Overview
- A large wooden cross was found burning in Grant Park and was extinguished by the Chicago Fire Department with no injuries reported, officials confirmed.
- Chicago police opened an arson investigation and on Wednesday released a surveillance photo of a person they say fled the scene, asking the public to contact the Arson Section with tips.
- Witnesses who filmed the blaze reported seeing a man wearing a T‑shirt, shorts and a dark backpack walking away from the site, and video of the fire circulated widely online.
- Community and faith leaders condemned the incident as a potent symbol of hate tied to the Ku Klux Klan, and Rev. Michael Pfleger and St. Sabina offered a $10,000 reward for information leading to an arrest.
- Cross burnings have legal and historical weight in the U.S. because they are closely linked to racial intimidation, and investigators say downtown surveillance cameras may help determine motive and hold those responsible accountable.