Clarification: An earlier version of this story should have said that police were seeking to identify a person seen fleeing the scene of a burning cross Tuesday at Grant Park. Police say the subject is a “person of interest” in the incident. We’ll update the story as more information becomes available.
DOWNTOWN — Police have released a photo of a person they are seeking to identify in connection to an incident in which a cross was set on fire Tuesday in Grant Park.
Police said the person in the photograph “was observed fleeing from the scene where an object was constructed and lit on fire” in the 600 block of South Columbus Drive, towards the south end of Grant Park near Balbo Drive. The incident was discovered at 2:38 p.m. Tuesday.
The incident has sparked outrage from city leaders and led a South Side church to offer a $10,000 reward for information leading to an arrest.
Police did not release a description of the person, who was seen in the photo wearing dark pants and with a dark shirt or bag slung over his shoulder. Police said they were seeking the public’s help in identifying the person in the image, whom they referred to as a person of interest.
Video footage of the burning cross shows a person who appeared to be wearing dark clothing running away from the scene eastbound through Grant Park.
Anyone with information in the case is asked to call detectives at 312-746-7618.
Multiple religious and political leaders condemned the incident Wednesday.
“Burning crosses, dramatic expressions of hatred designed to terrorize, were once sadly commonplace in our country,” Cardinal Blase Cupich said in a statement released Wednesday afternoon. “Yesterday, we were reminded that the sickness of spirit they symbolize exists not only in the pages of history but in our present day.”
He continued: “Seeing a burning cross in one of Chicago’s most-visited public parks was shocking but sadly not surprising. We condemn in the strongest terms this action and affirm that hate has no place in our country, our city and our hearts.”
Rev. Michael Pfleger of St. Sabina Church in Auburn Gresham offered a $10,000 reward for “information that leads to the arrest of the person responsible for the cross burning.”
“Racism has always been a part of America’s DNA, and this week it has raised its head boldly and loudly,” Pfleger said in a statement. “This bold rise of racism must be condemned by every race, faith community and Chicagoan as was done with the swastika and treated as a hate crime.”
Mayor Brandon Johnson said in a statement that “we were deeply disturbed upon seeing the images which have emerged following this incident. Hate has no place in our city. Every Chicagoan deserves to feel safe, protected, and respected while going about their day or enjoying our public spaces.”
Several members of the council’s Black Caucus called for hate charges to be filed. Ald. Greg Mitchell (7th) was initially speechless when a reporter showed him a photo of the burning cross.
“I can’t believe it’s 2026, we are still dealing with stuff like that,” Mitchell said.
Ald. Maria Hadden (49th), said she was shocked by the footage when she woke up to news reports about the incident. But she said she was not surprised given the prevalence of hate crimes and targeted threats against marginalized communities. Hate crimes rose during the pandemic and peaked in 2023, although the pace has slowed through the first five months of this year, according to the city’s hate crime dashboard.
“There’s no good reason to burn a cross in the middle of a public park,” Hadden said. “I imagine there’s only some ill intent there, and that it is likely a hate crime of some way, shape or form.”
Hadden said the incident should push city officials to examine Chicago’s broader response to hate crimes and threats against marginalized groups. She said houses of worship and targeted communities in her ward, including Islamic and Jewish communities, have already been working with police on security plans in the wake of other hate crimes.
“Seeing something so prominent or in such a prominent place really pushes the city a bit to, like, what is our overall arching plan here?” Hadden said.
Ald. Ron Mosley (21st) said the incident should be investigated as a hate crime, but stressed that it shouldn’t take away from the joy Chicago’s Black community is experiencing ahead of Juneteenth.
“We can’t let this steal our joy, our jubilation of this month and what it all represents, and those are the stories that we’re making sure are uplifted as we continue on the investigation,” Mosley said.
