Chicago Cross Burning Linked to Anti-trump Protest, Suspect Arrested

WHO:

ABC News - The college student admitted to being the shirtless person in an image distributed by police.

ABC News - A 21-year-old college student is involved in the incident.

ABC News - The Chicago Police Department is investigating the cross burning.

WHAT:

ABC News - The college student stated, “I did know about this historical relevance beforehand. But I didn’t know the severity, how racially motivated it may seem from what I did.”

ABC News - A large cross was set on fire in a well-known Chicago park.

Fox News - The college student claims the cross burning was an anti-Trump protest, not a racist act.

ABC News - A person is in custody in connection with the investigation.

WHERE:

ABC News - The incident occurred in Grant Park, Chicago.

WHEN:

ABC News - The burning cross was discovered on June 9.

WHY:

ABC News - The student expressed that his protest was against the “ruling class” and Christian nationalists who support Trump.

Fox News - The college student stated he was protesting President Trump and the "ruling class" and Christian nationalists who support him.

ABC News - The student mentioned that his protest was not related to race or gender.

HOW:

NY Post - The college student admitted that his research on the implications of cross burning was limited to reading a Wikipedia page.

ABC News - The student reportedly put a red MAGA hat on the cross during the protest.

(UPDATED June 17, 2026 04:25 UTC)

A college student has admitted to being the shirtless individual in a controversial image shared by police. He acknowledged that while he was aware of the historical significance of his actions, he underestimated their severity and the racial implications, stating that his protest was aimed at the "ruling class" and Christian nationalists who support Trump. The student also revealed that his understanding of cross burning was primarily based on a brief reading of a Wikipedia page.

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(UPDATED June 17, 2026 01:49 UTC)

A 21-year-old college student is in custody following an investigation into a burning cross discovered in Grant Park, Chicago, on June 9. The student claims the act was intended as an anti-Trump protest against the "ruling class" and Christian nationalists who support him, emphasizing that it was not motivated by race or gender. During the protest, he reportedly placed a red MAGA hat on the cross.