August 14, 2024

On the 116th Anniversary, Duckworth, Durbin, Budzinski Applaud Biden-Harris Administration on Establishing the 1908 Springfield Race Riot National Monument

 

[SPRINGFIELD, IL] – U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Representative Nikki Budzinski (D-IL-13) today applauded the Biden-Harris Administration’s announcement it will designate the uncovered site of the 1908 Springfield Race Riot as a national monument to be managed by the U.S. National Park Service. This designation ensures the historic site will be preserved to tell the story of the Springfield Race Riot of 1908—a critical event in American history that spurred the creation of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP). 116 years ago today, a violent mob of white residents murdered at least six Black Americans, burned down Black homes and businesses and attacked hundreds of residents for no other reason than the color of their skin. With less than a quarter of National Parks devoted to recognizing the histories of diverse peoples and cultures, designating the 1908 Race Riot Site a national monument will help guarantee that public lands reflect the diversity of the country.
 
“The 1908 Springfield Race Riot site is of extraordinary cultural and historical importance to our state and to this country—a searing, horrific incident that galvanized the creation of the NAACP,” Duckworth said. “I’ve been working for years to designate this site as a national monument to help ensure the painful lessons learned here will not be lost for the generations of Americans to come. I’m proud that President Biden is taking action to help ensure this history is properly honored and making our national parks better reflect our nation’s people and stories.”
 
“The 1908 Springfield Race Riot was a violent and hateful tragedy, but it’s a part of Illinois’ and our nation’s history that we cannot turn a blind eye to.  The story, which led to the creation of the NAACP, must be told,” said Durbin.  “I have worked with Senator Duckworth and Rep. Budzinski to push for this historical site to be recognized as a national monument, and I’m grateful that President Biden understands the gravity of designating this site in Springfield.  Together, we can honor the lives lost during the deadly riots and reaffirm our commitment to fighting prejudice in Illinois and across the country.”
 
“Designating the 1908 Springfield Race Riot site as a national monument is a critical step forward to honor those killed and acknowledge the impact this tragedy had on the Springfield community and our nation as a whole,” said Budzinski. “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. It is critical that we preserve this history for future generations. Since coming to Congress, I’ve been pushing for this recognition and I couldn’t be more excited that it is coming to fruition.”
 
Duckworth, Durbin and Budzinski’s leadership has been critical in creating this site as a national monument. Duckworth began calling for national monument recognition in 2018, first introducing the Springfield 1908 Race Riot National Monument Act with Durbin in 2019 and again in 2021. Last year they re-introduced the legislation, which was reported favorably out of committee, with Budzinski introducing companion legislation in the House.
 
During an excavation as part of the Springfield High Speed Rail project, foundations and artifacts from homes destroyed during the riot were uncovered. An agreement with community members was reached in 2018 to excavate the remains and designate the uncovered site a memorial.
 
Duckworth has made elevating disenfranchised communities and their stories one of her main priorities while in Congress. Last year, after continued efforts from Duckworth, the Biden Administration designated the church that held Emmett Till’s pivotal open-casket wake in Chicago’s Bronzeville neighborhood as a national monument. Duckworth and Durbin’s leadership was critical in the site designation, originally introducing the Emmett Till and Mamie Till-Mobley, and Roberts Temple National Historic Site Act in 2021 and again in 2023.

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