Springfield Race Riot

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, Wednesday March 22, 2023, in Springfield, Ill.  (AP Photo/John O'Connor)

 John O'Connor

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WAND) — The Springfield NAACP has created a petition to urge President Joe Biden to designate the site of the 1908 Springfield Race Riot as a National Monument.

The organization says while the site "tells the tragic story of the lynching of Black people and the destruction of their homes" it also stands as a testament to the "resilience, leadership and courage of the Black community in the aftermath." 

If made into a National Monument, the NAACP argues that it would be the only unit in the National Park System that highlights both a tragedy of mass violence against a Black community but also the triumph of Black agency.

To sign the petition, click here.

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