PETA Proposes Replacing Mr. Potato Head on Rhode Island Charity Plate

Animal rights group suggests featuring the state bird, the Rhode Island Red chicken, instead

Jan. 27, 2026 at 9:07pm

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PETA has written to Rhode Island state Rep. Brian Newberry, who introduced legislation to repeal the law creating the Mr. Potato Head charity license plate, and proposed replacing it with a plate featuring the state bird, the Rhode Island Red chicken. PETA argues the chicken would be a more fitting "true Ocean State icon" and that proceeds from the plate could still benefit the Rhode Island Community Food Bank, as most donated foods are already vegan.

Why it matters

The Mr. Potato Head license plates have raised over $50,000 for the Rhode Island Community Food Bank since 2002. Repealing the plates could mean a loss of funding for the food bank, while PETA's proposal aims to maintain the charitable fundraising while promoting a more animal-friendly state symbol.

The details

Rep. Newberry introduced legislation to repeal the Mr. Potato Head charity license plates, citing Hasbro's decision to move its headquarters from Pawtucket to Boston. PETA wrote to Newberry suggesting the plates instead feature the Rhode Island Red chicken, the state bird, to "honor a beloved state symbol while driving home the message that chickens and their eggs don't belong on our plates." PETA shared a mock-up of the proposed license plate design.

  • The Mr. Potato Head license plates were created in 2002 to raise money for the Rhode Island Community Food Bank.
  • Hasbro plans to move its headquarters from Pawtucket to Boston's Seaport district by the end of 2026.

The players

PETA

People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, an animal rights organization that has proposed replacing the Mr. Potato Head charity license plate with one featuring the Rhode Island Red chicken.

Rep. Brian Newberry

A Rhode Island state representative who introduced legislation to repeal the law creating the Mr. Potato Head charity license plates.

Rhode Island Community Food Bank

The charity that has benefited from the Mr. Potato Head license plate fundraising, which has raised over $50,000 since 2002.

Hasbro

The toy company that manufactures Mr. Potato Head and is moving its headquarters from Pawtucket, Rhode Island to Boston, Massachusetts by the end of 2026.

Ingrid Newkirk

The founder of PETA, who said the organization hopes state representatives will "embrace a bird-friendly charity license plate that will help fund healthy, plant-powered foods for local families in need."

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What they’re saying

“We respectfully encourage you to consider amending the bill to suggest replacing the old plate with one featuring the state bird, the Rhode Island Red chicken. This new design would honor a beloved state symbol while driving home the message that chickens and their eggs don't belong on our plates.”

— PETA (WPRI)

“Chicken dinners belong in the rearview mirror, so please kick this change into high gear by suggesting an alternative license plate that will resonate with kind residents.”

— PETA (WPRI)

“Let's celebrate these smart, sensitive birds by putting them on our license plates and getting them off our dinner plates. PETA hopes state representatives will embrace a bird-friendly charity license plate that will help fund healthy, plant-powered foods for local families in need.”

— Ingrid Newkirk, PETA Founder (WPRI)

What’s next

The Rhode Island state legislature will consider Rep. Newberry's bill to repeal the Mr. Potato Head charity license plates, and PETA's proposal to replace them with a Rhode Island Red chicken design.

The takeaway

PETA's proposal to feature the Rhode Island Red chicken on a new charity license plate aims to maintain fundraising for the Rhode Island Community Food Bank while promoting a more animal-friendly state symbol. The debate highlights the ongoing tensions between animal rights advocacy and traditional state symbols and branding.