President Joe Biden is expected to sign a proclamation designating a national monument in Springfield, Illinois, at the site of a 1908 race riot that later fueled the formation of the NAACP.
FILE - Sculptures representing charred chimneys rising from the smoldering rubble of burned-out buildings make up the Centennial memorial of the 1908 Race Riot entitled, “Acts of Intolerance” by Preston Jackson, on Wednesday March 22, 2023, in Springfield , Ill. Teresa Haley, a consultant, activist and former president of the Springfield branch of the NAACP , reacts as she speaks, Wednesday, Aug.
The designation by Biden doesn’t create a marker, although a memorial for the centennial stands in downtown’s Union Square Park. But Haley has been pushing a large, reflective, walk-throughof five of the original homes burned in the riots that were unearthed during railroad work in 2014. That project awaits funding.
At least eight white people were killed in the violence and more than 100 were injured, mostly by members of the state’s militia or each other, according to news articles from that period. It’s not known how many Black people were injured and killed. “It’s ironic that we are now at the very foundation of what this family has stood for for hundreds of years. We will continue to make change across America. This is just the beginning,” Massey said. “It’s appropriate. We have been the catalysts of change since 1908. We’re continuing the tradition.”
Racism Joe Biden Illinois Sonya Massey General News IL State Wire DC Wire Black People Riots Politics U.S. News Race And Ethnicity N Karine Jean-Pierre NAACP A Race And Ethnicity
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Biden to designate 1908 Springfield race riot site as national monumentPresident Joe Biden is expected to sign a proclamation designating a national monument in Springfield, Illinois, at the site of a 1908 race riot that later fueled the formation of the NAACP.
Read more »
National monument to mark site of 1908 Springfield Race RiotsHundreds were injured, and dozens of Black-owned businesses and homes were destroyed.
Read more »
President Joe Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris to make first joint trip since Biden dropped outPresident Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris will make their first trip together since Biden ended his candidacy and Harris took over as the Democratic standard-bearer.
Read more »
President Joe Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris to make first joint trip since Biden dropped outWASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris next week will make their first trip together since Biden ended his candidacy and
Read more »
President Joe Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris to make first joint trip since Biden dropped outPresident Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris will make their first trip together since Biden ended his candidacy and Harris took over as the Democratic standard-bearer.
Read more »
On this day in 1908On this day in 1908, a mob of about 5,000 white men thwarted in efforts to lynch two Black men began terrorizing Black Americans and their supporters.
Read more »