Biden Makes 1908 Illinois Race Riot Site a National Monument
President Joe Biden made a historic move on Friday by designating the site of a 1908 race riot in Illinois a national monument. This significant step marks the 116th anniversary of the Springfield riot, where a vicious mob of white residents targeted Black-owned businesses and homes, resulting in the lynching of two Black men.
The new monument aims to shed light on the abhorrent attack by a white mob on a Black community, showcasing the deep-rooted racism, intimidation, and violence that Black Americans endured nationwide. The White House emphasized the importance of honoring this dark chapter in history to recognize the struggles and injustices faced by the Black community.
The riot ignited outside the Sangamon County Jail, where a white crowd demanded the release of 17-year-old Joe James and 36-year-old George Richardson, two Black men accused of assaulting a white woman. Despite one of their accusers retracting their statement, the mob’s thirst for vengeance persisted. When James and Richardson were relocated to a different jail for their safety, the mob turned its violence towards the Black community, sparking a harrowing weekend of destruction.
The violence that followed saw the brutal lynching of Black men Scott Burton and William Donnegan, along with the looting and vandalism of numerous Black-owned businesses. Donnegan, a key figure in the Underground Railroad and a skilled artisan who crafted shoes for President Abraham Lincoln, met a tragic end at the hands of the mob.
President Biden, reflecting on the devastating events of over a century ago, emphasized the need to remember and acknowledge these atrocities, stating, “A lot of people forgot it…We can’t let these things fade.” The Springfield race riot played a pivotal role in the formation of the NAACP, a renowned civil rights organization committed to combating racial injustice and inequality across the nation.
Tragically, Springfield’s history of racial violence resurfaced in recent years with the fatal shooting of unarmed Black woman Sonya Massey by former law enforcement officer Sean Grayson. The body-camera footage capturing the incident revealed the disturbing circumstances leading up to Massey’s death, with Grayson’s aggressive behavior and derogatory remarks underscoring the systemic issues within law enforcement.
As the nation grapples with the ongoing ramifications of historical racism and present-day challenges, the dedication of the Springfield race riot site as a national monument serves as a poignant reminder of the long and arduous journey towards racial equity and justice. Honoring the memory of those who suffered and perished in the Springfield tragedy is a critical step towards acknowledging and addressing the pervasive impact of racism in America.
