Chicago Man Faces Hate Crime Charges for Burning Cross in Park
WHO:
ABC News - Merlin Lu, a 21-year-old man, has been charged.
NBC News - The police are involved in the case.
WHAT:
ABC News - Lu stated, “I understand why it was interpreted that way, and I apologize for that, but no, the intent was not there.”
NBC News - The Rev Michael L Pfleger offered a $10,000 reward for finding the perpetrator of the cross burning.
NBC News - Lu claimed he placed a red hat on top of the cross to protest against Trump.
NBC News - Lu admitted he should have protested in a different way, stating, “I wanted to find something that I could do by myself, like no organization, no friends.”
ABC News - Lu has been charged with two felony counts associated with arson and damaging city property, in addition to the two felony hate crime counts.
NBC News - The four misdemeanor charges against Lu include breach of peace, reckless conduct, damage to property, and cross burning to intimidate.
ABC News - Lu has been charged with a hate crime, arson, and other offenses.
NBC News - Lu was arrested on two felony hate crime counts and other counts.
ABC News - Lu admitted to setting a cross on fire in Grant Park on June 9.
ABC News - Lu has been charged with four felonies and four misdemeanors.
WHERE:
ABC News - The incident occurred in Grant Park, Chicago.
WHEN:
ABC News - The cross was set on fire on June 9.
WHY:
NBC News - Lu stated, “I wanted to find something that I could do by myself, like no organization, no friends,” regarding his motivations for the protest.
ABC News - Lu stated he was protesting President Trump and claimed his actions were not intended as a historical symbol of hate.
ABC News - Lu mentioned he was protesting the “ruling class” and Christian nationalists who support Trump.
HOW:
NBC News - Lu built the cross after carrying wooden slats from his apartment to Grant Park last Tuesday afternoon.
NBC News - Lu built the cross by carrying wooden slats from his apartment to Grant Park and used toilet paper and lighter fluid to start the fire.
ABC News - Lu admitted to the act during an interview with WMAQ-TV.
(UPDATED June 18, 2026 19:46 UTC)
Lu has apologized for any misunderstanding regarding his actions, clarifying that his intent was not to provoke. He also revealed that he placed a red hat on top of a cross he built as a personal protest against Trump, admitting he should have chosen a different method for his demonstration. In an effort to find the person responsible for a cross burning, the Rev Michael L. Pfleger has offered a $10,000 reward for information leading to the perpetrator.
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(UPDATED June 18, 2026 18:03 UTC)
Lu has been charged with two felony counts related to arson and damaging city property, along with two felony hate crime counts, and he also faces four misdemeanor charges, including breach of peace and cross burning to intimidate. In his own words, Lu expressed that he wanted to engage in a protest independently, without any organization or friends involved. To carry out his actions, he transported wooden slats from his apartment to Grant Park, where he used toilet paper and lighter fluid to ignite the fire.
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(UPDATED June 18, 2026 16:12 UTC)
Merlin Lu, a 21-year-old man, has been charged with a hate crime, arson, and several other offenses after admitting to setting a cross on fire in Grant Park, Chicago, on June 9. He faces two felony hate crime counts along with a total of four felonies and four misdemeanors, and the police are actively involved in the case. During an interview with WMAQ-TV, Lu stated that he was protesting President Trump and the “ruling class” and claimed his actions were not meant to symbolize hate.