Police search for suspect after burning cross found in Grant Park
Chicago cross burning in Grant Park sparks outrage, calls for answers
Father Michael Pfleger discusses community reaction after a burning cross was discovered in Grant Park, the ongoing investigation, and why many residents view the incident through the lens of a painful history of racial intimidation and hate.
CHICAGO - A burning cross was discovered Tuesday afternoon in Grant Park and Chicago police are looking for a suspect who was seen fleeing the scene.
What we know:
Police said officers responded to the 600 block of South Columbus Drive at about 2:30 p.m. after reports of an object on fire.
Video from the scene showed what appeared to be a large burning cross near the intersection of Columbus Drive and Balbo Drive in Grant Park.
The Chicago Fire Department extinguished the blaze and no injuries were reported. Area Three detectives are investigating the incident.
On Wednesday afternoon, Chicago police released an image of a man suspected in the arson. They said he was seen fleeing the scene where the cross was burning.
What you can do:
Anyone knows who the man is urged to contact arson detectives at (312) 746-7618 or submit an anonymous tip to CPDtip.com.
What they're saying:
Father Michael Pfleger of St. Sabina Church condemned the incident, describing a burning cross as a long-standing symbol associated with racism, white supremacy and the Ku Klux Klan.
"This is a decades long symbol of hate and white supremacy and Ku Klux Klan," Pfleger said Wednesday morning. "It revives what it was meant to do, the fear and the anger."
Pfleger said St. Sabina will offer a $10,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of the person or people responsible.
"If they don't have a person of interest right now, St. Sabina is gonna put up a $10,000 reward for the arrest of the person or persons who are responsible," he said.
He urged authorities to pursue the case aggressively and called for widespread condemnation of the act.
"I really believe it should be treated as a hate crime," Pfleger said, adding the imagery can revive painful memories for people who experienced or learned about racial violence and discrimination.
"It hurts people, it angers people," he said. "People are angry, people are mad, and people are hurt."
Pfleger said he believes investigators will have access to surveillance footage from the downtown area and urged anyone responsible to come forward.
"There's a lot of cameras in Grant Park," he said.
The Source: The information in this story came from the Chicago Police Department and an interview with Father Michael Pfleger.