Political Quotes

“I rise to speak on the 100th anniversary of the founding of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, NAACP, and to congratulate this remarkable organization on its historic achievements. In the summer of 1908, a race riot took place in Springfield, IL, my hometown and the hometown of President Abraham Lincoln. A mob of White residents destroyed homes and businesses owned by African Americans, and forced thousands of Black residents to flee Springfield. Two prominent Black men were lynched within half a mile of the home President Lincoln had owned and within 2 miles of his grave. One of these two men was William Donnegan, a longtime resident of Springfield who was a friend of President Lincoln and the cobbler who made the President's boots. The mob went to Mr. Donnegan's home, cut his throat and lynched him in a school yard across the street. These tragic events were widely reported at the time and shocked the Nation. It seemed clear that if African Americans living in President Lincoln's hometown could be attacked, then such violence could happen anywhere in the Unites States. A group of brave individuals responded to these events by establishing the NAACP 100 years ago today, turning tragedy into hope for a better future.”