A 21-year-old college student from the University of Illinois Chicago has admitted to burning a cross in Grant Park, Chicago, last week, stating that his intention was to protest President Donald Trump rather than to make a racist statement. The student told NBC 5 Chicago that he placed a red hat on the cross to symbolize the MAGA hat and did not anticipate that the act would be interpreted as racially motivated. He acknowledged the historical significance of cross burnings but insisted that his protest was unrelated to race or gender.
The Chicago Police confirmed that a person of interest is in custody regarding the incident, which had garnered significant public attention. The police had issued a community alert seeking assistance in identifying the individual seen fleeing the scene. The student later sent a video to NBC 5 taking responsibility for the act and expressing his desire for Trump's immediate removal from office.
He clarified that he did not intend to threaten the president and emphasized that his protest was directed at MAGA supporters and the Trump administration. The incident has drawn condemnation from city leaders, with Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson expressing that hate has no place in the city. The Faith Community of Saint Sabina has offered a $10,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of those involved, while local leaders have labeled the act a hate crime, citing the historical context of cross burnings in the United States.