Vandal targets multiple buildings, including community center, in Little Village
Chicago police are searching for the person who vandalized multiple buildings with hateful messages, including a community center, in the Little Village neighborhood early Friday morning.
Police said three buildings were vandalized in the 2700 block of West Cermak Road, one of which was the Latinos Progresando Community Center. The fourth site vandalized was the office of Illinois state Sen. Celina Villanueva (D-Chicago), at 2501 S. Central Park Ave.
All the incidents happened around midnight.
The person used spray paint on the outside walls of the buildings, according to police.
In a , Latinos Progresando said the person spray-painted a swastika on their front door along with at least four other entities that are based in and provide services for the Mexican community.
The organization, which provides services including immigration legal services and wellness programs, responded to the actions, saying in part, "Latinos Progresando will not back away from our values or be deterred from our work because of this heinous criminal act. We are not going anywhere."
Villanueva said the vandals spray-painted a swastika on her office, and also spray-painted "ICE rules" on other nearby businesses — a reference to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
A description of the suspect was not released, and no further information was available.
Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-Illinois) released a statement on Monday in response to the crime, saying:
"These cowardly acts of hate are meant to intimidate and divide, but they will fail. I stand with the people of Little Village and the community organizations targeted in this vile attack. There is no place for anti-immigrant extremism or Nazi imagery in any of our neighborhoods. At a time when immigrant communities are under siege, we must stand shoulder to shoulder against xenophobia and all forms of hate," he said.
Area 4 detectives are investigating.