Petitioners Trying To Put A Stop To Donald Trump UIC Rally
CHICAGO (CBS) -- The Illinois Primary is coming up and many presidential candidates will meet with voters in and around Chicago this week, but one may not feel as welcome as others.
CBS 2's Jeremy Ross reports the GOP front runner is facing calls for him to scrap his plans. The other heavy hitters are rallying support in the suburbs.
Ohio Governor John Kasich is planning to visit Palatine mid-week. He'll hold a free town-hall meeting at 1:30 Wednesday at the park district community center.
Texas Senator Ted Cruz is slated to be the featured speaker at the Lincoln Day Dinner on Friday at the Meadows Club in northwest suburban Rolling Meadows. All the GOP frontrunners were invited to that including Florida Senator Marco Rubio, who has not committed to events here yet.
As for the front runner, businessman Donald Trump is scheduled to speak at the UIC Pavilion in Chicago on Friday, but there's an effort to prevent that.
More than 36,000 have signed a petition asking the University of Illinois Chicago to cancel the event. Critics cite his controversial comments on Muslims, women and undocumented immigrants.
"They can choose another venue but a public venue like UIC where we have so much diversity, I don't think it's the proper venue for him," said Bryon Sigcho, a UIC instructor.
"What are they afraid of?" said Dan Gallegos, founder of the PAC Art of the Deal. "I think if you don't want to support him, that's totally fine. It's a free country but at the same time you have to allow people to hear the message."
On the Democratic side, Senator Bernie Sanders' campaign will host canvassing and phone bank activities today in Chicago and the suburbs.
The frontrunner, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton began a TV ad campaign here.
The Illinois Primary is March 15.