A University of Illinois Chicago senior has come forward to claim responsibility for burning a cross in Grant Park last week, but denied he was making a racist statement despite city leaders initially condemning it as an act of hate.

Protest Against President Trump

The man explained he was protesting President Donald Trump and had put a red hat on the cross to symbolize the MAGA hat. He said he did not realize that the protest would be viewed as racial.

Historically, cross burnings in the U.S. have been used to intimidate Black Americans, and they are well-known as being associated with the Ku Klux Klan.

Chicago Police confirmed to NBC 5 that a person of interest was in custody in connection with the viral incident. The department put out a community alert on June 11 asking for the public’s assistance in seeking a person of interest who was observed fleeing from the scene where an object was constructed and lit on fire.

Democratic Mayor Brandon Johnson said he was deeply disturbed by the incident, saying hate has no place in our city. A local Catholic church, the Faith Community of Saint Sabina, also posted a $10,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of anyone involved in the incident.

Original reporting: Fox News (HLL/CB) — read the source article.