Noose Found at Obama Presidential Center Construction Site, Officials Say

A noose was discovered at the Obama Presidential Center construction site in Chicago Thursday, prompting the group overseeing the project to suspend work at the site.

Lakeside Alliance, a joint venture of multiple construction companies working on the center, issued a statement saying they reported the incident to police and “will provide any assistance required to identify those responsible.”

Work remained paused on Friday, according to a spokesperson for the joint venture, though CNN observed crews moving heavy machinery at the site.

“Vehicles will be going in and out of the site today as Lakeside Alliance team members prepare for anti-bias training that will begin next week and to secure the site,” the spokesperson told CNN on Friday. {snip}

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The group is offering a reward of $100,000 for information leading to those responsible, according to an earlier statement, on Thursday, which added that they have “zero tolerance for any form of bias or hate on our worksite.”

“We are suspending all operations onsite in order to provide another series of these trainings and conversations for all staff and workers,” Thursday’s statement read, referencing anti-bias training that is part of its onboarding process. “We are horrified that this would occur on our site … 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.”

The Obama Foundation also released a statement saying they notified authorities.

“This shameless act of cowardice and hate is designed to get attention and divide us. Our priority is protecting the health and safety of our workforce,” the foundation’s statement read.

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