Chicago police are investigating a hate crime after someone scrawled “Murder Black Women” across the front window of Hyde Park’s Definition Theatre on March 13, according to the company. The vandalism hit during the final weekend of the theater’s run of Black Cypress Bayou, a murder mystery written and directed by Black women. Definition Theatre said the message targeted its staff and community and urged anyone who witnessed the incident to contact police.
As reported by CBS Chicago, the theater posted on social media that the graffiti was discovered on March 13 and stated, “We condemn this act and any harm directed toward our team and the Hyde Park community.” Police confirmed that Area One detectives are treating the case as a hate crime probe.
About the play and the company
A Chicago Sun-Times review describes Black Cypress Bayou as centering on a Black family confronting a mysterious death. The production ran through March 15 at Definition Theatre’s 55th Street storefront. According to Definition Theatre’s website, the storefront season is part of the company’s effort to uplift artists of color as it pursues plans for a permanent home in Woodlawn, and the Hyde Park location is listed as 1160 E. 55th St.
Neighborhood pattern
The graffiti at Definition Theatre is the latest in a series of bias-motivated messages and property damage reported in Hyde Park in recent years. CBS Chicago documented a wave of antisemitic stickers and graffiti across the neighborhood in 2025, and residents have been urged to preserve any surveillance footage and report suspicious activity to investigators.
What investigators will look for
Under Illinois law, including statutes such as 720 ILCS 5/12-7.1, prosecutors can seek hate crime enhancements when offenses like criminal property damage are committed “by reason of” a protected characteristic such as race or gender. The Chicago Police Department maintains a hate crimes unit and tracks both criminal and non-criminal bias incidents to monitor potential escalation. Prosecutors decide whether to pursue enhanced charges after investigators establish motive.
Definition Theatre reiterated its condemnation of the message and said it will continue working with police and community partners as detectives follow leads. The company asked anyone with information to contact authorities so investigators can pursue tips and preserve any available evidence.
