News The state of Rhode Island is moving to change its official name — "The State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations" — due … Despite its name, most of Rhode Island is located on the mainland of the United States. "Whatever the meaning of the term 'plantations' in the context of Rhode Island's history, it carries a horrific connotation when considering the tragic and racist history of our nation. He references images of the plantations in Virginia where his grandmother lived. But Metts said he has renewed hope. Successfully ending a campaign that began over 10 years ago, a referendum to remove “Providence Plantations” from the state name of Rhode Island passed on … Rhode Island Gov. Reason for Name Change (be specific): Petitioner Requests a Name Change to: If applicable, the name on the birth record should be changed to: CHANGE OF NAME RIGL 33-22-28 PC-8.1 (Rev. Voters will need to choose to amend the Rhode Island Constitution in November before the state's official name can be permanently changed. The people have spoken, and the state's full name – The State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations – will be shortened to remove language … A prior campaign to change the name A previous effort to strike "Providence Plantations" from the state name met sound defeat in 2010, but Metts said … Gov. The name dates to the 17th century, when the Puritan minister Roger Williams founded plantations on the Providence River that later became the colony — and then the state — of Rhode Island. Opponents to the state name change, like noted Rhode Island historian Patrick Conley, insists that his opposition is not racist, since at the time … It was established by a group of colonists led by Roger Williams and Dr. John Clarke who left Massachusetts Bay Colony in order to establish a colony with greater religious freedom. The name dates to the 17th century, when the Puritan minister Roger Williams founded plantations on the Providence River that later became the colony — and then the state — of Rhode Island. Down the road, the smallest state obtained the longest name when Rhode Island merged with Providence Plantations. The name change comes as states, cities and institutions continue to grapple with Confederate monuments, a state flag and other symbols that many view as racist and legacies of white supremacy. But the governor jettisoned the latter phrase from state documents, with a vote on it likely to follow. Providence Plantations became the Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, which became the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations after the American Revolution. Some Rhode Islanders pride themselves on living in the “smallest state with the longest name”. i can't tell if this is a bit, but the official name is Rhode Island and Providence Plantations (which, imagine knowing that) and they're gonna change it to remove the plantation part. Riding a national wave of awareness about racial injustice, Rhode Island voters on Tuesday approved shortening the state’s official name and lopping off the centuries-old phrase – … The order removed the name from official websites and correspondence, citations, state employee pay stubs and gubernatorial orders, the governor's office said at the time. “Rhode Island and Providence Plantations” has been the official full name of the state since the colonial era, created by the unification of the original “four towns,” which in order of their dates of founding were Providence (1636), Pocasset/Portsmouth (1638), Newport (1639), and Shawomet/Warwick (1642). In 2010, the state's voters soundly rejected Question 1, which asked if the official name, "State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations," should be changed to simply "Rhode Island." NAME CHANGE Rhode Island was incorporated as The State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations when it declared statehood in 1790, and voters are being asked to strip the “and Providence Plantations” wording. The addition of “and Providence Plantations” happened in 1644 after the colonial merger of Providence, Portsmouth, Newport, and Warwick. Proponents of the change argued that the word “plantations” has associations with southern plantations and Rhode Island’s participation in the slave trade. The University changed its official name from “Brown University in Providence in the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations” to “Brown University,” according to a letter from President Christina Paxson P’19, Provost Richard Locke P’18 and Executive Vice President for Finance and Administration Barbara Chernow ’79 released Sept. 1. But, the history of how we got this name is often forgotten. Over 7,300 people have signed a petition supporting the name change. "Whatever the history of the term is in Rhode Island, it is an unnecessary and painful reminder of our nation's racist past," Metts, who traces his lineage on his mother's side to the Speck Plantation near Charlottesville, Virginia, said in a statement. Rhode Island voters will decide on Election Day whether or not to remove the phrase “Providence Plantations” from the state’s official name. A prior campaign to change the name A previous effort to strike "Providence Plantations" from the state name met sound defeat in 2010, but Metts said … Some Rhode Islanders pride themselves on living in the “smallest state with the longest name”. In the nation wide election that took place on November 3, 2020, 52.8% of Rhode Island voters approved a measure to remove the phrase “Providence Plantations” from the end of the state’s official name, MASSLIVE reported. According to a report from the Providence Journal, nearly 78 percent of voters in 2010 rejected an amendment that would have removed "Providence Plantations" from the state's name. Rhode Island considers 'plantation' name change. Susan E. Anderson lives in Tiverton. Providence Plantations was the first permanent European American settlement in Rhode Island. Rhode Island voters will decide on Election Day whether or not to remove the phrase “Providence Plantations” from the state’s official name. It was founded by Roger Williams. Rhode Island Gov. PROVIDENCE — With national attention riveted on matters of racism and inequality, some Rhode Islanders are renewing an attempt to remove the word “plantations” from the state’s official name. The longest name ” Metts raises and respect how feels regarding his proposal to change the full name of Island... The United States. `` lectern during a News conference in Providence on June 22, Raimondo an! 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