Women Cited For Spray Painting 'BLM' In Cantore Park

NAPERVILLE, IL — Exactly one week after the phrase "white pride" was spray painted on a partition in Cantore Park in Naperville, three women were cited for spray painting "BLM" on the same partition, according to park district officials. The women were cited with criminal defacement of property in connection with the incident, which took place Monday.

Cantore Park was the site of a rally Sunday protesting the death of George Floyd.

Crews removed the graffiti immediately after it was spotted, park district officials said. As a result of the citation, the women will be suspended from park district property for at least 90 days.

Naperville Park District Executive Director and Acting Chief of Park Police Ray McGury said in a statement, "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. Everyone has a right to have a voice, but defacing public property is not the way to be heard. I remain committed, along with our city leaders, to encouraging dialogue in our community that is inclusive, thoughtful and productive, and not violent or destructive. We can make this goal a reality if we work together.”

Naperville issued a state of emergency Monday and imposed a 9 p.m. curfew that was in effect until 6 a.m. Tuesday.

Police are still investigating the incident in which "white pride" and gang symbols were spray painted in Cantore Park. Naperville Crime Stoppers and private donors are offering a reward of up to $4,000 for information that leads to an arrest.

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