NAACP Celebrates National Monument Designation of Springfield Race Riot
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 16, 2024
Contact: Alicia Mercedes, amercedes@naacpnet.org
WASHINGTON – This week, during the 116th anniversary of the 1908 Springfield Race Riot, the Biden-Harris administration announced it would designate the site as a National Monument. The announcement follows the death of Sonya Massey, a 36-year-old Black mother and descendant of a Springfield Riot victim, who was shot and killed by an Illinois sheriff in her Springfield home last month.
NAACP President and CEO, Derrick Johnson, shared the following statement:
"As we convene to remember the tragic Springfield Race Riot of 1908, our community continues to endure unjust violence. 116 years ago, it was William K. Donnegan. Last month, it was his descendant, Sonya Massey. Sonya's death at the hands of law enforcement is a stark reminder that we have a long way to go in the fight to protect, and honor Black life.
While the Springfield Race riot reflects a dark chapter in our history, it details the truths of our lived experiences as Black Americans. At a time when Black history is under attack, the NAACP welcomes the Biden-Harris administration's decision to recognize the horrors of the past as we work to create a brighter tomorrow - this is just the beginning."
Rooted in deep-seated racial tensions and injustices, the Springfield Race Riot of 1908 was one of the most violent racial uprisings in early 20th-century America. The NAACP has long been a proponent of the designation and solidified this position with the passage of a resolution during the 2023 NAACP National Convention. The Association continues to advocate for the memorialization of other significant sites, including the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre.
"Less than a quarter of our national monuments focus on commemorating the history of diverse peoples, movements, and cultures," said Ben Jealous, President of the Sierra Club. "Designating the site of the 1908 Springfield Race Riot as a national monument helps ensure that national monuments protect not just the most precious lands and waters of the United States, but the sites and legacies that make this country what it is."
For more information on NAACP's work to advance racial equity and preserve Black history, visit our website.
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About NAACP
The NAACP advocates, agitates, and litigates for the civil rights due to Black America. Our legacy is built on the foundation of grassroots activism by the biggest civil rights pioneers of the 20th century and is sustained by 21st century activists. From classrooms and courtrooms to city halls and Congress, our network of members across the country works to secure the social and political power that will end race-based discrimination. That work is rooted in racial equity, civic engagement, and supportive policies and institutions for all marginalized people. We are committed to a world without racism where Black people enjoy equitable opportunities in thriving communities.
NOTE: The Legal Defense Fund – also referred to as the NAACP-LDF - was founded in 1940 as a part of the NAACP, but now operates as a completely separate entity.