Black Lives Matter SPI street signs back up in downtown Springfield

Ward 2 Ald. Shawn Gregory said he felt good that honorary Black Lives Matter SPI Way signs were reinstalled by Office of Public Works crews around the Governor's Mansion last week.

It symbolized, he said, a group needed more than ever in the city.

"I'm really proud of them and I'm proud of our community," Gregory told the SJ-R. "We'll continue to fight for equality and justice and all that comes with that."

More: A Springfield alderman is trying to get Black Lives Matter street signs up again downtown

But Gregory, who is Black and represents a predominantly Black ward, admitted he was still a little rankled about the signs, at the intersections of Fourth and Jackson and Fifth and Jackson streets by the North Mansion Block, coming down in the first place.

The signs went up in 2021 in the throes of the city council passing an anti-racism, anti-violence and anti-hatred resolution in August 2020.

The signs came down June 3, 2024, two weeks before Juneteenth, Gregory noted. The alderman added he was unaware of the situation at the time.

Public Works Director Dave Fuchs , at a July 9 committee of the whole meeting, said the BLM signs and other signage honoring Springfield concert promoter Len Trumper were taken down after a work order was signed.

"I just thought it was maybe a little inconsiderate, not getting a call that that was the circumstance," Gregory admitted.

At that same meeting, Gregory said he would work on an ordinance that would re-establish the BLM SPI signs.

The ordinance was eventually co-sponsored by all nine of the other alderpersons, plus Mayor Misty Buscher, and passed on the consent agenda at the Aug. 7 meeting.

Sunshine Clemons, a co-founder of the Springfield Chapter of Black Lives Matter, noted the signs returned the same day President Joe Biden designated the site of the 1908 Springfield Race Riot a national monument and that an announcement was made about the establishment of a commission in the aftermath of the fatal shooting of Sonya Massey.

The Massey Commission’s proposed mission was to address systemic issues in law enforcement practices and mental health responses, among other things.

"During a time of such collective pain in our community, having our signs permanently replaced feels like a win to be celebrated, especially on such a momentous day for our city, county and country," said Clemons, who was at the re-installation.

"I truly hope we take into account why we have to put up signs like that or why that is even special," Gregory added. "This is a serious topic in our country, and we must really, really put some true conversation and action around it."

C ontact Steven Spearie: 217-622-1788; sspearie@sj-r.com; X, twitter.com/@StevenSpearie.

This article originally appeared on State Journal-Register: Black Lives Matter SPI street signs back up in downtown Springfield