CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) — A noose was reportedly found Thursday morning at the South Side construction site for the Barack Obama Presidential Center.
In a statement, officials with Lakeside Alliance — the builders of the facility — said they reported the incident to the police and will provide any assistance required to identify whomever left the noose at the project site.
“This morning we were informed that an act of hate was discovered at the project site,” Lakeside Alliance said in the release.
Lakeside Alliance said anti-bias training is included in its onboarding process, and it added that it would be suspending all operations onsite “in order to provide another series of these trainings and conversations for all staff and workers.”
The Obama Foundation also released a statement on the incident, which it called a "shameless act of cowardice and hate."
Officials with Lakeside Alliance said they were “horrified” that this would occur on the building site.
Mayor Lori Lightfoot called the discovery “disturbing" in a statement.
“Racism and racist symbols have no place in Chicago, and those inciting it will be held responsible for this repulsive act,” the mayor said.
She encouraged anyone with information to come forward.
Gov. J.B. Pritzker also condemned the incident in a tweet.
“This is just awful,” said Ald. Leslie Hairston (5th), one of the City Council members whose ward includes the center, calling it a “reprehensible” act. “We know they exist, but they are amongst us, those that have that kind of hate. But there is no room for hate.”
Ald. Jeanette Taylor (20th), who also represents the nearby community, said she hoped that whoever is responsible is caught and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.
“Whoever this person is is trying to scare us, and it’s not going to happen. They should know that it’s not going to stop us from building something the community wants to see,” Taylor said. “We got to hold them accountable and turn them in.”
Lakeside Alliance is offering a $100,000 reward for information.
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