Noose left at Obama centre a ‘shameless act of hate’
CHICAGO police are investigating after a noose was found at the construction site of the Obama Presidential Centre, an act the Illinois governor condemned as a symbol of racist hatred.
The incident led to a temporary halt to work on the centre, which will be a museum and public gathering space commemorating Barack and Michelle Obama, the first African-american president and First Lady.
“The Chicago Police Department is aware of this matter and it is under investigation,” Alex Aguas, a force spokesman, said.
The rope was reported to police by the Lakeside Alliance, a construction team of black-owned companies that is building the centre.
It is a symbol for the lynching of thousands of former slaves and their descendants who were hunted down, killed, and often hanged from trees in the period following the end of slavery in the United States in 1865.
“The noose is more than a symbol of racism, it is a heart-stopping reminder of the violence and terror inflicted on black Americans for centuries,” Jay Robert Pritzker, Illinois governor, said on Twitter. The Barack Obama Foundation 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 Lakeside Alliance is offering a $100,000 (£85,000) reward to help find those responsible.
“We have zero tolerance for any form of bias or hate on our worksite,” it said.
Construction on the centre began last year and it is due to open in 2025.