Jermont Terry, a reporter for CBS 2, has been a part of the team since October 2019. Born and raised on Chicago’s South Side, he returned home to cover stories about his community after spending 18 years exploring narratives across the nation.
A cross burning in Grant Park on Tuesday captured attention, leading to a three-hour investigation by Chicago police. Although details about the incident remain sparse, the sight deeply affected many who witnessed it. Flames from the burning cross were visible to those on Columbus Drive, leaving Keinika Carlton and her daughter, Alyna, astonished.
“How did this happen?” Keinika wondered. She was driving nearby with Alyna at the time, questioning how a person could set fire to a cross in broad daylight without immediate intervention.
Keinika reflected on past experiences of her ancestors in the South, feeling sadness about the persistence of such acts today. Alyna echoed these sentiments, noting that despite historical progress, incidents like the cross burning show a lack of advancement.
While the Chicago Police Department has not provided extensive details, Keinika identified the act as historically racial, given its use against Black individuals in the South. The uncertainty surrounding the motive leaves both mother and daughter urging for broader awareness and concern about such public acts.
Keinika voiced concerns about the potential danger, noting that the fire could have escalated. It scorched a tree trunk and leaves, yet firefighters arrived before the flames spread further. The Chicago Fire Department extinguished the flames shortly before 2:30 p.m.
The motive remains under investigation, with police not revealing details about possible suspects. Alyna highlighted how such incidents can escalate, spreading fear and danger within communities. The specifics of how the cross was brought or built at the site remain unknown.