On Tuesday afternoon, a large wooden cross was set on fire in Grant Park, Chicago, prompting responses from city officials, community leaders, and residents. The Chicago Fire Department extinguished the flames, and police released images of a person seen fleeing the scene. The act, widely recognized as a symbol of racial hatred historically associated with the Ku Klux Klan, drew condemnation from Mayor Brandon Johnson and Rev. Michael Pfleger, who offered a $10,000 reward for information leading to an arrest. Witnesses reported shock and emotional distress, particularly given the city's significant Black population and the site’s proximity to where Barack Obama celebrated his 2008 election victory. Authorities are investigating the motive, with legal precedent recognizing cross burnings as intimidation when intended to threaten.

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