DES PLAINES, Ill. (WBBM NEWSRADIO) -- The CEO of the Des Plaines Theatre has canceled a controversial event sponsored by a conservative group and says he was getting threats and hate calls over the booking.
Ron Onesti posted his cancelation announcement late last night on Facebook. He did not offer a reason the Awake Illinois event at the Des Plaines Theatre was called off, but he did say he was the target of a lot of hate. He said people mailed bullets to him and asked their neighbors to fill his garbage cans with dog feces.
The event had been criticized by many as being put on by an anti-gay organization. Onesti’s statement said it was to be an innocent rental and nothing more and he rejects those who accuse him of being anti-LGBTQ+.
He pointed out that he hosted one of the first civil union ceremonies in Illinois 10 years ago at the Arcada Theater.
"It was never my intention to be political personally and I wasn't taking any position with this, for or against," Onesti said.
The Des Plaines Theatre is owned by the city of Des Plaines.
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