PROVIDENCE, R.I. – The country's smallest state has the longest official
name: "State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations."

A push to drop "Providence Plantations" from that name advanced farther
than ever on Thursday when House lawmakers voted 70-3 to let residents
decide whether their home should simply be called the "State of Rhode
Island." It's an encouraging sign for those who believe the formal name
conjures up images of slavery, while opponents argue it's an unnecessary
rewriting of history that ignores Rhode Island's tradition of religious
liberty and tolerance.

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