Chicago Tribune reports the Chicago police this morning are questioning two teenagers who were arrested overnight inside a vandalized mosque on the North Side.
A witness who called 911 saw the two boys, 16 and 17, enter the Jame Masjid in the 6300 block of North Maplewood Avenue around 12:45 a.m. and later saw that one of the mosque's windows had been forced open, said Rogers Park District Lt. Ken Barnas.
Police officers found damage to the interior of the mosque, including spray-painted graffiti on the walls, according to Barnas. The two teens were found hiding beneath a stairwell. Neither had been charged as of this morning, but Barnas said the case is being handled as a burglary by Belmont Area detectives.
He said the graffiti appears to be related to gang activity, and police don't think it was specifically anti-Muslim.
He said one of the boys is from Rogers Park and the other resides in the south suburbs.
6 comments:
loooovely. the "boys" of RP seem to have it out for churches. I wonder if this one will go the way of the church on pratt that finally got torn down.
The church I attend was one of many that were vandalized/burglarized in a wave of such incidents a couple of years ago. The church has been hit on and off, usually by adults looking for small stuff to resell on the streets.
Two honor roll students just out exploring their new "hood".The two black males, 17 and 16, allegedly cut through the fence of the mosque and broke through a plastic barrier to enter the building. A witness spotted the teens breaking into the mosque and called police, News Affairs Officer Marcel Bright said. The 17-year-old was identified as Idris Thomas, of the 6200 block of North Talman Avenue.
Got's ta luv section 8, All types of new hoods to pilage.
The 6200 block of N Talman is NOT in Rogers Park.
The boundaries, (Official) of Community Area 1 (Rogers Park) are the Evanston Border, Lake Michigan, Devon Ave (6400 N.) and Ridge Ave. The unofficial boundaries are sometimes stretched to Western Ave. 2400 W.
That block is however, in the Rogers Park Police District (24). We are constantantly tarred with the boundaries of the 24th, not the boundaries of Rogers Park. It's unfair, inaccurate and irritating, but all attempts to change the name of the police district have failed. Time to try again?
True, it's Westridge. But both neighborhoods are in Rogerspark township. People still refer to Westride as West Rogerspark, they have been since it was farmland.
How is graffiti defacing a religious institution not a hate crime? When you 'defile' a religious sanctuary, you disrespect it. The fact that it is considered sacred space creates an arguable de facto act of hate.
Let these low life teens prove otherwise. They are old enough to know what hate means. Rottner should consider enforcing the law every once in a while. His officers can allege intent, even if there is no admission; let the circumstantial facts speak for themselves. Sometimes, those facts are beyond a reasonable doubt.
There is a difference between good, evil, and recklessness. A reasonable jury can find evil in such actions.
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