Rhode Island
Should RI rename Victory Day? The suggestion sparks a war of words
PROVIDENCE – If you want to ignite a war of words at the State House, suggest changing the name of the Rhode Island-only holiday known as Victory Day.
That’s what happened this week – for the second year in a row – when a public hearing was held on Rep. Jennifer Stewart’s bill to change the name of the holiday that falls on the second Monday of August from “Victory Day” to “Peace and Remembrance Day.”
Despite its official name, the bill [H7326], which sparked this heated exchange, notes that Victory Day is still known to many as “Victory over Japan Day … given the proximity of the holiday’s date” to the use of the atomic bombs on Japan and the announcement, soon after, of Japan’s surrender.
Changing the name to “Peace & Remembrance Day,” would “recognize that the U.S. engaged in racially discriminatory treatment of first and second generation Japanese Americans residing on its mainland … [and that] historians have cast doubt on the military necessity of using the atomic bombs,” the bill reads.
Acknowledgment of past wrongdoing or insult to veterans?
“We feel this bill is an insult to our WWII veterans and to the history of World War II,” John P. Gallo Sr., representing the United Veterans Council of Rhode Island, wrote legislators about the bill.
“This bill is one more attempt to whitewash our history and erase our past,” wrote Tom Padwa of Warren. “Yes, the atomic bomb attacks on Japan had horrific consequences, but let’s not forget that they happened.”
From the other side of the debate came letters of support for the legislation that Stewart, a Pawtucket Democrat, proposed, including from Asian-American Rhode Islander Catherine Chung, who wrote:
“Our country’s dark history of the state-sanctioned incarceration of approximately 120,000 Japanese Americans during World War II, followed by the prohibition of their return to the West Coast, left a legacy of intergenerational trauma.”
“Renaming ‘Victory Day’ will symbolize an acknowledgment of past wrongdoing and our state’s commitmentto rectifying historical injustices,” she continued.
Added Alex Denisevich of East Greenwich, acknowledging he has lived in Rhode Island for only seven years, but “for all of those years, I am always ashamed to tell friends, family members, whoever, that the reason I have off onthe second Monday of August is because the state I now live in refuses to stop celebrating a holiday thatexists only to celebrate the murder of millions of people.”
What is Victory Day: And why is Rhode Island the only state that observes it?
Debate spills onto the House floor
In her turn at the microphone before the House Committee on Special Legislation, Stewart, who teaches history and political science at Moses Brown School in Providence, said changing the name would also recognize that “military victories are built on civilian injury and death.”
“This is a fact we need to remember … when we watch the news about Gaza, Ukraine, Sudan, Syria and other places,” she said.
But Rep. Patricia Morgan, R-West Warwick, argued back: “This is a victory day and it’s a victory day for America because we had people who were willing to step up for our values.” She called the legislation an “atrocity” tantamount to “taking away the honor and the bravery that those men deserve.”
Stewart responded: “This bill … does not take away anything. There’s Veterans Day and there’s Memorial Day as well [but] we are the only state that has a Victory Day, and as far as I understand, we weren’t the only state in the United States who had people who sacrificed and fought in WWII and subsequent wars.”
Rep. Samuel Azzinaro, D-Westerly, recalling the bombing of Pearl Harbor, said he’s proud “we are the only state that recognizes this day as a ‘Victory Day’ because it was unconscionable what happened to us on that December 7th Sunday morning.”
The bill was held for further study.
Saturday, January 10, 2026
Governor Dan McKee PHOTO: GoLocal
It’s a new year, filled with new challenges. The General Assembly is back in session. Rhode Island’s economy is flat at best, and according to the University of Rhode Island economist Leonard Lardaro, the state is in a recession. Rhode Island is also in daily legal conflict with the Trump administration.
Add that the state is trying to recover from a mass shooting at Brown University, which killed two students and wounded nine others.
For Governor Dan McKee, it is a critical time.
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He has announced he is running for reelection—the Democratic primary is just nine months away.
McKee’s poll numbers have plummeted to record lows.
A poll released by the University of New Hampshire in November of 2025 found that in the race for the Democratic nomination for Governor of Rhode Island, 29% of likely Democratic primary voters (N=359) say they would currently vote for former CVS executive Helena Foulkes, 13% would vote for Speaker of the RI House of Representatives Joe Shekarchi, 11% would vote for incumbent Governor Dan McKee, 6% would write in someone else, and 42% are undecided.
Is the 74-year-old McKee criss-crossing the state to reassure Rhode Islanders, listening to residents’ ideas, and sharing his vision for the state in his second term?
GoLocal offers a recap of the McKees’ public schedule for the first ten days of the month.
SATURDAY, JANUARY 10 & SUNDAY, JANUARY 11, 2026
No public events.
FRIDAY, JANUARY 9, 2026
No public events.
THURSDAY, JANUARY 8, 2026
2:00 PM
Governor McKee will deliver remarks at the Rhode Island Interfaith Coalition to Reduce Poverty’s 18th Annual Interfaith Poverty Vigil.
LOCATION:
RI State House Rotunda
82 Smith Street
Providence, RI
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 7, 2026
No public events.
TUESDAY, JANUARY 6, 2026
No public events.
MONDAY, JANUARY 5, 2026
9:30 AM
Governor McKee will deliver remarks at a groundbreaking ceremony for a new community learning center at the Cross’ Mills Public Library.
LOCATION:
Cross’ Mills Public Library
4417 Old Post Road
Charlestown, RI
SATURDAY, JANUARY 3 & SUNDAY, JANUARY 4, 2026
No public events.
FRIDAY, JANUARY 2, 2026
11:00 AM
Governor McKee will join members of Rhode Island’s Congressional Delegation and local and state leaders for a rally hosted by Climate Action RI, Climate Jobs RI, and the AFL-CIO in support of Revolution Wind and other offshore wind projects.
LOCATION:
CIC Providence
225 Dyer Street
Providence, RI
THURSDAY, JANUARY 1, 2026
No public events.
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Rhode Island
GoLocalProv | Politics | Providence On Sunday Is One of the Sites for a National Protest Against ICE
Saturday, January 10, 2026
Protest in Providence in June against ICE PHOTO: GoLocal
Organizers in Rhode Island and across the country are mobilizing against ICE after a pair of shootings in the past few days.
Organizers locally said, “Rhode Islanders will gather on Sunday to honor the life lost, make visible the human cost of ICE’s actions, and demand that state and federal leaders reject local contracts with ICE, take every action possible to stop ICE from operating in Rhode Island, and hold ICE agents accountable when they break the law.”
The RI event begins at 2 PM at the State House on Sunday.
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Nationally, it was a announced on Friday that, “A broad national coalition, including Indivisible, MoveOn Civic Action, the American Civil Liberties Union, Voto Latino, United We Dream, 50501, the Disappeared in America Campaign of the Not Above the Law coalition, and partner organizations across the country, is calling for a coordinated ICE Out For Good Weekend of Action.
“The mobilization comes in response to the escalation of ICE violence in our communities, the killing of Renee Nicole Good, a 37-year-old wife and mother of three, and the months-long pattern of unchecked violence and abuse in marginalized communities across America. Across the country, communities will gather in nonviolent, lawful, and community-led actions to honor the life lost, demand accountability, and make visible the human cost of ICE’s actions,” said organizers.
Organizers added, “Good and the Portland victims are part of a broader and deeply alarming pattern of unchecked violence and abuse by federal immigration enforcement agencies. In September, ICE reportedly shot and killed Silverio Villegas González, a father and cook from Mexico living in Chicago. In 2025 alone, more than 30 people have reportedly died in ICE detention.”
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Rhode Island
Rhode Island General Assembly Begins 2026 Session With Focus on Affordability – Newport Buzz
PROVIDENCE — Rhode Island lawmakers opened the 2026 legislative session this week with a focus on health care affordability, housing costs and economic stability, as leaders in both chambers warned of uncertainty tied to federal budget changes.
House Speaker K. Joseph Shekarchi outlined House priorities centered on expanding access to health care while lowering costs, calling it the chamber’s top agenda item for the year. He also said lawmakers will continue addressing housing shortages and rising home energy costs, emphasizing the need for community input as policy decisions move forward.
In the Senate, President Valarie J. Lawson convened the chamber by urging bipartisan cooperation and announcing plans to introduce legislation supporting education, small businesses and the state’s health care system. Stabilizing hospitals and strengthening the primary care workforce were identified as key goals.
Both chambers paused to honor victims of the Dec. 13 shooting at Brown University, passing resolutions recognizing the victims and commending first responders. Lawmakers also observed a moment of silence.
New legislation introduced by Rep. Joseph M. McNamara would require the Department of Education to adopt a zero-tolerance hazing policy in partnership with the Rhode Island Interscholastic League, mandating clear and consistent discipline statewide.
Meanwhile, Reps. David Morales and Jennifer Stewart called on Gov. Dan McKee to fully fund public libraries in the upcoming state budget.
Speaker Shekarchi also announced several committee leadership changes, appointing Rep. Carol Hagan McEntee as chairwoman of the House Judiciary Committee and Rep. Mary Ann Shallcross Smith as chairwoman of the House Small Business Committee.
The week also marked the first Senate session for Sen. Stefano V. Famiglietti, who received committee assignments following his election to fill a vacant seat.
Legislative leaders capped the week by joining faith leaders at the 18th annual Rhode Island Interfaith Poverty Vigil at the State House, calling attention to legislation aimed at reducing poverty statewide.
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