Rev. Al Sharpton called for America’s ministers to demand Department of Justice oversight of the Chicago Police Department on Thursday.
Sharpton claimed that many of the city’s police officers are corrupt, citing the alleged coverup of the 2014 shooting of Laquan McDonald. He asked other ministers to march with him against Attorney General Jeff Sessions, saying “it’s time for the Christian Right to face the right Christians,” CBS Chicago reported.
“You cannot have it both ways. You must fight criminal behavior whether the criminal has on blue jeans or a blue uniform,” he told CBS. “A criminal is a criminal and ought to be treated like that.”
Sharpton claimed he knew how to handle the Trump administration, due to his time combating President Donald Trump in New York City, the Chicago Tribune reported.
“I’ve known him for 35 years,” Sharpton said while speaking at a church. “If you can meet with the Russians, you can meet with the leaders in Chicago!”
Sharpton hopes to gather 1,000 ministers to march in Washington, D.C. next month on the anniversary of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s “I Have a Dream” speech, and several Chicago ministers have already pledged to join him.
“Dr. King taught us we must speak truth to power, and it doesn’t matter who is in power,” Rev. Ira Acree of St. John Bible Church told CBS.
“Chicago was on its way to police reform until the Trump administration brought in Jeff Sessions as the attorney general of this nation,” said Pastor Cy Fields of New Landmark Baptist Church.
Current and former members of the Chicago Police Department were indicted in June on multiple charges of attempting to cover up the actions of Officer Jason Van Dyke, who shot Laquan McDonald. The city is now also facing a lawsuit demanding that Chicago pass police reforms.
The DOJ declined to respond to The Daily Caller News Foundation’s request for comment.
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