CPD issues surveillance image of person fleeing scene of cross burning in Grant Park
Chicago police on Wednesday released a surveillance image of someone they said was spotted fleeing the scene as a cross burned in Grant Park.
The image showed the person appearing to cross Michigan Avenue near Balbo Drive, with the Blackstone Hotel at 636 S. Michigan Ave., and the former Torco Building now used by Columbia College Chicago at 624 S. Michigan Ave.
Police said the cross was found burning on Columbus Drive north of Balbo Drive in Grant Park at 2:38 p.m. Tuesday. The flames were visible to anyone driving or walking down Columbus Drive, and the sight in the public park stirred emotions and shocked many.
"How did this happen? Like, I'm sure the people walking past saw someone walking down the street with a cross, sit up there, and light a fire to it. I'm surprised there wasn't more people watching this," said Keinika Carlton.
Carlton and her daughter, Alyna, were driving near Grant Park at the time. They didn't see who started the fire, but they say it stirred up many emotions.
"I know my grandmothers and great grandmothers and grandfathers have experienced in real time, life in the South. So immediately I just felt sad," Keinika said.
The incident has also gotten the attention of Gov. JB Pritzker, who wrote on social media, "Let me be clear that hate has no home here in Illinois."
Over at Operation Push, Yusef Jackson says while investigators look into the intent, this is a reminder of today's ongoing societal issues.
"The image of the burning cross is one that reaps terror, and it's beneath the dignity of our society to continue that ... but it also lets you know these adversaries and enemies who want to divide us and cause violence and harm to us never die," he said.
While burning a cross is not a crime of its own, it can be prosecuted as a federal hate crime and violation of civil rights if it's determined there was intent to threaten or intimidate someone's civil liberties. The FBI is now looking into what happened.
In a statement, Cardinal Blase Cupich, archbishop of the Catholic Archdiocese of Chicago, said seeing a cross burned in Grant Park "was shocking but sadly not surprising."
"Burning crosses, dramatic expressions of hatred designed to terrorize, were once sadly commonplace in our country. Yesterday, we were reminded that the sickness of spirit they symbolize exists not only in the pages of history but in our present day," Cupich said. "We condemn in the strongest terms this action and affirm that hate has no place in our country, our city and our hearts. We pledge to work with our city's faith and community leaders to redouble our efforts to share the Gospel message that we are all children of God, made in His image."
"If this was a SWASTIKA people would have immediately reacted but it's a burning cross which is symbol of supremacy and KKK that's it's symbol for decades," said Rev. Michael Pfleger, pastor of Saint Sabina Church in Auburn Gresham.
St. Sabina announced a $10,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of those responsible for the cross burning.
It is unclear if the incident was racial, as the act implies, or if it is connected with something else.
Anyone with information about the person spotted fleeing the scene is asked to call the Chicago police Arson Section at (312) 746-7618 or submit an anonymous tip at CPDTIP.com and use reference RD # JK288147.
