Sharpton scrubs All-Star Game protests

NEW YORK, July 9 (UPI) -- The Rev. Al Sharpton says next week's planned protests over the acquittals of three New York police officers in a controversial shooting have been called off.

The marches were meant to coincide with baseball's All-Star Game festivities at Yankee Stadium in the Big Apple, but Sharpton said they were canceled because he was confident that state and national police reform legislation would soon be passed.

"We are not jail freaks. We don't love handcuffs," said Sharpton. "We are trying to move toward some kind of permanent change."

Sharpton spoke to reporters Tuesday after pleading innocent to a disorderly conduct charge stemming from a massive protest in May over the verdict in the case of three plainclothes officers in the shooting death of Sean Bell during a confrontation outside a nightclub in 2006.

The New York Daily News said Sharpton was ordered to return to court July 28 with about 30 other defendants who were arrested in May.