The Springfield Race Riot of 1908 was a race riot that took place in Springfield, Illinois, from August 14 to August 16, 1908. The riot was sparked by an incident in which two white women accused two African American men of attacking them. The incident led to a mob of white residents attacking African American residents and homes, leading to widespread violence and destruction.
During the three days of the riot, several African Americans were killed, including a man named Scott Burton, who was lynched. Over 1,000 African Americans fled the city, and many homes and businesses were destroyed. The Springfield Race Riot was one of the largest and deadliest race riots in American history, and it marked a turning point in the struggle for civil rights in the United States.
The Springfield Race Riot significantly impacted the city and its residents. The riots led to increased racial tensions and a heightened sense of mistrust between African American and white residents, and it also led to changes in the way that Springfield was policed. The Springfield Race Riot was a significant event in American history, as it demonstrated the deep racial divides that existed in American society at the time and the ongoing struggle for racial equality in the United States.