# @nbcchicago on Instagram

- **Type:** Video
- **Original URL:** https://www.instagram.com/p/DZp2VmRjC5b
- **Gondola URL:** https://gondola.cc/posts/66889890-nbcchicago-instagram
- **Thumbnail:** https://img.gondola.cc/tr:w-,h-,fo-auto/postThumbnails/c205648176.jpg
- **Posted:** 2026-06-16T16:46:13.000+00:00
- **Account Owner:** NBC Chicago (@nbcchicago) — https://gondola.cc/nbcchicago

## Caption

Chicago police confirmed to NBC Chicago Tuesday morning that a person of interest in connection with the cross found burning in Grant Park was in custody.⁠

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.⁠
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A burning cross in Grant Park last Tuesday - the century-old flaming symbol of racism and hatred.⁠
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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.⁠
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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.⁠
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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.⁠
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Tap the 🔗 in our bio for the full story.⁠
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#hatecrime #grantpark #burningcross #uic #chicago

## Stats

- **Views:** 78,013
- **Likes:** 3,064
- **Shares:** 0
- **Comments:** 1,179

## Tags

hatecrime, grantpark, uic, chicago, burningcross

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