New York, NY —

Al Sharpton is vowing to lead protests against Madison Square Garden, unless Knicks coach Isiah Thomas apologizes for suggesting that blacks and whites should be held to different standards when it comes to using derogatory terms for women.

REPORTER: In a deposition introduced at his sexual harassment trial, Thomas said he doesn't accept a white man calling a black woman the "b-word." But he added that he wouldn't be as upset if the same words came from a black man.

SHARPTON: Nobody, whoever they are, has the right to say the "B-word," and there is no difference for a black man to say it, a white man to say it, an Asian to say it.

REPORTER: Sharpton says his organization will stage picket lines around the Garden during Knicks home games unless Thomas apologizes -- or proves he did not make the comments. Sharpton said Thomas phoned him yesterday, to say his words had been misinterpreted because the videotape had been, quote, "spliced.''