More Olympic Drama Planned for IOC Visit?

By Kevin Robinson in News on Mar 26, 2009 2:20PM

The Chicago Tribune is reporting that the Chicago Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 7 is considering a picket line next week when the International Olympic Committee arrives in town to evaluate Chicago's 2016 Olympic bid. Although FOP President Mark Donahue "acknowledged that a picket line of cops while Olympic officials are in town... is 'being discussed'", the union hasn't made a decision yet. But according to "multiple police sources familiar with union activities," informational picketing is being considered at City Hall, but the exact location is among the issues still being worked out.

News of the police union's action is the latest in a series of actions being planned for the week that the IOC is scheduled to arrive in Chicago. No Games Chicago, a citizen coalition opposing the city's 2016 bid, is planning a protest on downtown's Federal Plaza, and several other community groups are also threatening pickets and protests for the IOC visit as well. The police union is upset over the withdrawal of a pay increase during ongoing contract negotiations, and other community groups are concerned that the Olympics will not translate into benefits for the community, and that the city will mismanage the construction and execution of infrastructure improvements leading up to the games if Chicago gets the bid.