A continuing series of commemorative activities to mark the 100th year anniversary of the East St. Louis, Illinois race riots will be held Saturday, July 1 – Monday, July 3 in East St. Louis, St. Louis and atop the Eads Bridge.
According to historical accounts, East St. Louis broke out into race rioting from July 1 to July 3, 1917. Most historians agree that July 2 was the worst day of the rioting, fighting, property destruction, killings and mass black exodus. The East St. Louis race riots have been referred to as “race war” by many of the survivors.
Saturday, July 1, 2017 – Day of Remembrance
Films and discussion begin at 1p.m. at Better Family Life Facility (BFL), 5415 Page Blvd in St. Louis. This event includes drumming, refreshments, the viewing of two independent short films about the East St. Louis race riots by directors Bryan Sparkman and Denise Ward-Brown and a question-and-answer period with the two film directors.
Sunday, July 2, 2017 – Day of Commemoration
“Reviving and Renewing East St. Louis” begins at 4:30 p.m., outside at the SIUE East St. Louis Education Center, 601 James R. Thompson Blvd., (Brady Ave,) in East St Louis. The opening activities will include historical accounts, music, cultural presentations, prayers, discussions, healing rituals and special recognitions to reenergize East St. Louis.
Commemorative Procession begins gathering at 6 p.m. to depart by 6:30 p.m. The silent procession (with drumming) will depart from the SIUE East Louis Education Center and proceed to the center of the Eads Bridge. Eads Bridge was used by many refugees from the rioting to escape to St. Louis. The drum procession is symbolic and reminiscent of the procession held in Harlem by the NAACP to bring attention to the mass killings of African Americans during the East St. Louis race riots. Participants in the procession and bridge activities are asked to wear all white apparel like worn by some of those in the 1917 procession in Harlem.
The Program & Wreath Placement will begin at 7 p.m. At the top of Eads Bridge a memorial wreath will be placed in the Mississippi River; the program will also highlight historical accounts, music and songs.
Flying Sky Lanterns will be lit and released (from Eads Bridge) at the conclusion of the program. The releasing of the lanterns is in honor of those who lost their lives during the riots and in recognition of how a community united to end the violence and provide relief to survivors and their families.
Monday, July 3, Monday – A Day of Resurrection
“Communities of Color Taking Control of Their Own Destinies” begins at 1 p.m. at Greater St. Mark Family Church, 9950 Glen Owens in Ferguson. This event includes an open community dialog, drumming, refreshments, networking, sharing ideas and experiences and finding solutions.
This event is sponsored by Freedom Trails-Legacies of Hope, TEACH, Sudan Illustrators and Progressive Emporium & Education Center in coordination with the East St. Louis 1917 Centennial Commission and Cultural Initiative (www.estl1917ccci.org), which has held events throughout 2017. For information contact Johnson Lancaster – TEACH Society at (314) 875-9277 or email progressiveemporium@yahoo.com.
