WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR) — President Joe Biden signed a proclamation Friday to designate a national monument at the site of the 1908 race riot in Springfield, Illinois.
Administration officials and members of Congress, along with civil rights and community leaders from across the country, joined the president in the Oval Office for the historic ceremony.
“It’s important, important, important,” President Biden said, banging on his desk for emphasis.
More than a hundred years ago this week, a mob of white rioters stormed the capital city not far from former President Abraham Lincoln’s home. Over the next few days, the mob lynched two innocent Black men, burned down dozens of homes and businesses, and forced many families to flee.
“People forgot it as if, you know, it didn’t happen,” President Biden said.
President Biden said the new designation will force people to remember.
“So our children, our grandchildren, everybody understands what happened and what can still happen,” he said.
The president alluded to the recent murder of Sonya Massey in Springfield.
“Matter of fact, something happened here similar recently,” he said.
A white sheriff’s deputy gunned down the 36-year-old Black woman in her home. One of Massey’s cousins said they are actually descendants of one of the men who was lynched during the riot.
“Obviously, with the murder of Sonya Massey, we can still see in the community of Springfield we have work to do,” said U.S. Rep. Nikki Budzinski, (D-Ill.), who represents the Springfield area.
Budzinski said the riot inspired civil rights leaders to form the NAACP. The president of Springfield’s chapter, Austin Randolph, said Friday’s designation serves as a unifier.
“To come together, to work together, to love each other and to be positive,” Randolph said. “This is good history.”
The NAACP and others are working on a walk-through memorial for the site, which still needs funding.
