(Lara Farhadi / Flickr)
More than a half dozen people are in police custody after they allegedly vandalized the “Bean” sculpture and other city property downtown.
Chicago police say seven people have been arrested after graffiti was discovered spray-painted on the Chicago sculpture overnight in Millennium Park.
The sculpture’s stainless-steel reflective surface was marked with “35th Crew” in silver lettering near the bottom. Police say the Cancer Survivor Wall in nearby Maggie Daley Park also was vandalized.
The vandalism allegedly occurred late Monday night. Those arrested include four adult men, two adult women and one male who may be a juvenile, according to police.
Mayor Lori Lightfoot told media Tuesday she felt “outrage” when she learned of the incident.
“I was pretty pissed off,” she said. “There are some things that should be sacred. The Millennium Park and the Bean have been an important, iconic part of who we are as Chicago … It is unbelievably unacceptable for people to be defacing something like that.”
The sculpture by artist Anish Kapoor is formally known as “Cloud Gate” and weighs 110 tons. It is 66 feet long and sits in a plaza just off of Michigan Avenue.
Charges are currently pending with the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office.
Lightfoot thanked city workers who apparently saw the suspects and pointed them out to police. Once charges are filed, she said she’ll be watching the prosecution of this case “very closely.”
“We have to send a clear message,” she said, “Enough is enough.”
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Contact Matt Masterson: @ByMattMasterson | [email protected] | (773) 509-5431
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