這一份手寫的「放棄法(Act of Renunciation)」，現存於羅州檔案中。該文件宣稱，羅德島有責任反對英國政府「可恨的暴政」。
羅州議會在1908年投票表決，訂定5月4日為羅德島獨立日。
Rhode Island is marking the anniversary of its
break from the British crown.
A colonial law renouncing allegiance to King George III passed on
May 4, 1776, making Rhode Island the first American colony to formally break
away. The Declaration of Independence was adopted two months later.
The handwritten ‘‘Act of Renunciation’’ is housed at the state
archives. It declared that Rhode Island had a duty to oppose the ‘‘detestable
tyranny’’ of the British government.
The General Assembly voted in 1908 to make May 4 Rhode Island
Independence Day.
