By Asia Alexander
Howard University
News Service
WASHINGTON, D.C.
To commemorate a dark chapter in American history, President Joe Biden signed a proclamation recently in the Oval Office marking the 116th anniversary of the Springfield Race Riot and approving a new national monument.
The Springfield Race Riot was a brutal assault by a white mob on the Black community of Springfield, Illinois, resulting in the town being burned down and lives lost in 1908. The monument commemorates this violence and highlights the pervasive racism, intimidation and brutality faced by Black Americans nationwide.
Before signing the proclamation President Biden made remarks about the attempt to erase Black History.
Biden said he never thought he would “have to worry about people wanting to erase history – to literally erase history: what we can’t read, what we can’t write.”
“We’re allowing history to be written – what happened – so our children, our grandchildren, everybody understands what happened and what could still happen,” he added.
In August of 1908, Joe James, 17, and George Richardson, 36, were jailed in Springfield on accusations of rape. On Aug. 14, a mob of 5,000 young white men gathered demanding their release for lynching. The sheriff and a white business owner moved the men to a Bloomington jail 60 miles away to avoid violence.
Angered by the relocation, the mob turned violent, looting and burning Black-owned homes and businesses and attacking residents. Despite efforts by the governor, state militia, Black firefighters and community members, the violence continued throughout the weekend. According to the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum, the two men were later lynched, and seven others lost their lives in the ensuing riot.
The Springfield massacre is not unique in American history; other towns like Tulsa, Oklahoma, in 1921 and Wilmington, North Carolina, in 1898 also faced similar fates. These thriving Black communities were destroyed due to racial violence, leading to loss of life and property.
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The national outrage that followed the Springfield riot played a pivotal role in propelling the Civil Rights Movement, including the formation of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP).
In attendance at the Oval Office signing were members of Congress, NAACP President and CEO Derrick Johnson, and Austin Randolph, president of the NAACP Springfield chapter. Randolph noted that this proclamation would bring healing and hope for the future generations of Springfield.
“This will help Springfield and also the students who come behind us,” Randolph said. “This is history. This is life. We are trying to make sure this event of the riot, the evil, the unjust will never happen again. We are taking the opportunity to make sure we can move forward and heal.”
Biden’s proclamation follows the murder of Sonya Massey, who was killed just 8.2 miles from Springfield in Woodside Township, Illinois. Massey, a Black woman, was shot in her home after calling 911 for help. The incident, which quickly garnered national attention, highlights ongoing concerns about safety in the community.
U.S. Sen. Tammy Duckworth of Illinois addressed these concerns by highlighting recent legislative efforts aimed at enhancing security and ensuring the safety of the Black community in Springfield.
“I introduced the Police Independent Review and Training Act in response to the Laquan McDonald shootings in Chicago,” Duckworth said. “I’m proud that Illinois has enacted a law requiring such independent investigations, as seen in the Sonya Massey case. Within 48 hours, state police took over the investigation to avoid conflicts of interest and ensure a more impartial process.”
This monument marks President Biden’s 11th designation under the Antiquities Act of 1906 and the second national monument dedicated to the civil rights struggle. Throughout his presidency, he has also established the Blackwell School National Historic Site, the Amache National Historic Site, the Brown v. Board National Historic Park, and the Emmett Till and Mamie Till-Mobley National Monument.
The new national monument encompasses 1.57 acres of federal land in Springfield and will be managed by the National Park Service under the Department of the Interior. The monument has not been designed yet.
National Park Service Director Chuck Sams echoed Randolph’s sentiments, stating that this monument will offer future generations a chance to reflect on the past.
“This national monument will allow both current and future generations to reflect on these tragic events and be inspired by the resilience of the Black community and the national leaders who fought for social change and civil rights in America,” Sams said.
Asia Alexander is a reporter for HUNewsService.com.
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