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Or sign-in if you have an account.Chicago police released this image of the burning cross and a suspect. Photo by Handout /Chicago Police DepartmentA burning cross that was being investigated as a possible hate crime by Chicago police has turned out to be an anti-Trump protest by a 21-year-old who said he had no idea the symbol he chose was one used in racist attacks.Enjoy the latest local, national and international news.Exclusive articles by Conrad Black, Barbara Kay and others. Plus, special edition NP Platformed and First Reading newsletters and virtual events.Unlimited online access to National Post.National Post ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on.Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword.Support local journalism.Enjoy the latest local, national and international news.Exclusive articles by Conrad Black, Barbara Kay and others. Plus, special edition NP Platformed and First Reading newsletters and virtual events.Unlimited online access to National Post.National Post ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on.Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword.Support local journalism.Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.Access articles from across Canada with one account.Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments.Enjoy additional articles per month.Get email updates from your favourite authors.Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.Access articles from across Canada with one accountShare your thoughts and join the conversation in the commentsEnjoy additional articles per monthGet email updates from your favourite authorsSign In or Create an AccountorThe incident took place in Grant Park, a large green space in the city’s business district that was also the site of U.S. President Barack Obama’s 2008 election victory speech. On June 9 a cross was seen engulfed in flames and leaning against a tree before firefighters put out the blaze.Local Catholics expressed shock and outrage at the crime, with one pastor remarking: “It’s just so disheartening and upsetting that this is happening.”Get a dash of perspective along with the trending news of the day in a very readable format.By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc.A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder.The next issue of NP Posted will soon be in your inbox.We encountered an issue signing you up. Please try againAn art installation of a fibreglass heart with the word “Resilient” painted on it was later placed in the same location where the cross had been, with a sign saying it was originally part of a 2021 project by a local non-profit, but had been moved there as a direct response to the incident.Police and the FBI were still looking for the perpetrator when NBC released an interview on Monday with 21-year-old University of Illinois Chicago senior Merlin Lu, who said he committed the crime but denied it was racist in its intention. He said his target was U.S. president Donald Trump.“I don’t want to wait till his term ends,” he said. “I don’t want to wait until he may or may not get impeached. I want him gone right now.”Asked if that constituted a threat, Lu said it did not. “I said he deserves to stand trial to the American people … I don’t mean like a civil war, if that’s the imagery that you’re trying to imagine.”Lu said he had topped the cross with a red MAGA cap of the style worn by Trump fans, but that detail was not visible in pictures and videos of the incident.On the history of cross-burning, he said: “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.” He added: “My protest has nothing to do with race, nothing to with gender.”Asked if he should have chosen a different symbol, Lu replied: “Yeah, probably.”The NBC reporter pushed Lu on how he could have made it through almost four years of university without learning about cross burnings.“I just saw the Wikipedia page with the movie … I think it’s called like Under One Nation or something like that,” Lu said. He seemed to be referring to The Birth of a Nation, a 1915 film that was sympathetic to the Ku Klux Klan and featured a cross burning.On Tuesday, Chicago police said that a person was in custody in connection with the incident, but did not release other details about the arrest.Our website is the place for the latest breaking news, exclusive scoops, longreads and provocative commentary. Please bookmark nationalpost.com and sign up for our newsletters here. Join the Conversation This website uses cookies to personalize your content (including ads), and allows us to analyze our traffic. Read more about cookies here. By continuing to use our site, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.