Durbin Joins 1908 Springfield Race Riot National Monument Commemoration
SPRINGFIELD – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) last night attended a ribbon cutting ceremony to designate the 1908 Springfield Race Riot site as a National Monument alongside U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and U.S. Representative Nikki Budzinski (D-IL-13).
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). One hundred sixteen years ago, a violent mob of white residents murdered at least eight 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, this designation of the 1908 Race Riot Site as a National Monument will help guarantee that units of the National Park Service reflect the diversity of the country.
“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 Representative Budzinski to push for this historical site to be recognized as a national monument, and I’m grateful that President Biden understood 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.”
Durbin, Duckworth, and Budzinski’s leadership has been critical in creating this site as a National Monument. Durbin and Duckworth first introduced the Springfield 1908 Race Riot National Monument Act in 2019 and again in 2021. In January 2021, Durbin and Duckworth penned a letter to then-President-Elect Biden calling on the incoming Biden Administration to declare the site a national monument and increase the number of national parks devoted to recognizing the histories of diverse peoples and culture. Last year, they reintroduced the legislation, with Budzinski introducing companion legislation in the House. In August, the President signed a proclamation establishing the Springfield 1908 Race Riot National Monument.
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.
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