WASHINGTON, D.C. — Rhode Island will not send an official government delegation to the Great American State Fair, a 16-day event on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., celebrating the 250th anniversary of the United States.
The event was created to give every state and U.S. territory an opportunity to showcase its history, culture, tourism, businesses, agriculture, and other unique contributions as part of the nation’s semiquincentennial celebration.
State officials said Rhode Island’s decision was based on financial and staffing limitations. Rhode Island joins Connecticut, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Massachusetts, North Carolina, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Vermont, and Washington in declining to send official delegations.
Of the 11 states not participating with official government delegations, 10 are led by Democratic governors. North Carolina is the only Republican-led state on the list.
The decision has generated discussion, as Rhode Island has previously invested in tourism campaigns, including the “Cooler & Warmer” campaign and the giant quahog display featured in airports across the country.
Do you think Rhode Island should have put politics aside and taken part in historic national celebration?
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