President Biden will sign a proclamation on Friday to designate a national monument at the site of the 1908 Springfield race riot in Illinois. White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre announced the ceremony would take place in the Oval Office and feature civil rights and community leaders from Springfield. This event follows the recent shooting death of Sonya Massey, a Black Springfield woman, by a white deputy, which has fueled calls for justice.
The 1908 riot, a devastating event in Springfield's history, erupted when white mobs attacked Black residents after authorities secretly moved two Black prisoners to a more distant jail. In the following days, two innocent Black men were hanged, Black-owned homes and businesses were torched, and families were forced to flee. Those white rioters who were charged were subsequently acquitted. Teresa Haley, Springfield NAACP's former president, underscores the importance of acknowledging this "deep, dark, dirty secret."
The riot's impact was profound, leading to the creation of the NAACP. Biden's designation, while not creating a physical marker, is seen as a significant step in recognizing the historical injustice. Rep. Nikki Budzinski lauded the announcement, saying, "While the 1908 Springfield race riot demonstrates our nation's deep history of racial violence, it also sparked the creation of the NAACP—reflecting the strength and resilience of Black Americans in the tireless fight for civil rights." The site was added to the National Park Service's African American Civil Rights Network in 2020, making it eligible for federal grants. (This story was generated by Newser's AI chatbot. Source: the AP)
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