Nationwide — Merlin Lu, a 21-year-old man from Chicago, Illinois, is facing multiple criminal charges after setting a large cross on fire in a public park. He said the act was meant as a political protest and claimed he did not understand the symbol’s racist history.
The incident took place on June 9. Prosecutors said Lu brought wooden boards into the park, assembled a cross, wrapped it in toilet paper, soaked it with lighter fluid, and attached a MAGA-style hat before setting it on fire near a tree.
According to CBS News, videos of the burning cross quickly circulated online, drawing strong reactions from the public. Critics rejected Lu’s explanation, noting the symbol’s long association with racial hatred and intimidation in the United States.
For days, investigators worked to identify the person responsible. Surveillance footage showed a shirtless man carrying a backpack running from the scene, prompting assistance from state and federal authorities. Community leaders also offered a reward for information that could help solve the case.
Detectives arrested Lu at his apartment six days later. During the search, investigators recovered several items they believe were connected to the incident, including a hammer, nails, a lighter, a cigarette butt, and a kerosene bottle cap.
Following his arrest, Lu told police the cross burning was intended as a political protest against President Donald Trump, Jeffrey Epstein, and the MAGA movement. Prosecutors said he claimed he did not understand the racist history behind the symbol. When questioned about how he could be unaware of its significance, Lu reportedly responded that he had not studied history in college.
Lu now faces two felony hate crime charges, as well as felony counts of arson and criminal damage to property. He is also charged with disorderly conduct and burning a cross to intimidate.
During a court hearing on June 18, prosecutors asked that Lu remain in custody while awaiting trial. The judge denied the request, saying prosecutors had not shown enough evidence at that stage to prove the act qualified as a hate crime.
At the hearing, Lu apologized for using the symbol and acknowledged that it caused fear. He said he never intended to commit a hate crime and argued that people should not view him as a racist or a member of the Ku Klux Klan. Lu is expected to return to court as the legal proceedings move forward.