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In 1908, a White mob incited a race riot in Springfield, Ill., leaving several people dead, hundreds injured and dozens of Black-owned businesses and homes burned and destroyed.
On Friday, President Joe Biden will designate a national monument to commemorate the violent event, the White House confirmed to The Washington Post on Wednesday. […]
Four lawmakers from Illinois — Sens. Tammy Duckworth (D) and Dick Durbin (D) and Reps. Nikki Budzinski (D) and Darin LaHood (R) — introduced legislation to create the national monument under the National Park Service. But the measure has stalled amid the gridlock on Capitol Hill in an election year.
Biden will bypass the gridlock by using his executive authority under the Antiquities Act, a 1906 law that authorizes the president to protect lands and waters for the benefit of all Americans. He has designated five new national monuments and expanded four others, part of his ambitious plan to conserve 30 percent of the nation’s lands and waters by 2030.
More than a century ago, Springfield’s Black community was attacked in an act of hateful and senseless violence,” Budzinski said. “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. Since coming to Congress, I’ve been pushing for the Race Riot site to be designated as a national monument and I’m so excited to see it finally receive this long overdue recognition. Today’s announcement is a critical step forward to honor those who were killed in the 1908 attack and acknowledge the impact this tragedy had on the Springfield community and our nation as a whole. I couldn’t be more grateful to our local leaders and community members for their partnership in advocacy and I look forward to seeing this history preserved for generations to come.
* WCIA in June…
In 1908, two black men accused of crimes were being held in a jail in Springfield. A white mob demanded their release.
Instead, they were moved to a jail in Bloomington. When the mob learned of that, they became violent. Seventeen people died and black owned homes and businesses were destroyed – many burned to the ground. […]
The NAACP supports getting a monument built in Springfield. The 1908 Race Riot led to the formation of the organization.
“This site is actually going to send a message that we are actually moving to a place of inclusion and that this site could potentially be used for green space to ensure that black folks have a place where they can feel comfortable,” Abre’ Conner, the director for the Center for Environmental and Climate Justice for the national NAACP, said.
* More…
posted by Isabel Miller
Wednesday, Aug 14, 24 @ 11:42 am
Previous Post: Today’s quotable
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Long overdue
Comment by Neef Jr. Wednesday, Aug 14, 24 @ 11:45 am
Very good news. I hope they do it well
Comment by Lurker Wednesday, Aug 14, 24 @ 11:48 am
President Biden is an honorable man who ultimately made the right call. History will be kind to his legacy, and if KH pulls it off in Nov. — it’ll be even kinder.
Comment by Alton Sinkhole Wednesday, Aug 14, 24 @ 12:01 pm
Bravo. I can hear the MAGAs screaming in opposition. They’re working hard in red states to whitewash our history to protect their fee fees.
Comment by Norseman Wednesday, Aug 14, 24 @ 12:17 pm
Well done, President Biden and all who pushed for this. This is a great moment for Springfield.
Comment by Nick Name Wednesday, Aug 14, 24 @ 12:19 pm
@Norseman is on fire today. Well played.
Comment by JS Mill Wednesday, Aug 14, 24 @ 12:43 pm
I had the honor of working for State Rep. Wyvetter Younge, who championed the cause of reparations long before it was popular, and helping her prepare a report on race riots in the US, including East St. Louis and Springfield. The lessons of the 1908 riot in Springfield are still important today.
The spark that ignited the riots was the arrest of George Richardson, who had been accused of rape by Mabel Hallam, a white woman. It is critical to remember that Mabel Hallam recanted her story about a month later. As I recall, she originally accused Richardson of rape after he was caught fleeing out of her bedroom window by Mr. Hallam. Under questioning, she admitted that she had been having an affair with Richardson for some time.
In other words, Mabel Hallam was the original “Karen.”
The other important thing to recognize is that, as Abraham Lincoln’s home town, The Springfield Race Riot garnered international newspaper coverage.
Kudos to Budzinski and Biden for elevating this piece of American history. Would love to see Chicago, East St. Louis and Tulsa get the attention they deserve as well.
Comment by Dave Clarkin Wednesday, Aug 14, 24 @ 12:50 pm
Much credit to former Congressman Rodney Davis who did much to promote this recognition. Best to tell our entire history - good and bad - in the hopes that we will continue to be better.
Comment by phocion Wednesday, Aug 14, 24 @ 12:52 pm
“[…]and Darin LaHood (R) — introduced legislation to create the national monument”
Is this the same Darin LaHood who voted against the removal of confederate monuments?
Comment by no use for a (nick)name Wednesday, Aug 14, 24 @ 1:27 pm