President Joe Biden plans to sign a proclamation on Friday establishing a national monument at the site of the 1908 race riot in Springfield, Illinois, which played a pivotal role in the formation of the NAACP. The ceremony, set to take place in the Oval Office, will include civil rights leaders and community members from the hometown of President Abraham Lincoln. This initiative follows the tragic death of Sonya Massey, a Black woman killed by a white sheriff’s deputy in Springfield, sparking calls for justice.
Teresa Haley, former president of the Springfield NAACP, emphasized the importance of shedding light on the untold story of the riot, which remains a somber chapter in Springfield’s history. Despite the existence of a memorial in downtown Union Square Park commemorating the centennial of the riot, Haley advocates for a more extensive memorial at the actual site where five original homes were destroyed during the riots.
In 1908, violence erupted in Springfield, initiated by white residents seeking retribution against two Black men accused of crimes. The ensuing chaos led to the lynching of innocent Black individuals, widespread destruction of Black neighborhoods, and a significant loss of life. The formation of the NAACP in response to these events marked a pivotal moment in the civil rights movement.
The tragic legacy of the Springfield riot, which preceded a series of similar attacks on Black communities, including the notorious Tulsa massacre of 1921, underscores the ongoing struggle for racial equality in the United States. The Biden administration’s decision to designate the Springfield site as a national monument serves as a tribute to the victims of the 1908 attack and a recognition of the lasting impact of this tragedy on the fight for civil rights.
