WASHINGTON, DC – In response to President Biden designating the Emmett Till and Mamie Till-Mobley National Monument, the League of Conservation Voters (LCV) and Illinois Environmental Council (IEC) released the following statement from LCV President Gene Karpinski and Jen Walling, IEC Executive Director: 

“The brutal murder of Emmett Till in 1955, and the courage and strength of Mamie Till-Mobley to share her loss with the world, helped expose the racism in America and inspire movements for justice. Their legacy, and President Biden’s preservation of the sites that tell their stories, stand in stark contrast with the current politicians who attempt to erase the country’s history of racism instead of learning from it. We appreciate the Biden-Harris administration’s work to preserve sites and landscapes with ecological, cultural, and historic resources, including places of devastating tragedies like this monument. The continued murder and loss of life, disproportionately young Black men, at the hands of institutions in our society further demonstrates the importance of these lessons as well as the work still in front of us.”

“Today, we are celebrating President Biden’s move to preserve historically significant sites tied to the memory of Emmett Till and his mother, Mamie Till-Mobley, whose strength during a moment of profound darkness shed light on the horrific dangers of white supremacy in our country. We all share a responsibility to carry forward her example of courage as we strive to answer the call to confront systemic racism in our work to advance equitable environmental policies for all Illinoisans. President Biden’s designation compliments the work of our local environmental justice partners, particularly Blacks in Green, who work tirelessly to keep Emmett and Mamie’s memory alive in Chicago and for all who find strength in their stories.”

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