The story of slavery in our country includes the story of the Underground Railroad. That was a secret network of homes by which slaves could escape to the North.

And there’s a drive in Springfield to bring it to light.

State Sen Doris Turner (D-Springfield) says part of the story is in the capital city.

“There are two individuals buried here who were significant conductors along the railroad,” Turner told a Statehouse news conference, “and one of them actually was killed in the race riot of 1908, which led to the formation of the NAACP.”

“This task force is really going to find a way to bring a structure to that, so we can connect all the dots,” said task force member Larry McClellan, a professor emeritus at Governors State University.

“I like the idea that this can become kind of an oral history,” said State Sen. Dave Koehler (D-Peoria), as task force co-chair.