As if the Senate didn’t have better matters to work on. Yet, senators passed a first reading to change the name of Av. Charles Sumner to that of Av. Rafael Corporán. The Dominican Senate wants to rename the street to honor Rafael Corporan de los Santos, a former television producer and personality.
Moreso, those who oppose the measure say Sumner was key in lobbying in the US Congress to impede the annexation of the land to the United States. Charles Sumner is the man responsible for trashing expansionist plans of US President Ulises S. Grant in 1869 and 1870 when there was an offer by then Dominican President Buenaventura Baez to annex the country to the United States. Sumner, a Republican and very fervent abolitionist, felt that Dominicans should keep their independence. His vote against Grant resulted in his losing his position as chairman of the US Senate Foreign Relations Committee.
A report in Acento explains that Sumner was not defending Dominican independence. Rather he disqualified the annexation for racial reasons.
A second reading is pending.
In the Dominican Republic, it is well known that name changes don’t click. The population continues to use the original name.
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Listin Diario
Acento
25 April 2021