Man charged with burning cross in Grant Park released from custody while he awaits trial

CBS News ^ | 06/18/2026 | Jermont Terry, Suzanne Le Mignot

[DFG]

The Chicago man accused of burning a cross in Grant Park last week made his first court appearance on Thursday, as a judge denied prosecutors' request to keep him locked up until trial.

Merlin Lu, 21, is charged with two felony counts of hate crime, one felony count of property damage, one felony count of arson, and additional misdemeanor charges including disorderly conduct and burning a cross to intimidate.

At his first court appearance on Thursday, Cook County prosecutors sought to have him detained while he awaits trial, but the judge said the state failed to show what he did was a hate crime.

Lu walked out of Cook County Jail around 7:35 p.m. on Thursday, and apologized for the fear he invoked by burning a cross in Grant Park.

"In terms of the fear that I've evoked, I've already apologized, and I'm going to apologize sincerely again right now, and I probably will continue to apologize for who knows how long, maybe forever, and I've accepted that," he said. "I'm okay with that, I understand that, but after I've come out and explicitly stated that this is not intended to be a hate crime, I believe that any more narratives to paint me as a racist, as a KKK member, I believe that's a distraction."

Asked how, as a college student, he could not know the historical context of cross burnings, Lu said, "I didn't go to college for history."

"I understand now, I have learned now the severity and the historical baggage and the context of what I've done. I understand that now," he said. "Before, you can call it uneducated, you can call it ignorance. I understand that."

At his hearing, prosecutors said Lu used a hammer and nails to make a cross from two pieces of wood in Grant Park shortly before 2 p.m. on June 9, wrapped it in toilet paper, doused it in kerosene, tied a red MAGA-like hat to the top of the cross, propped the cross against a tree, and set it on fire.

According to prosecutors, Lu was caught on video fleeing the scene while shirtless and carrying a backpack, and returning to his apartment.

Police recovered a hammer, box of nails, lighter, cigarette butt, and kerosene bottle cap near the tree and cross after the fire was put out. Prosecutors said detectives later matched surveillance images of Lu to his Illinois driver's license photo.

Detectives also traced the kerosene cap to a Home Depot, and determined Lu had purchased kerosene and a lighter from Home Depot on May 31.

After Lu was arrested, prosecutors said he admitted to assembling and burning the cross.

The burning cross was captured on video and posted on social media, leaving many outraged by the image associated with white supremacy and hate.

In court, Lu's defense attorney, Alexander Michael, said his client's motive was not hate, but a misguided political protest.

According to prosecutors, Lu told police he believes "The greatest threat to the American people is [President] Trump, [Jeffrey] Epstein, their billionaire pedophile friends, and their MAGA Christian nationalist base." He also denied any white supremacy associations and claimed he didn't know the significance or racial undertones of burning a cross.

Before ordering his release, Judge D'Anthony Thedford told Lu he wanted him to understand the severity of what he did by setting a fire in "Chicago's living room," saying all Chicagoans own Grant Park.

"Your protest put in jeopardy anyone who was in that park. This potentially could have cost someone their life," Thedford said.

Lu has no prior arrests. Under the conditions of his release, he must report to Cook County's pretrial services program, cannot commit another crime, and must not possess fire-starting materials, or he'll be back behind bars.

Lu is expected to be released from custody later on Thursday and is due back in court on June 22.

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TOPICS: US: Illinois
KEYWORDS: grantpark; merlinlu

[DFG]

[CFW]

Wrong type of “white” else he would be held pending trial and trial would be scheduled for three years from now.

[PGR88]

You will never hear of this case again

It’s not interesting for the woke powers that be and controlled media. Its an embarrassment and it doesn’t fit their political narrative

[Resolute Conservative]

Diversity is so great. Another foreign invader. Why doesn’t he go back to the craphole he fled? Oh, maybe the freebies.

[Drew68]

Looks like a member of the Kru Krux Kran.

(Sorry. I couldn't help myself.)

[chajin]

Asked how, as a college student, he could not know the historical context of cross burnings, Lu said, "I didn't go to college for history."

It makes me ashamed that I spent half my life in higher education.

He evidently never attended his learing center.

[17th Miss Regt]

Maybe undercover antifa?

[Opinionated Blowhard]

This case is a good one. He tried to create a hate crime and blame it on conservatives. Once he was found out to be a hoaxer, he tried to claim that he did not understand that burning a cross was a symbol of hate. Let’s see if the “intent” defense works for him like it worked for Hillary.

[jeffersondem]

I actually believe he may be that dumb.

After all, he is a college student taught by college professors.

[Steve_Seattle1]

You have to go all the way down to the 15th line to see what his motive was. Most people don’t get that far into a story, so they will probably assume that the suspect is a MAGA supporter.

[JimRed]

Since he’s out, doxx him and he’ll never make trial.

[PAR35]

Looks like even the Klan has gone DEI.

[faucetman]

“Man charged with burning cross in Grant Park released from custody while he awaits trial”

Its called bail/bond. Its in the Constitution.

[pawpawrick]

You think they’ll ever find him again?

[BFW]

So leftest "Lu" chinese, ?(ccp mainland chinese)? who has an apartment and is going to college........was he paid by the dnc? Was he paid by the ccp? Did he pull off a hat trick twofer and get paid by both???

Check his bank account maybe it was a hat trick, look for soros money......................

Or was it just 'YELLOW' power.................. LOL!

SIDE NOTE:

At his first court appearance on Thursday, Cook County prosecutors sought to have him detained while he awaits trial, but the judge said the state failed to show what he did was a hate crime.

Cross burning with a MAGA hat is not a hate crime, is not a hate crime....was the judge a biden or bath house berri appointee?