Rhode Island’s official name could change because of slavery connection

Rhode Island may be getting an official name change.

The Rhode Island part that everyone knows will stick around, but the rest of the state’s moniker will be dropped.

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

Gov. Gina Raimondo signed an executive order this week to drop “and Providence Plantations” on governing documents. The state’s legislature is doing one better and is considering a bill to change it officially, CBS News reported.

“Many of the State’s residents find it painful that a word so closely associated with slavery should appear in the official name of the State,” Raimondo wrote.

Rhode Island was the first colony to officially abolish slavery in 1652 after being founded in 1636, The New York Times reported.

The change will be reflected in communications like executive orders, citations and the state’s website, as well as official correspondence from state agencies “as soon as practicable,” CBS News reported.

More than 7,500 people have signed a petition for the name change.

Voters will have to cast a ballot to change the state’s constitution in November before the change can become permanent, according to CBS News.

Cox Media Group