Projo 7 to 7 News Blog

PROVIDENCE, R.I. -- The full Senate is expected to vote on a proposed voter referendum to drop the phrase "Providence Plantations" -- which for many conjures up images of Rhode Island's role in the colonial-era slave trade -- from the state name Friday night.

Submitted by Deputy Majority Leader Harold Metts (D-Providence), the proposed resolution calls for placing a statewide voter referendum on the November 2010 ballot.

The question would ask whether voters are willing to change Rhode Island's formal name from "State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations" to simply "Rhode Island."

The Senate Constitutional and Regulatory Affairs Committee unanimously approved the resolution with no discussion at a hearing at 4 p.m. It followed a spirited, hour-long debate Thursday night on the floor of the state House of Representatives, where the proposal was approved by a wide margin.

The nearly two-decades-old movement to change the state name has gained significant momentum this year as it has been approved by legislative committees that in years past would have simply taken no action on the proposal. Now it appears poised for approval by both chambers of the legislature.

"Perhaps it's society becoming more sensitive to the plight of other people, that people are starting to understand how offensive these connotations of slavery are," said Metts in his office Friday. "Maybe it took 20 years to understand that."

 Tags  general assembly Providence Plantations Providence RI state name change

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