A conservative group has been banned from holding a rally at Illinois’s Old State Capitol because the site prohibits political demonstrations — yet it’s the same place where President Obama announced his run for president and later, his choice of Joe Biden for vice president.
According to the State Journal-Reigster in Springfield, Ill., the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency denied a request by the group, Restore Our Constitution, to hold a rally both because of the site’s prohibition of political events and also because of a lack of resources due to budget cuts.
An exception was made for Obama’s events, the spokesman told the paper, because officials knew it would generate publicity for the site unparalleled to any other events. He claimed that 10 requests to hold events at the Old Capitol have also been denied recently, including non-political receptions.
Jerald Jacobs, an organizer of the event meant to protest Obama’s policies, said he thinks the group was banned because of its conservative stance. “I believe that it will be an embarrassment for those people to have us appear at the same site where Obama announced his run for the presidency,” he said. “Some people would consider that an affront to the way Obama used that site in the past.”
Jacobs and others plan to protest the decision this weekend outside the gates of the Old Capitol.