Greetings petitioners.
I wanted to provide an update on the progress of addressing the Columbus statue as the issue moves (slowly) through the bureaucratic red tape.
Essentially, the issue of addressing the statue was handed from Mayor Jorge Elorza to the department of Arts Culture and Tourism headed by Stephanie Fortunato. The department created a comprehensive plan to create a Committee to Review Commemorative Works which will be a permanent committee that would meet quarterly and discuss moving or renaming of public monuments and memorials based on constitute petitions to the committee.
Now, in order for the Committee to be offically formed, it needs to be presented to the City Council by the Ordinance committee where it will be voted on by the 14 Providence Council members. Providence Ward 5 councilwoman Jo-Ann Ryan is head of the Ordinance Committee.
The Providence department of Arts Culture and Tourism delivered the plan for the committee to Councilwoman Jo-Ann Ryan by end of year 2019. However, the January and now April 2020 quarterly Providence Council meetings have gone and passed without Councilwoman Ryan introducing the committee for discussion and vote.
I've reached out to the office of Councilwoman Ryan via email asking that this issue be prioritized and asking for her commitment to introduce the committee at the next opportunity. I await her response.
I planned on attending the Ward 5 Community meeting tonight, but due to the coronavirus, the meeting has been canceled. When I called the City Council office and learned of the cancellation, I also learned that there may be virtual community meetings in the works, and that as of right now, the Ordinance Committee is not reviewing new committees as it deems them a non priority due to the coronavirus. I was advised however that my concerns would be passed along to the ordinance committee, and I would be contacted with any updates.
Now, I think it is an important time to remember the goal at the heart of this petition. It has never been about "Just a statue". This has always been a fight for the heart of Providence. It's a fight for our values and identities.
I believe that especially during trying times, being strong in our principles and values is more important than ever. Especially in regards to the messages we're sending marginalized communities who often suffer first, and the most when tragedy and misfortune hits.
This current situation we find ourselves in only highlights the importance of drawing our diverse communities together, and fostering trust in authority figures who are attempting to guide us through this difficult time. Nothing would send a message stronger than correcting this particular wrong, the roots of which go deep, but not as deep as the tolerant beginnings of our city.
This is about Italian Americans no longer being ashamed of our immigrant roots, and becoming ashamed of a genocidal colonizer we no longer want to represent the Italian American experience. This is about sending a message of solidarity with the Narragansett people of Rhode Island, as the Trump administration attempted to leave indigenous people at risk by leaving them out of the coronavirus aide bill. It's about reassuring indigenous people in Rhode Island that we will not allow their sovereignty to be jeopardized like our neighbors the Mashpee Wampanoag tribe in Massachusetts are dealing with right now.
When, petitioners, I ask you, will there be time for correcting this wrong done to our indigenous communities? When will it be a priority? Since even prior to the coronavirus scare, I tell you, this issue was not being prioritized. So I can be forgiven if all reasons for ignoring this issue now sound like excuses to me.
If you would like to help, email the head of the Ordinance Committee, Councilwoman Jo-Ann Ryan. Ask that the Committee To Review Commemorative Works be introduced and be voted on.
You can also email your own councilmembers. Ask that they commit to voting for the committee to pass. Ask that they put pressure on Councilwoman Jo-Ann Ryan to discuss this ordinance. We will not have another Columbus day with a statue standing celebrating indigenous genocide.
Two email addresses I found for Councilwoman Ryan, I recommend emailing both as I did.
information@councilwomanjoannryan.com
ward5@providenceri.com
Sample email to Councilwomen Jo-Ann Ryan:
"Dear Councilwoman,
I am writing to ask you as head of the ordinance committee, that you introduce the Committee to Review Commemorative Works to the city council at the earliest possibility.
The messages we are sending our most vulnerable communities at this time is a priority. As the Trump Administration sends messages that threaten indigenous health and sovereignty during a crisis, Providence can send a message of solidarity and hope to our own indigenous communities by forming a committee that will be able to address a statue celebrating indigenous genocide.
Please commit to introducing the Committee as soon as possible.
- Your concerned constituent"