Man charged with hate crime over cross burning in Chicago park
Key takeaways
- This screenshot from a video taken by motorist Keinika Carlton shows a wooden cross engulfed in flames as it leans against a tree in Grant Park, Chicago, 9 July 2026.
- Prefer the Guardian on GoogleA 21- year old man who admitted to setting fire to a cross in Chicago’s Grant Park last week is now in police custody on hate crime charges, per Chicago police.
- Merlin Lu was arrested and charged with four felony and four misdemeanor counts related to the incident on 9 June.
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This screenshot from a video taken by motorist Keinika Carlton shows a wooden cross engulfed in flames as it leans against a tree in Grant Park, Chicago, 9 July 2026. Photograph: Keinika Carlton/APView image in fullscreen. This screenshot from a video taken by motorist Keinika Carlton shows a wooden cross engulfed in flames as it leans against a tree in Grant Park, Chicago, 9 July 2026. Photograph: Keinika Carlton/APBreaking News USChicago Man charged with hate crime over cross burning in Chicago parkMerlin Lu faces felony and misdemeanor charges after police released images of a suspect fleeing the scene
Prefer the Guardian on GoogleA 21- year old man who admitted to setting fire to a cross in Chicago’s Grant Park last week is now in police custody on hate crime charges, per Chicago police.
Merlin Lu was arrested and charged with four felony and four misdemeanor counts related to the incident on 9 June.