6,500 Protesters Expected This Afternoon as Olympic Torch Passes San Francisco

[babylonsister]

Protesters drawn to Olympic flame in S.F.


Protesters march to San Francisco City Hall on Tuesday after gathering at nearby United Nations Plaza to call for Tibet independence. More than 6,000 demonstrators are expected for Wednesday’s torch relay.

City officials expect up to 6,500 protesters of China's human rights policies to line the route that the torch will take today.
By John M. Glionna and Barbara Demick, Los Angeles Times Staff Writers
April 9, 2008


SAN FRANCISCO -- -- It was supposed to be on a "Journey of Harmony," but the Olympic torch celebrating the Beijing Summer Games slinked into the city before dawn Tuesday, dogged by controversy both here and abroad.

As activists and police readied for a chaotic torch relay expected to produce mass demonstrations and arrests this afternoon, China stood defiant in the face of growing criticism of its human rights policies. The superpower has downplayed protests -- many by pro-Tibetan activists -- that have aimed to snuff out the Olympic flame, and has ignored a chorus of calls for a boycott of the Games' opening ceremony.

On Tuesday, International Olympic Committee officials in Beijing suggested the possibility of cutting short the torch's odyssey, abbreviating the list of 19 countries it is scheduled to visit in the run-up to the Aug. 8 opening ceremony. Officials said they might even consider scrapping the international portion of the torch relay for future games.

"I'm definitely concerned about what has happened in London and in Paris," said Jacques Rogge, president of the International Olympic Committee, referring to numerous efforts by protesters to extinguish the torch.

more...

http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-torch9apr09,0,4003453.story

[GodlessBiker]

1. This is like a game of keep-away. Get that torch!

At this point, what idiots are still agreeing to run with the torch?

[Annces]

2. This is great

A real spotlight on the cruelty of China.

[DS1]

3. Someone should donate a thousand supersoakers

:)

[David__77]

4. "Superpower?"

Since when is China a "superpower?" It has no foreign bases, and has a low per capita GDP as a mid-level developing country. There is a campaign to make them appear as the "new Soviet Union" to be demonized. New McCarthyism in action.

[Hell Hath No Fury]

5. It's already a madhouse here...

I was just downtown and it is filled with people at the ballpark and along the torch route. I saw many, many buses yesterday and this morning filled with China supporters that were coming into town for the event.

Security around the torch/route is supposed to be huge, so we will see how this thing goes. I am leaving in a couple of hours to go to the ballpark -- hopefully I'll be able to get somewhere near the route.

[babylonsister]

6. I hope you fill us in on your return; thanks! nt