A statue of Jackie Robinson was stolen from a park in Wichita, Kansas on January 25. This sparked an outrage throughout the city as the investigation is still ongoing. 

Jackie Robinson was a Black professional baseball player for the Brooklyn Dodgers and joined the team in 1947. Robinson was well known for breaking the racial barrier and paving a path for future African American players.

The statue was sawed off, and left only the feet remaining. Two suspects were caught on camera carrying the statue away, but their faces were not identified. Residents of the city of Wichita are upset and confused why anyone would do such a thing.

In an NPR article, Wichita police chief Joe Sullivan stated, “I’m frustrated by the actions of those individuals who had the audacity to take the statue of Jackie Robinson from a park where kids and families in our community gather to learn the history of Jackie Robinson, an American icon, and play the game of baseball.” 

A reward has been offered for the public as well. The Wichita Metro Crime Commission is offering $2,500 for tips leading to arrests and $5,000 for tips leading directly to the statue.

“Once the statue is returned, we also want the individuals who robbed our community of a treasure to be held accountable for their actions,” Sullivan stated.