The Reverend Al Sharpton issued recommendations for reforming the Chicago police department on Monday as he reiterated his threat to lobby against the city's Olympic bid if the mayor doesn't respond soon.
If he doesn't hear from Mayor Richard Daley before Dec. 29, Sharpton said, he will announce a date when he and people alleging police abuse will leave for an international tour to tell their stories.
"The Olympics can be a point of leverage for people in this city that have not been able to get direct action by the city fathers," said Sharpton, president of civil rights group National Action Network.
When asked about Sharpton's threats at an unrelated news conference, Daley said, "He can do that; that is part of America."
Sharpton recommended that the US Justice Department take control of the city's police force; that the city reject Daley's choice for police superintendant, J.P. Weiss, because of what Sharpton called a lack of community input into his selection; and that the head of the Independent Police Review Authority be prohibited from speaking publicly about misconduct cases until agency investigations are completed.
Chicago beat out several other US cities to become the US Olympic Committee's (USOC) nominee for the 2016 Olympics. The International Olympic Committee will pick the host city in 2009.
"If selected, the city will do a wonderful job welcoming athletes and guests from around the world," said Darryl Seibel, spokesman for the USOC.
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