Noose found at Obama Presidential Centre worksite in Chicago

'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,' says Illinois Governor JB Pritzker

The Obama Presidential Centre will be a museum and public gathering space commemorating Barack and Michelle Obama, the first African-American president and first lady. AFP

Police in Chicago are investigating a noose that was found at the construction site of the Obama Presidential Centre on Thursday, an act the Illinois governor condemned as a symbol of racist hatred.

The incident led to a temporary halt in construction, The Chicago Tribune reported, citing the construction consortium that is building the centre.

“The Chicago Police Department is aware of this matter and it is under investigation,” police representative Alex Aguas said in an email.

The noose was reported to police by the Lakeside Alliance, a construction team of black-owned companies that is building the Obama Presidential Centre, which will be a museum and public gathering space commemorating Barack and Michelle Obama, the first African-American president and first lady.

The noose is a symbol for the lynching of thousands of former slaves and their descendants who were hunted down, killed and often hung from trees in the Jim Crow period following the end of slavery in the US in 1865.

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“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,” Illinois Governor JB Pritzker said on Twitter.

The Lakeside Alliance is offering a $100,000 reward to help find those responsible, The Tribune reported, citing an alliance statement.

“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 site-wide meetings,” the alliance said.

“We are suspending all operations on site in order to provide another series of these trainings and conversations for all staff and workers.”

Construction on the site began last year and the centre is due to open in 2025.

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