Washington, D.C. - Trust for Public Land issued the following statement upon the official designation of the Springfield 1908 Race Riot as a National Monument. Statement from Dr. Jocelyn Imani, Senior Director at Trust for Public Land for Black History and Culture:

"Trust for Public Land commends President Biden for designating the Springfield 1908 Race Riot as a National Monument. The story of the 1908 race riot in Springfield, Illinois - one of the worst incidences of mass racial violence in the United States - has until recently been buried but never forgotten. Led by a mob of 5,000 white Springfield residents, the riot resulted in the lynching of two Black residents and the deaths of at least seven others, as well as the destruction of dozens of Black-owned homes and businesses. The riot is also credited as catalyzing the establishment of the NAACP the following year of 1909.

Land has meaning and today's designation is a poignant reminder of the devastation Springfield, and the nation faced during a time of senseless racial hatred and violence. We honor the memories of the lives that were tragically cut short, the families irrevocably shattered, and the businesses destroyed. We at TPL believe in the essential need to preserve and represent the Black American experience across all public lands and spaces. This designation ensures that the site and associated archeological resources of the Springfield 1908 race riot will be permanently protected and interpreted, so that visitors may learn from this horrific event in history.

Trust for Public Land thanks the Biden-Harris Administration, the National Park Service, the City of Springfield, and the many partners and community members who worked diligently to secure the Springfield 1908 Race Riot National Monument designation."

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About Trust for Public Land 

Trust for Public Land (TPL) is a national nonprofit that works to connect everyone to the benefits and joys of the outdoors. As a leader in equitable access to the outdoors, TPL works with communities to create parks and protect public land where they are needed most. Since 1972, TPL has protected more than 4 million acres of public land, created more than 5,364 parks, trails, schoolyards, and iconic outdoor places, raised $94 billion in public funding for parks and public lands, and connected nearly 9.4 million people to the outdoors. To learn more, visit tpl.org