The “Easter Bunny” Bill (H 6254)

Representative Richard Singleton made it his personal crusade to “save” the Easter Bunny this year after the Tiverton School Department’s superintendent decided to use the more culturally sensitive name of Peter Rabbit for an appearance by a large bunny at a public school craft fair. The legislator’s bill would have prohibited cities and towns from “altering the name or concept of any religious or secular holiday or secular figure or symbol associated with any such holiday.” The ACLU pointed out that, if passed, the legislation would bar municipal bodies from displaying Christmas trees since they are an “alteration” of a pagan winter solstice symbol! The Affiliate also testified that, among its many other flaws, the bill would place an enormous burden on municipalities, which would be required to research the earliest origins of holidays and their symbols before mentioning, depicting or celebrating them. The R.I. League of Cities and Towns joined the Affiliate in testifying against the bill. To its shame, the House approved this bill late on the final day of the session, but the Senate wisely took no action on it.