A year later, Rhode Island buildings still say ‘Plantations’
PROVIDENCE, R.I. – Rhode Island dropped “Providence Plantations” from its name a year ago, but not from its buildings.
The words are written in script in marble near the State House dome and on bronze plaques in the entryway. The state seal with the full former name is on the rotunda floor, the elevator doors, door numbers and directional signs. They’re even on the rug in front of George Washington’s portrait in the state room.
Voters chose to strip the words “and Providence Plantations” from Rhode Island’s formal name a year ago by approving a statewide referendum, which was revived amid the nation’s reckoning with racial injustice following the murder of George Floyd. The word “plantations” didn’t specifically refer to a place where slaves labored, but supporters of the measure insisted it elicited such imagery and was offensive.
Democrat Gina Raimondo signed an executive order in June 2020, when she was governor, to change state employee paychecks and executive agency websites. Voters approved the referendum in November 2020.
Since then, the state changed official websites, business cards and state employee paychecks. New letterhead is in use and citations are issued with the new state seal.
The administration is still compiling an inventory of places where the wording still exists, as well as determining potential costs and best practices for the removal, officials in Gov. Dan Mckee’s administration said. A working group will convene before the end of 2021 to develop goals for next year.
Rhode Island was incorporated as The State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations when it declared statehood in 1790.