Construction of the Obama Presidential Center has been temporarily suspended as of Nov. 10 after a noose was found on the Chicago worksite. The Obama Foundation condemned the incident as a “shameless act of cowardice and hate.”
Lakeside Alliance, the construction company working on the project, were “horrified that this would occur on our site,” and reported the incident to police, who are currently investigating.
According to a police source who spoke to NBC Chicago, the noose was found in the stairwell of the construction site, which isn’t monitored by surveillance cameras.
A Chicago police officer carries a bag containing rope from the construction site of the Obama Presidential Center on Thursday, Nov. 10, 2022.
Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune via Getty Images
The Obama Foundation wrote in a statement to NBC that the incident was “designed to get attention and divide us.”
“Our priority is protecting the health and safety of our workforce,” it added.
The construction company is offering a US$100,000 reward for anyone who has information about the incident. Lakeside Alliance said it will also conduct another series of anti-bias training with its employees.
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“We have zero tolerance for any form of bias or hate on our worksite,” the company wrote in a statement provided to NBC. “Lakeside Alliance remains committed to providing a work environment where everyone can feel safe, be their best self, and is treated with dignity and respect.”
