The more than 500 members of the Illinois 9th District MoveOn Council have been notified of House Majority Leader Eric Cantor’s on-campus speech Friday, the progressive group’s local leader confirmed Thursday.

MoveOn regional coordinator Larry Goldberg said there are “already a number of emails going around” among similar-minded groups and his members will only add to that growing protest.

However, Friday’s mobilization is not an official MoveOn event, he added.

“We want to show a presence against what Cantor stands for,” Goldberg said.

The No. 2 Republican in the House will speak about income inequality 12:15 to 1 p.m. Friday at the Kellogg School of Management’s Allen Center, 2169 Campus Drive.

Goldberg said MoveOn participants will likely join other protesters along nearby Sheridan Road.

Other demonstrators appearing Friday will represent Occupy Northwestern, Occupy Chicago and Occupy Evanston, according to their respective spokespeople and Facebook postings.

MoveOn members have also been encouraged to participate in Friday night’s Occupy Evanston protest outside the downtown Chase Bank, Goldberg said.

Cantor was slated to deliver a similar speech last week at the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School but backed out after Occupy protesters and other progressive activists gathered outside the venue.

– Patrick Svitek