# @nbcchicago on Instagram

- **Type:** Video
- **Original URL:** https://www.instagram.com/p/DZqd7rsFR3X
- **Gondola URL:** https://gondola.cc/posts/66889886-nbcchicago-instagram
- **Thumbnail:** https://img.gondola.cc/tr:w-,h-,fo-auto/postThumbnails/07d31dd31f.jpg
- **Posted:** 2026-06-16T22:29:40.000+00:00
- **Account Owner:** NBC Chicago (@nbcchicago) — https://gondola.cc/nbcchicago

## Caption

Mayor Johnson condemned the suspect accused in a cross-burning incident, saying he “wholeheartedly reject[s]” the hateful symbolism and intimidation associated with the act.

For nearly a week, Chicago police and the FBI have been trying to identify the man who was suspected of setting up the cross and torching it.
NBC 5 Investigates has identified a 21-year-old college senior who said he is the person in the photo released by police and who described what he did and why.

The young shirtless man running from a burning cross in Grant Park had been a nameless person of interest in a Chicago police arson investigation and subject of a possible FBI hate crime case. NBC 5 Investigates has since interviewed the man who admits to the cross burning.

University of Illinois Chicago senior Merlin Lu said he knew the implications of a burning cross and had placed a MAGA hat atop the cross, explaining his motivation was to protest Trump administration injustice - not something racist.

#mayorjohnson #grantpark #chicago

## Stats

- **Views:** 18,503
- **Likes:** 394
- **Shares:** 0
- **Comments:** 231

## Tags

grantpark, chicago, mayorjohnson

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