Turner: Springfield 1908 Race Riot National Monument is a solemn reminder of the tragic events that took place in our city

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Doris Turner was proud to visit Washington, D.C. last week to stand in support of the president signing a proclamation to designate a national monument to commemorate the 1908 race riot in Springfield.  

“The Springfield 1908 Race Riot National Monument is a solemn reminder of the tragic events that took place in our city,” said Turner (D-Springfield). “This designation is an important step toward healing and reconciliation, giving us space to educate and reflect.”

President Joe Biden signed a proclamation Friday designating a national monument to honor the 1908 race riot in Springfield that caused numerous deaths, injuries and destroyed dozens of Black-owned businesses and homes.

The monument will feature interpretive exhibits, educational programs, and preserved historical sites to highlight the riot's impact on the Black community.

“This monument isn’t just about looking back at what happened – it’s about facing the past head-on and learning from it,” said Turner. “It will show the strength and resilience of our community, our shared commitment to justice and equality, and remind us of our promise to build a future where these kinds of injustices won’t happen again.”

Turner has been a steadfast leader in securing national monument recognition for the 1908 Springfield Race Riot Site and looks forward to the site being a place that helps educate future generations while boosting local tourism and supporting national discussions on race and justice.

Turner law protects consumers from surprise automatic renewal charges

SPRINGFIELD – A new law led by State Senator Doris Turner protects consumers by requiring notice ahead of automatic renewals offered by businesses.

“Businesses have been taking advantage of consumers for far too long,” said Turner (D-Springfield). “We have to put guardrails in place that protect consumers, and this law will close the loophole business have been using.”

Turner’s law will require businesses offering a free trial or promotional period of its products and services that automatically renew to notify consumers by email at least three days before the cancellation deadline. The law applies to free gift or trial periods that last longer than 15 days.

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Turner law expands Illinois Grocery Initiative to tackle food deserts

SPRINGFIELD – Farmer-owned grocery stores or markets can now apply for grants thanks to a new law championed by State Senator Doris Turner.

“With this expansion, we are prioritizing our small-scale farmers who work every day to put food on our tables,” said Turner (D-Springfield). “Food deserts, especially in Central and Southern Illinois, deprive people of fresh, nutritious foods. This is an important step to tackling food deserts while uplifting our farmers.”

Senate Bill 3219 expands on the 2023 Illinois Grocery Initiative by allowing the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity to provide grants for equipment upgrades for farmer-owned grocery stores or markets.

Turner’s law came in response to conversations with Jenny Sauer-Schmidgall who founded Grab ‘n’ Go Greenhouse, a “self-service” grocery store in Riggston that sells local products in the area.

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Turner law reestablishes integrity, trust in death care industry

SPRINGFIELD – Funeral homes will be held accountable under a new law spearheaded by State Senator Doris Turner that came in response to a Carlinville funeral home insufficiently handling human remains, giving over 60 families the wrong remains.

“After months of discussions regarding the death care industry, it was clear the status quo wasn’t working,” said Turner (D-Springfield). “Families who lost loved ones experienced what no one ever thought was possible – receiving the wrong remains. It’s past time that we hold bad actors accountable.”

Senate Bill 2643 adds identification rules and regulations for the handling and storing of human bodies. Additionally, it requires funeral establishments and crematory authorities to maintain a chain of custody records that are uniquely identified to the deceased, ensuring the death care industry is able to identify the human remains in its possession through final disposition.

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