CORONAVIRUS (COVID-19) RESOURCE CENTER Read More
Add To Favorites

Three women ticketed for 'BLM' graffiti in Naperville's Cantore Park, one week after racist graffiti found there

Naperville Sun - 6/3/2020

Jun. 3--Three people were ticketed Monday after a second round of graffiti -- this time promoting Black Lives Matter -- was found in the same Naperville park defaced over the Memorial Day weekend with white supremacist and gang messages.

The damage was discovered after a peaceful protest condemning police violence targeting black people was held Sunday afternoon in Cantore Park, near Route 59 and 95th Street.

"BLM," which stands for Black Lives Matter, was spray-painted in red and blue multiple times on a partition and a concrete pad separating the park from the adjacent Welch Elementary School.

The partition was permanently removed Tuesday.

The three suspects, whose names were not released, were apprehended by the Naperville Police Department Monday and cited for criminal defacement to property. If convicted, they could be suspended from the Naperville park system for 90 days or more.

No one has been charged in the first case. Naperville Crime Stoppers has announced there is now a $4,000 reward being offered for information leading to the suspects' arrest -- $2,500 provided by the organization and another $1,500 in donations from private citizens.

"I recognize that, not just as a community, but as a nation, we are navigating many challenges and we're feeling pain, fear and mistrust," Naperville Park District Executive Director Ray McGury said in a news release. "Everyone has a right to have a voice, but defacing public property is not the way to be heard."

McGury said he and city leaders are committed to encouraging community discussion of issues that is inclusive, thoughtful and productive, and not violent or destructive.

"We can make this goal a reality if we work together," he said.

subaker@tribpub.com

___

(c)2020 the Naperville Sun (Naperville, Ill.)

Visit the Naperville Sun (Naperville, Ill.) at www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/naperville-sun

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.