Racist Graffiti Found In Cantore Park In Naperville

NAPERVILLE, IL — The Naperville Police Department is investigating an incident in which racist and gang-related graffiti was found written on a partition in Cantore Park early Monday. The graffiti was found on a partition that separates Cantore Park from Welch Elementary School, according to a post from the Naperville Park District.

Park District officials said crews "quickly responded to temporarily cover the verbiage," but were unable to completely remove the graffiti because the ground was still wet from recent rainfall, making it "challenging for staff to mobilize the appropriate equipment to do the work."

Crews are set to remove the graffiti completely Tuesday morning, according to the post.

Ray McGury, Executive Director and Acting Chief of Park Police for the Naperville Park District, said in a statement, "Hatred and ignorance drive racist comments like this. I live in this community. I raised my kids in this community. I, along with my fellow Napervillians, have NO toleration for this … none."

The Naperville Police Department says it is actively investigating the incident. Police Chief Robert Marshall said in a statement, "Spray painting phrases like 'White Pride,' gang symbols, and other inappropriate phrases is unacceptable and will not be tolerated. Cases like these are often solved when the community and the police work together to identify those responsible. I am confident with this cooperation we will identify the person(s) who committed this crime and hold them accountable."

The incident comes less than a week after the Naperville City Council passed an official resolution denouncing racism and intolerance. This is the most recent in a string of racist incidents that have been reported throughout the city over the past year, including a racist incident at a gas station and an attack on a Chinese-American man as he was jogging.

Anyone with information about this incident is urged to call the Naperville Police Department at 630-305-5276. You can also leave an anonymous tip via Naperville Crime Stoppers at 630-420-6006 or at www.napervillecrimestoppers.com. Crime Stoppers is offering a reward of up to $1000 for information that leads to an arrest.

McGury added that he will personally add $500 to the Naperville Crime Stoppers reward for any information that leads to an arrest.