Chicago authorities are searching for a suspect after a cross was burned in Grant Park earlier this week.
At about 2.30pm on Tuesday, Chicago’s fire department responded to reports of a cross set ablaze in the park. No injuries were reported and firefighters quickly extinguished the flames.
Chicago police have since released images of a “person of interest” allegedly seen fleeing the scene. The photos show a young man who appears to be in his 20s, with dark hair, wearing a black backpack, dark trousers and white sneakers.
Cross burnings have long been associated with white supremacy and racism, particularly by the Ku Klux Klan.
The Rev Michael L Pfleger, pastor of Chicago’s Faith Community of Saint Sabina, has offered a $10,000 reward for finding the perpetrator.
“This was so premeditated. You made this cross somewhere. You carried it, you got it downtown. You put it in one of the most visible spots in Chicago and then you set it afire,” Pfleger told ABC7, adding: “This is a decades-old symbol of hate and supremacy and the Ku Klux Klan. This is their symbol.”
Brandon Johnson, the Chicago mayor who recently returned from a trip to Vatican City where he met Pope Leo, also condemned the incident.
“Like many Chicagoans across our city, we were deeply disturbed upon seeing the images which have emerged following this incident. Hate has no place in our city,” Johnson said.
“Every Chicagoan deserves to feel safe, protected and respected while going about their day or enjoying our public spaces. We will continue working across City government to uphold that standard and ensure Chicago remains a welcoming, inclusive, and safe place for all.”
The FBI has joined the investigation, according to ABC7, which quoted an FBI spokesperson saying: “We take all potential bias-motivated incidents seriously.”
