Aamer Madhani

USA TODAY

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."

Quinn also weighed in, calling the alleged threats wrong.

"I don't believe in threats at anywhere in our democracy," Quinn said. "I support the voting rights amendment to make sure everyone has a right to vote and follow their conscience. That's what America's all about."

Rauner was scheduled to make an appearance at the Brooks church on Sunday.

"It's tragic," Rauner told reporters on Saturday. "We can't allow intimidation to come on to this race or into politics. People should be allowed to vote for who they want, support who they want."

Brooks has also endorsed Republican senate candidate Jim Oberweis in his race against the Democratic incumbent, Sen. Dick Durbin.

A Chicago Tribune poll in September found Quinn had the backing of 86% of African-American voters statewide in the survey. Rauner, however, has made a big push in recent weeks to try to whittle away at the governor's lead among a group that has historically overwhelmingly supported Democratic candidates.

He's enlisted Brooks and a few other high-profile African American pastors in Chicago to help him with his push in their communities.