A burning cross was discovered in Chicago's Grant Park on Tuesday afternoon, sparking outrage and a hate crime investigation. The Chicago Police Department responded around 2:30 p.m.
to the downtown park, where a wooden cross was set on fire against a tree near South Columbus Drive. Officers extinguished the flames and launched an investigation.
On Wednesday, police released an image of a person of interest—a man wearing black pants seen leaving the scene.
The cross was spotted by Keinika Carlton, 43, of Hyde Park, who was driving with her daughter and mother-in-law. She recorded a short video and posted it on Facebook, describing the fire as "eerily controlled." Carlton immediately recognized the burning cross as a historic symbol of hate associated with white supremacy and the Ku Klux Klan.
"It was a lot of emotions immediately, because this is definitely an image I am very familiar with as a Black American," she said.
The incident drew swift condemnation from state and city leaders. Governor JB Pritzker posted on X that "hate has no home here in Illinois," adding that the symbol's purpose is to intimidate and terrorize.
Mayor Brandon Johnson's office issued a statement affirming that "hate has no place in our city" and that every Chicagoan deserves to feel safe in public spaces.
Nicolas Paul, president of the DuSable Heritage Association, called the act "disturbing" and "out of nowhere," noting that such a brazen display in a prominent location is unprecedented in Chicago's history. He urged Chicagoans to learn the meaning of the burning cross and to remember the city's legacy as a welcoming immigrant hub.
Father Michael Pfleger of St. Sabina Church in Auburn Gresham announced a $10,000 reward from a private fund to help identify and arrest the perpetrator.
"I think we need to handle it just like we do a swastika," Pfleger said. "This is a hate crime because it is a symbol of hate."
As of Wednesday afternoon, no arrests had been made. The investigation continues.