The head of the Springfield and Illinois branches of the NAACP says 2025 should be the target date for a national monument established to commemorate the 1908 Race Riot.
Appearing live on WMAY, Teresa Haley says that would coincide with the completion of the new transportation hub downtown – near the scene of the archeological site where remnants of homes destroyed in the violence were uncovered.
The National Park Service says the site is eligible to be included in the park system. There are two options for such a move, and the Park Service says the larger boundary would be the most efficient option, which could be maintained in conjunction with community partners such as the NAACP and Hospital Sisters Health System.
In a statement, HSHS President and CEO Damond Boatwright expressed support for the project:
Hospital Sisters Health System and HSHS St. John’s Hospital is proud to support such an impactful project that could become a national attraction, as well as a powerful and important tool in anti-racism education.
In the aftermath of the Race Riots in 1908, our founding Hospital Sisters took care of victims, black and white, side by side in the emergency room at St. John’s Hospital. It was part of our mission then, and it is still our mission today—to reveal and embody Christ’s healing love for all people through our high-quality Franciscan health care ministry. Through HSHS’ partnership, we continue to show our commitment to educating our community about what happened on that heart-breaking day.
[LISTEN] NAACP leader discusses plans for Race Riot national monument
