Now that the election is over and I’m beginning to come to grips with my anger and sadness over the results of the presidential election, I’m taking solace in a number of things that came out of the election, and at the top of that list is the fact that the Democrats strengthened their hold on our Rhode Island State Senate and House of Representatives, particularly in the East Bay area. This, coupled with all of our state general officers being Democrats along with our United States senators and representatives, gives me a great deal of hope for the future of our state.

Another development that has taken some of the sting out of the presidential election results for me was the recent announcement by our governor and Providence mayor that the Rhode Island State Police and Providence Police will not be taking part and assisting in the mass deportation of immigrants that is high on the priority list for the new presidential administration.

While I’ve always been happy to reside in a deep blue state such as Rhode Island, it means even more to me now to live here, where I know I can count on our local elected leaders to continue to fight for the things that are important to me, such as LGBTQ rights, access to safe and legal abortion, stronger gun control laws, and humane treatment of immigrants.

The new administration in Washington, D.C., would like nothing better than to go back in time and undo all the good that has been done in our country by the Democrats these last four years, but fortunately in Rhode Island our overwhelmingly Democrat elected leaders will never let that happen. 

Mike Proto
Bristol