“We have zero tolerance for any form of bias or hatred in the workplace,” the group said in an email. It added, “We are appalled that this could happen on our site.”
The Chicago Police Department is investigating the incident, spokesman Sgt. Rocco Aliotto said in an email. Representatives for former President Barack Obama could not be immediately reached late Thursday.
Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker (D) condemned the incident, saying there was “no hatred” in the state.
“The noose is more than a symbol of racism, it’s a heartbreaking reminder of the violence and terror that has been inflicted on black Americans over the centuries,” he said. wrote on Twitter.
Spaces on Chicago’s south side will include plazas, museums, libraries, playgrounds and gardens. The center will cost $830 million to build, according to the Associated Press. The team broke ground for the first time on the center in September 2021, with completion expected in 2025.
The project will be built in Jackson Park, a public space named after former slave owner Andrew Jackson. Ownership will eventually transfer to the city.