Rauner, Brooks Stand Together After Church Burglary, Threats
CHICAGO (CBS) -- Republican candidate for governor Bruce Rauner came to the defense of one of his most prominent black supporters on Sunday; after Pastor Corey Brooks' church was vandalized, and his life allegedly was threatened.
CBS 2's Derrick Blakley reports Rauner stood at Brooks' side as the South Side minister told members of his church he would stand his ground and support Rauner in his bid to defeat Gov. Pat Quinn in next month's election.
"Can you take a stand when folk are hating on you? When people are talking about you? Scandalizing your name? When it's controversy? When its challenge? That's the time to take a stand," said Brooks, pastor of New Beginnings Church in Woodlawn.
Brooks said burglars made off with $8,000 dollars from a collection box early Saturday, one day after he received voicemail messages that included death threats.
"They can't stop us. We're gonna beat your fat a**," the caller's voice said in one voicemail.
Rauner and Brooks said they do not know if the threats might be tied to the Quinn campaign.
"It just seems really coincidental that it comes after the day when I get the death threats, and those death threats included Bruce Rauner's name," Brooks said. "I'm not going to go as far as saying that the Democrats did this, or they sent someone to do this. I don't know who did it."
Brooks said he moved his family out of their home as a precaution while police investigate the burglary and threats.
"His family is now at risk. His church is broken into. It's tragic. It's outrageous," Rauner said.
Quinn said he doesn't believe threats or intimidation have any place in an election.
Meantime, at a Calumet Park church on Sunday, the governor focused raising the state's minimum wage.
"Those who work hard, who are raising children; our children should not have to live in poverty," he said.
Rauner has built a larger field operation in the black community than any Republican has assembled in years, but polls still show Quinn with an overwhelming lead among black voters.