Barack Obama at the groundbreaking in September last year
(Picture: Getty Images)A noose was found at the construction site for the Obama Presidential Center in Chicago.
Operations have been suspended and the firm behind the project has offered a $100,000 reward to help find who was responsible.
Lakeside Alliance, a partnership of Black-owned construction firms, said it reported the incident to police and “will provide any assistance required to identify those responsible.”
“We have zero tolerance for any form of bias or hate on our worksite. Anti-bias training is included in our onboarding process and reiterated during site-wide meetings. We are suspending all operations onsite in order to provide another series of these trainings and conversations for all staff and workers,” the firm said.
Former President Barack Obama’s foundation also released a statement that said: “This shameless act of cowardice and hate is designed to get attention and divide us. Our priority is protecting the health and safety of our workforce.”
The Chicago Police Department is aware of the noose and the matter is under investigation, said Sgt. Rocco Alioto, a department spokesman.
An alliance spokeswoman, Lara Cooper, said she could not comment on whether it suspects a worker at the site and how the pause will affect the work.
City work to prepare for construction began in spring 2021 with the an official groundbreaking the following September.
The foundation has said the center is slated to open in 2025.
