Chicago Student, 21, Claims Grant Park Cross Burning as Anti-Trump Protest
Updated
Updated · Fox News · Jun 16
Chicago Student, 21, Claims Grant Park Cross Burning as Anti-Trump Protest
3 articles · Updated · Fox News · Jun 16
Summary
A 21-year-old University of Illinois Chicago student told NBC 5 he burned the cross in Grant Park last week, saying it was meant as an anti-Trump protest with a red hat symbolizing MAGA.
Hours after that interview aired, Chicago police said a person of interest was in custody in the viral case, after issuing a June 11 alert with images of a shirtless man fleeing the scene.
The student apologized to people offended and said he knew the symbol’s history but did not grasp how racially charged it would appear; he also denied threatening Trump or committing a hate crime.
Mayor Brandon Johnson, Black Caucus members and St. Sabina church had condemned the burning as a hate act, with the church offering a $10,000 reward as the case stirred citywide alarm.