Springfield 1908 Race Riot National Monument Act

Springfield 1908 Race Riot National Monument Act

This bill establishes the Springfield 1908 Race Riot National Monument in Illinois as a unit of the National Park System.

The monument shall

• preserve, protect, and interpret the resources associated with the Springfield Race Riot of 1908 and its role in the forming of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People; and
• include the construction of a permanent memorial, within the boundary of the monument, to the victims, survivors, and descendants of survivors of the riot and to the Springfield community.

The Department of the Interior may expend appropriated funds to acquire or lease essential facilities for the administration of the monument and visitor services outside the boundary, but within the vicinity of the monument.

Interior, using donated or appropriated funds, shall construct a memorial within the boundary of the monument.

The bill (1) establishes the Springfield 1908 Advisory Commission to advise Interior regarding the management and development of the monument, and (2) terminates the commission 12 years after this bill's enactment.

Interior shall consult with the commission on matters relating to the management and development of the monument.

Bill 118 s 384, also known as the Springfield 1908 Race Riot National Monument Act, is a piece of legislation introduced in the US Congress. The bill aims to establish a national monument in Springfield, Illinois to commemorate the 1908 race riot that occurred in the city.

The race riot in Springfield was a violent and tragic event that took place over the course of two days in August 1908. The riot was sparked by false rumors of a black man assaulting a white woman, which led to a mob of white residents attacking the black community in Springfield. The riot resulted in several deaths, injuries, and widespread destruction of property.

The proposed national monument would serve as a reminder of the racial tensions and violence that have plagued American history. It would also honor the victims of the 1908 race riot and serve as a symbol of the ongoing struggle for racial equality and justice in the United States. If passed, the Springfield 1908 Race Riot National Monument Act would allocate funding for the establishment and maintenance of the national monument. It would also designate the site as a protected area under the jurisdiction of the National Park Service. Overall, the bill seeks to acknowledge and remember a dark chapter in American history while promoting reconciliation and understanding among different racial groups. It is currently under consideration in Congress and has garnered bipartisan support for its efforts to commemorate the victims of the Springfield 1908 race riot.