Bullet, Homophobic Slur Found In Threat To Downers Grove Library Over Drag Show: Mayor

DOWNERS GROVE — After a planned drag queen bingo event was canceled due to threats received by the Downers Grove Public Library, the village's mayor shared photos of a threatening envelope that contained a bullet, as well as homophobic slurs.

On Thursday, Mayor Bob Barnett took to Facebook to share photos of the envelope, which listed the sender as "your friends at MAGA," referring to Donald Trump's campaign slogan of "Make America Great Again."

The envelope also had a Confederate flag on it, according to photos shared by Barnett, and contained a bullet along with a threatening note promising "more to come for Downers Grove Library."

The note also contained a slur, calling the recipients "f** lover Commies," according to the photos.

"It’s hard to believe someone thinks this is acceptable behavior," Barnett wrote, adding that the note was sent to DuPage County, not to the library itself. "I’m hoping this (like the earlier threat from out West) came from outside our community (you’d think if it came from within, they’d know the address of the Library)," the mayor said.

Barnett also asked anyone who knows the origin of the envelope to come forward.

"If you think you know who did this, please contact the Police and let them know, so we can pursue the proper legal channels and, if you find sympathy with the message, look long and hard in the mirror and consider getting help," he said.

The drag queen bingo event, for grades 7 to 12, had been scheduled for Oct. 11, but was canceled due to threats. Early in September, the library said it had received "aggressive emails" and threats in response to the event.

The event drew the ire of conservative activist group Awake Illinois, as well as Congressional candidate and Orland Park Mayor Keith Pekau.

Anger over the drag queen bingo event came a month after similar threats and vandalism at a bakery and café in Lake In The Hills over a scheduled drag show. An Alsip man is charged with a hate crime and vandalism after prosecutors say he smashed a glass door and spray-painted a homophobic slur, "groomers" and "Christ is King" at the bakery in response to the drag show.