During these recent months of the COVID-19 health pandemic, it is easy to lose track of important issues that affect the people in our community.

One example is a recent bill (H 8123 – “An Act Relating to Public Property and Works - Minority Business Enterprise”) by state Rep. Anastasia Williams. If passed, this law would prevent Portuguese-owned companies from being considered minority-owned businesses, and would “delete” the Portuguese (people of Portuguese, Brazilian, or other Portuguese culture or origin, regardless of race) from being eligible for being considered for public works projects. Williams is a high-ranking state representative leader and chair of House Labor Committee.

She is pushing this bill because she says this designation gives them “an unfair advantage in a state affirmative action program for public projects.”

Rhode Island has a proud history with the Portuguese culture. According to WorldAtlas, Rhode Island is the smallest state in America, covering a total area of about 1,200 square miles, with the population standing at about 1,000,000 people. Yet, Rhode Island is home to the third-largest Portuguese-American community in the U.S., with a total of 96,433.

Locally, the Portuguese-American community has an even greater impact on local cities and towns. According to Zipatlas, the highest Portuguese-American communities in Rhode Island are in the East Bay or Aquidneck Island. These include Bristol (#2 in R.I., #9 nationally with 31% Portuguese-American); Warren (#4 in R.I., #4 nationally with 25% Portuguese-American); Tiverton (#3 in R.I., #16 nationally with 27% Portuguese-Americans) and East Providence (#1 In R.I., #2 nationally with 41% Portuguese-Americans).

Although not yet a law, this bill has already drawn national criticism. The Portuguese-American Leadership Council of the United States (PALCUS) and their members have rallied behind the issue, calling this bill in a statement a “… blatantly discriminatory action against the Portuguese people of Rhode Island …” and note that they “have informed every Representative serving in the R.I. House of Representatives of this situation and, thus far, have received a number of responses voicing strong opposition to the bill.”

As a Portuguese-American, small business owner, and proud legal immigrant for over 50 years, what I want to know is this: where do all local Statehouse representatives and senators stand on this bill. Specifically, where do all East Bay and Aquidneck Island representatives and senators stand on this. This includes Reps. June Speakman, Susan Donovan, Jason Knight, Terri Cortvriend, and Joe Serodio; and state Sens. Coyne, Felag, Seveney, and DiPalma.

This bill is not only offensive to the Portuguese-American community, but harmful to economic survival in the Ocean State. Many Portuguese-American come as new legal immigrants on a regular basis, so its impact can be deeply felt if passed. In an election year, voters must know where their lawmakers stand on such an important issue.

Tony Avila
Bristol