From Preservation Action:

The Senate Energy and Natural Resources National Parks Subcommittee recently held a hearing on several important National Park related bills. This included legislation to establish the Springfield 1908 Race Riot National Monument in Illinois (S. 384) and legislation to establish the Emmett Till and the Mamie Till-Mobley and Roberts Temple National Historic Site in Illinois (S. 562). Michael A. Caldwell, Associate Director of Park Planning, Facilities, and Lands at the National Park Service testified before the subcommittee, and his testimony noted the agency's support for the effort to recognize these two important sites.

S. 384 would establish the Springfield 1908 Race Riot National Monument, which was the site of race riots in 1908 where white mobs killed at least six Black Americans and burned several Black businesses and homes. The riot helped lead to the establishment of the NAACP the following year. A special resource study was recently completed of the site which found that it met the criteria for designation.

S. 562 would establish the Emmett Till and the Mamie Till-Mobley and Roberts Temple National Historic Site in Chicago, where the funeral of Emmett Till, who was lynched in Mississippi in 1955, was held. The funeral was attended by thousands and helped raise the Nation's awareness of injustices experienced by Black Americans.