SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WCIA) — Over 100 years later, the site of the Springfield 1908 Race Riot will now be recognized with the highest of titles.
On Oct. 9, Congresswoman Nikki Budzinski (IL-13) joined Senators Dick Durbin, Tammy Duckworth and officials from the Department of the Interior for a ceremony celebrating the designation of the Springfield 1908 Race Riot National Monument.
President Joe Biden signed a proclamation designating the Springfield 1908 Race Riot National Monument on Aug. 16. This monument presents the story of a horrific attack by a white mob on a Black community.
The attack occurred just blocks from President Abraham Lincoln’s home and caused a national outrage. This incident led to a national focus on civil rights, including the birth of the organization now known as the NAACP.
Since starting her term in Congress, Budzinski has pushed to make this site a national monument. She even led the bipartisan 1908 Riot National Monument Act with Congressman Darin LaHood.
In December 2023, Budzinski sent a letter to Biden on behalf of the Illinois Congressional Delegation, asking him to use his authority to designate the site as a national monument.
The event is located at the HSHS St. John’s Hospital Auditorium on 800 East Carpenter St. in Springfield. The race riot site opened to the public at 4 p.m. and the speaking program will begin at 5:30 p.m.
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October 9, 2024 at 04:18PM
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