Heartless Thugs Noticed Off Jackie Robinson Statue, Steal it from Youth Baseball Park in Kansas Simply Days Earlier than Black Historical past Month (VIDEO) | Information World

Wichita, Kansas- A totally soulless group of thieves stole an iconic Jackie Robinson statue from a youth baseball park this week, simply days earlier than Black Historical past Month, leaving solely the bronze sneakers behind.

Wichita Police revealed Thursday the unidentified thugs sawed off the sculpture simply above Robinson’s sneakers after which absconded with the remainder of the enduring participant’s likeness round midnight on Thursday from McAdams Park in Wichita, Kansas.

“In a single day, @League42ICT Jackie Robinson statue at McAdams Park was stolen. Somebody lower it simply above Jackie’s sneakers and hauled it off in a truck,” the police division wrote. “Our neighborhood is devastated.”

In a single day, @League42ICT Jackie Robinson statue at McAdams Park was stolen. Somebody lower it simply above Jackie’s sneakers and hauled it off in a truck. Our neighborhood is devastated. pic.twitter.com/MWbJvwga0k

— Wichita Police (@WichitaPolice) January 25, 2024

ABC reports the crime occurred round midnight on Thursday.

Wichita Chief of Police Joe Sullivan slammed the people accountable throughout a Friday press convention and was particularly disturbed by the timing of the crime.

I’m pissed off by the actions of these people who had the audacity to take the statue of Jackie Robinson from a park the place children and households and our neighborhood collect to be taught the historical past of Jackie Robinson, an American icon, and play the sport of baseball. This could upset all of us.

What troubles me much more is that the theft occurred simply earlier than the start of February, which marks the beginning of Black Historical past Month.

Surveillance video of the incident has been launched by police and shared with media shops. One can see the suspects getting into Jackie Robinson Pavilion, eradicating the statue, and inserting it in a pickup truck.

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The town of Wichita estimates the entire damages to be roughly $75,000.

As ABC noted, the Wichita Metro Crime Fee mentioned Friday in the course of the press convention it’s providing as much as $7,500 for info associated to the incident. This features a $2,500 reward for ideas resulting in arrests and a separate reward of as much as $5,000 for ideas that result in discovering the statue.

Jackie Robinson is without doubt one of the biggest baseball gamers of all time and was the primary participant of shade to play within the Main Leagues in the course of the trendy period. Throughout his profession, he was topic to terrible racial taunts from followers and different groups alike however confirmed outstanding restraint within the face of this hatred.

Robinson played for the Kansas Metropolis Monarchs within the Negro leagues and for the minor league Montreal Royals earlier than the Brooklyn Dodgers signed him in 1947. Whereas taking part in for the Dodgers, Robinson was Rookie of the 12 months in 1947 and made six All-Star appearances. He additionally gained the World Sequence with the crew in 1955.

Robinson additionally used his greatness as a ballplayer to generate assist for the Civil Rights Motion. After he retired from baseball in 1957, Robinson typically appeared with Martin Luther King at rallies, fundraising occasions, and demonstrations.

After his demise in 1972, Robinson was posthumously awarded the Congressional Gold Medal and Presidential Medal of Freedom in recognition of his achievements on and off the sphere.