The Latest: Protests planned outside Trump's stop in Chicago

CHICAGO (AP) - The Latest on presidential candidates appearances in Illinois:

3:45 p.m.

U.S. Rep. Luis Gutierrez, Chicago activists and students are planning separate protests outside a University of Illinois at Chicago venue where Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump is expected to speak.

Organizers say they are motivated by disparaging comments Trump has made, including about Mexicans and Muslims. One group of UIC students will meet nearby and march to the site.

Dozens of faculty and staff at UIC have already asked the administration to cancel the rally over fears it could become dangerous, and other questions about security are being raised.

UIC Chancellor Michael D. Amiridis wrote a letter to the campus, saying the school isn't endorsing Trump, just allowing his campaign to rent the space.

Trump has campaigned in Illinois twice before. In November he spoke at a rally in Springfield. He addressed the City Club of Chicago in June.

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8:30 a.m.

The Democratic presidential candidates will hold separate campaign events in Illinois ahead of the state's primary.

U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders announced he will hold a rally Friday evening at a high school in the Chicago suburb of Summit. His campaign said the senator from Vermont will address his plan for tuition-free public universities, ideas on combating climate change and making health insurance coverage universal.

His rival, Hillary Clinton, will appear at an event in the Chicago suburb of Vernon Hills on Thursday. Her campaign organization says Clinton will discuss her plans to "break down the economic barriers that favor those at the top and build an economy that works for everyone."

At least three of the four remaining Republican candidates have also scheduled Illinois stops in recent days.