Rhode Island to keep its full name

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PROVIDENCE, R.I., Nov. 2 (UPI) -- A proposed measure changing the name "The State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations" to simply "Rhode Island" was defeated Tuesday.

The name change would have meant an amendment to the state constitution, Ballotpedia.org said.

The Univocal Legislative Minority Advisory Coalition has said the issue is about "collectively turning a page on a shameful past" that included slavery and "creating a new history that all Rhode Islanders can take pride in creating."

Some critics of the proposed name change said it would amount to rewriting the state's history, which is wrong since people need to be reminded of past mistakes. Other detractors of the measure said people misunderstand the use of the word "plantations" in this context and maintain the name does not refer to slavery but rather to men banding together to form a colony, Ballotpedia.org said.