Construction of the Obama Presidential Center came to a halt this week after a noose was reportedly discovered at the $830 million worksite.
Lakeside Alliance, a coalition of Black-owned construction firms overseeing the project, confirmed the news in a statement Thursday, shortly after the noose was found. The group told outlets it was suspending operations indefinitely so it could hold additional anti-bias training for its workers.
“We reported the incident to the police and will provide any assistance required to identify those responsible,” Lakeside Alliance said in a statement to the Chicago Tribune. “We have zero tolerance for any form of bias or hate on our worksite. Anti-bias training is included in our onboarding process and reiterated during sitewide meetings. We are suspending all operations on-site in order to provide another series of these trainings and conversations for all staff and workers.”
Lakeside Alliance is also offering a $100,000 reward for information that helps find the culprit(s).
“Our priority is protecting the health and safety of our workforce,” the group added. “We have notified authorities who are investigating the incident.”
Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker addressed the incident via Twitter on Thursday, saying “hate has no place in Illinois.”
“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,” he tweeted. “I condemn this act of hate in the strongest possible terms, and the state of Illinois will make all needed resources available to help catch the perpetrators.”
The center is being built in Chicago’s Jackson Park and will celebrate the legacy of the nation’s first Black president.
It will reportedly include a museum, two-story public meeting space, a library, and an athletic center. The 19.3-acre campus will be free and open to the public.