A man has identified himself to a local news channel as the person who burned a cross last week in Grant Park, Chicago. The man, a 21-year-old college senior, told NBC5 that he lit the cross on fire as a protest of President Donald Trump, and did not know that a burning cross is widely seen as a racist symbol.

Incident Sparks Outrage

The incident has outraged local officials and neighbors, with St. Sabina on the South Side offering a $10,000 reward to the person who could identify the culprit. Alderpeople and Mayor Brandon Johnson have condemned the cross-burning, which is considered a hate symbol by the Anti-Defamation League.

The man claimed that he had placed a red Make America Great Again hat on top of the cross, but it was not visible in video of the burning cross. He apologized for any offense caused, stating that the intent was not to commit a hate crime.

Original reporting: Block Club Chicago — read the source article.