Black Pastor gets threats, church robbed because he supports Illinois GOP

quote:

---

CHICAGO— A high-profile African-American surrogate for Illinois gubernatorial candidate Bruce Rauner says his church was the target of a politically-motivated robbery over the weekend.

Rev. Corey Brooks, who has backed Republican Rauner in his tight race against Democratic Gov. Pat Quinn, said about $8,000 was taken from a collection box from his New Beginnings Church this weekend.

The money was earmarked to help the prominent church on Chicago's South Side establish a new community center near the congregation hall.

Brooks, who has appeared in a political advertisement backing Rauner, says he received threatening messages by phone and over social media on Friday because of his support of the venture capitalist Rauner. In one audio recording that Brooks shared with WGN-TV, a caller left an expletive filled message in which she called "Uncle Tom" and Rauner's "puppet."

"It's is unfair that a person does not have a right to voice their opinion and speak about who they want to support, and that some people still feel you have got to stay on this Democratic plantation," Brooks said. "If you choose to leave it or go off it, we will attack you."

---