Cross-burning incident in Grant Park sparks hate-crime investigation; park continues to figure in Chicago politics and international human-rights dialogue. Grant Park is a central urban green space in Chicago, hosting major civic events, protests, and cultural activities.
Merlin Lu has admitted to a cross burning in Grant Park on June 9 and says the act was a protest against Trump and the ruling class. He faces four felonies and four misdemeanors, including a hate crime, with prosecutors releasing details and Lu stating the intent was not racist.