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A4 U.S. NEWS
Monday 9 noveMber 2020
5 states OK measures eradicating racist language, symbols

By JAY REEVES revisions after legislators
Associated Press consider a draft in 2022.
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (AP) — In neighboring Mississippi,
Alabama voters reversed about 71% of voters ap-
themselves from a few proved a new state flag
years ago and removed featuring a magnolia and
racist vestiges of segrega- the words "In God We Trust"
tion from the state con- to replace the Confeder-
stitution that courts long ate-themed flag that state
ago ruled unconstitutional. legislators voted to retire in
Rhode Island did a similar June after the nation erupt-
a U-turn to eradicate the ed in demonstrations fol-
word "plantations" from the lowing Floyd's killing.
state's official name. Mississippi voters also elimi-
In a year when discussions nated an 1890s provision
of racial justice have domi- that aimed to ensure white
nated U.S. society like few control of the state by re-
others, five states voted to quiring majorities of both
cleanse the public sphere the popular vote and the
of words, phrases and sym- 122 state House districts to
bols that to many were win statewide office. Now,
painful reminders of the na- only a popular vote major-
tion's history of slavery and ity is required.
the systematic oppression In this Monday, June 22, 2020, file photo, the seal of the State of Rhode Island decorates a podium To the west, Utah and Ne-
of Black people. as Gov. Gina Raimondo looks on at right during a news conference where she announced that braska approved provi-
she has signed an executive order to remove the phrase "Providence Plantations" in the state's
Brendan Skip Mark, who formal name from some official documents and executive agency websites in Providence, R.I. sions similar to Alabama's
teaches political science Associated Press to delete constitutional
at the University of Rhode Is- language allowing slavery
land, believes the decisions forceable provisions that cans to provide for a more struck down the legality of as a possible punishment in
were linked to the revulsion allowed slavery as a pun- inclusive community. These the segregationist provi- criminal cases.
and widespread protests ishment for criminal convic- changes, by themselves, sions that were enshrined The measures, which
that followed the police kill- tions. And Mississippi voters are not enough — but they in the document long ago, passed by 81% in Utah and
ing of George Floyd in Min- approved a state flag with- are encouraging signs of but the language banning 68% in Nebraska, got rela-
nesota in May. out the familiar X-shaped progress in the right direc- mixed-race marriage, al- tively little attention before
"In many ways this has design of the Confederate tion," she said in an inter- lowing poll taxes and man- the vote. But the fact that
sparked a national conver- battle flag. view conducted by email. dating school segregation states even placed the
sation on race, and I think The votes are a positive The Alabama measure be- remained. measures on ballots shows
we've seen a lot of people sign in a nation where ra- gins the process of remov- Glenn Crowell, a Black that protests and the na-
who are more willing to cial tension always has ing Jim Crow language Republican from Mont- tional discussion on racism
take concrete steps to ad- existed, said Stacy Moak, from the 1901 Constitution gomery, was among the are having an impact, said
dress racism than they were who teaches in the social that was intended to en- roughly 67% of voters who Deirdre Cooper Owens, di-
in the past," Mark said. work department at the trench white supremacy. supported scrapping those rector of the humanities in
In addition to the votes in University of Alabama at Voters in the mostly white, sections. "It just doesn't medicine program at the
Alabama and Rhode Is- Birmingham. conservative state had make any sense nowa- University of Nebraska.
land, residents of Utah and "Affirmative votes for these rejected similar proposals days," said Crowell, 63. Yet "Symbolism matters, and so
Nebraska decided to strip changes shows a willing- twice since 2000. another statewide vote will does language," she said
their constitutions of unen- ness on the part of Ameri- Courts had previously be required to approve the by email.q
Earthquake felt across southern New England

By MARK PRATT New York. Ali Kenner Brodsky, who lives in not received any reports of inju-
Associated Press It was the strongest earthquake in Dartmouth, Massachusetts, not ries or significant damage.
BOSTON (AP) — The strongest the area since a magnitude 3.5 far from the epicenter, was sitting Later Sunday, Besse in an email
earthquake to hit southern New temblor hit in March 1976, said in her kitchen talking with her son, said there were reports of some
England in decades rattled Paul Caruso, a USGS geophysicist. when it hit. structural damage to buildings in
homes and nerves Sunday morn- About 14,000 people went to the "It was a rumbling. It sounded like New Bedford, and urged anyone
ing, but didn't cause any signifi- agency's website to report the something exploded. It rumbled. who felt the earthquake to check
cant damage, authorities said. earthquake, including people The whole house shook," she said. for such damage.
The 3.6 magnitude earthquake from Easthampton, Massachu- She said it lasted around 10 to 15 The Red Cross tweeted that it was
centered off the coast of New setts, and Hartford, Connecticut, seconds. "In that moment, it feels helping 21 people, including chil-
Bedford, Massachusetts, in Buz- both about 100 miles (160 kilome- like it's going on forever." dren, who had been displaced
zards Bay struck just after 9 a.m., ters) away, and several from more Her husband, Sam, ran to the from their New Bedford homes.
according to the U.S. Geological than 50 miles (80 kilometers) away basement because he thought There were other reports of minor
Survey's National Earthquake In- in Boston, he said. the boiler blew up. damage.
formation Center. That's not unusual in New England. Magnitude 3.6 earthquakes rarely Police in Fall River tweeted that
The earthquake hit at a depth of "It's common for them to be felt cause major damage, Caruso they received numerous phone
a little more than 15 kilometers very far away because the rock said. calls about the quake, includ-
(9.3 miles) and was felt across here is old and continuous and Chris Besse, a spokesperson for ing reports of items falling off of
Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and transmits the energy a long way," the Massachusetts Emergency shelves, and street signs getting
into Connecticut and Long Island, Caruso said. Management Agency, said it had uprooted.q