Sharpton: Chicago needs to address police brutality or he'll work against Olympics

The Chicago Sun-Times reports:

The Rev. Al Sharpton is giving Chicago officials an ultimatum: Do something about what he calls pervasive police brutality and misconduct or he will lobby the International Olympic Committee to reject Chicago's bid to host the 2016 Summer Games.

''Chicago does not symbolize a place that can hold an international event when it can't deal with its local problems,'' Sharpton told the Associated Press Sunday. ''They can't say to the world, 'Come to Chicago. We are an example; we are a beacon of light,' when you've got systematic abuse (by police).''

Sharpton said if Mayor Richard Daley and city officials don't respond in a matter of weeks, he will travel to other countries with West Side church leaders and victims of alleged police abuse to persuade members of the IOC to not chose Chicago.

The civil rights leader said the Chicago Police Department needs to be held more accountable and he will propose forming a police community review group and employ a special prosecutor who reports directly to the justice system.

Sharpton said he would lay out a complete proposal at a news conference Monday.

Messages left Sunday for Daley's office and the IOC were not immediately returned.

Chicago 2016 spokesman Patrick Sandusky declined to address Sharpton's comments.

''Historically, the Olympic Games have had great benefits for cities that have hosted them,'' he said. ''If Chicago were awarded the Games, we think it would be a fantastic asset for the city.''

Chicago is among several international cities, including Madrid, Tokyo and Rio de Janeiro, bidding for the 2016 Olympics. The IOC will chose a host city in 2009.

In September, Sharpton opened a branch of his National Action Network in Chicago to address what he calls a ''volatile relationship'' between Chicago residents and police.

''I've not seen a city act more oblivious to a problem,'' Sharpton said. ''It's like it doesn't exist.''

Messages left Sunday for Chicago police spokeswoman Monique Bond were not returned.

Chicago recently agreed to pay nearly $20 million to settle lawsuits filed by four former death row inmates who claimed they were tortured by Chicago police and wrongly convicted. The settlement has to be approved by the Chicago Council.

City officials, including Alderman Ed Smith, have said they hoped the settlement would help improve relations between the police and the community.

Sharpton said the settlements were a step in the right direction.

''The payment is a correct thing to do, but it's not the end of what you do,'' he said.

No word yet from Jesse Jackson or Mayor Daley on this one.