To the editor:

Last week's Phoenix contained a letter to the editor criticizing the fact that in 2020, voters approved removing the words "And Providence Plantations" from the official Rhode Island state name.

The letter writer went into a diatribe about Rhode Island history but did not explain the reason why the name change went on the ballot, and that was because of an outcry from myself and many other citizens of this state that the word plantation, when used in the context of the state name, was very offensive to descendants of enslaved people, consisting primarily of African Americans and Native Americans.

The removal of the word plantation from the official state name follows the removal of multiple offensive professional sports team's names and is another step in honoring those who suffered the horrors of the slave trade, while removing offensive names and images that marginalize Native Americans and the enslaved.

In addition, the author of last week's letter incorrectly stated that Jack Reed holds the position of United States Senator in "US Senatorial District 2". Apparently that individual did not realize that there is no such thing as US Senatorial District 2 in Rhode Island or in any state in our country, as all 50 states are represented by 2 United States Senators, who are both elected on a statewide basis, and have no geographical districts, as opposed to United Staes Representatives, who do represent geographical districts within their individual states.

Mike Proto
Bristol