Back to Story
Illinois state Sen. David Koehler, D-Peoria, center, and state Rep. Debbie Meyers-Martin, D-Matteson, co-chairs of the Illinois Underground Railroad Task Force, speak Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2024, in Springfield, Ill., about the final report of the task force, recommending a full-time commission develop a program around the secret program to help slaves in the 19th century escape the South before the Civil War. (AP Photo/John O'Connor)

Illinois state Sen. David Koehler, D-Peoria, center, and state Rep. Debbie Meyers-Martin, D-Matteson, co-chairs of the Illinois Underground Railroad Task Force, speak Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2024, in Springfield, Ill., about the final report of the task force, recommending a full-time commission develop a program around the secret program to help slaves in the 19th century escape the South before the Civil War. (AP Photo/John O'Connor)

John Ackerman, Tazewell County clerk and a member of the Illinois Underground Railroad task force, speaks Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2024, in Springfield, Ill., about the final report of the task force, recommending a full-time commission develop a program around the secret program to help slaves in the 19th century escape the South before the Civil War. (AP Photo/John O'Connor)

John Ackerman, Tazewell County clerk and a member of the Illinois Underground Railroad task force, speaks Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2024, in Springfield, Ill., about the final report of the task force, recommending a full-time commission develop a program around the secret program to help slaves in the 19th century escape the South before the Civil War. (AP Photo/John O'Connor)

State Rep. Debbie Meyers-Martin, D-Matteson, left and and state Sen. David Koehler, D-Peoria, co-chairs of the Illinois Underground Railroad Task Force, speak Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2024, in Springfield, Ill., about the final report of the task force, recommending a full-time commission develop a program around the secret program to help slaves in the 19th century escape the South before the Civil War. (AP Photo/John O'Connor)

State Rep. Debbie Meyers-Martin, D-Matteson, left and and state Sen. David Koehler, D-Peoria, co-chairs of the Illinois Underground Railroad Task Force, speak Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2024, in Springfield, Ill., about the final report of the task force, recommending a full-time commission develop a program around the secret program to help slaves in the 19th century escape the South before the Civil War. (AP Photo/John O'Connor)

Larry McClellan, professor emeritus of Governors State University and a member of the Illinois Underground Railroad Task Force, speaks Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2024, in Springfield, Ill., about the final report of the task force, recommending a full-time commission develop a program around the secret program to help slaves in the 19th century escape the South before the Civil War. (AP Photo/John O'Connor)

Larry McClellan, professor emeritus of Governors State University and a member of the Illinois Underground Railroad Task Force, speaks Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2024, in Springfield, Ill., about the final report of the task force, recommending a full-time commission develop a program around the secret program to help slaves in the 19th century escape the South before the Civil War. (AP Photo/John O'Connor)