Chicago police are investigating after the discovery of the coiled rope on Thursday, in an act of racism that has been widely condemned. The noose is a symbol for the lynching of thousands of former slaves and their descendants who were hunted down, killed and often hanged from trees during the Jim Crow era after slavery ended in the United States in 1865. “This shameless act of cowardice and hate is designed to draw attention and divide us,” the Obama Foundation said, according to NBC News. “Our priority is protecting the health and safety of our workforce. We have informed the authorities who are investigating the incident.” Illinois Governor JB Pritzker tweeted: “Hate has no place in Illinois. The noose is more than a symbol of racism, it is a shocking reminder of the violence and terror inflicted on Black Americans for centuries. “I condemn this act of hate in the strongest possible terms, and the state of Illinois will devote all necessary resources to help apprehend the perpetrators.” A $100,000 reward has been offered for the arrest of those responsible, according to the Chicago Tribune. The incident led to a temporary halt in construction, the Chicago Tribune reported, citing the construction consortium building the center. “The Chicago Police Department is aware of this matter and is under investigation,” police spokesman Alex Aguas said in an email. The noose was reported to police by the Lakeside Alliance, a black-owned construction group building the Obama Presidential Center, which will be a museum and public gathering space for Barack and Michelle Obama, the first African-American president and first lady. Construction on the site began in 2021 and the center is due to open in 2025.
