SAN FRANCISCO—As the Chinese officials arrived today at dawn in San Francisco bearing the Olympic torch en route to Beijing for its "journey of harmony," activists mobilized in a series of protests in preparation for what is expected to be another tumultuous visit after the recent events in Paris and London.
Police are preparing for at least 10,000 protesters to spill into the streets of San Francisco on Wednesday when the Olympic torch makes its six-mile run along the waterfront. Officials shortened the route which will avoid landmarks such as the Golden Gate Bridge in light of the clashes along the torch routes in Paris and London.
A spokesman says that a runner refused to carry the flame through San Francisco due to safety concerns.
One day prior to the official Olympic ceremony, pro-Tibetan activists, San Francisco politicians, Olympians, and members of other concerned groups gathered in a series of demonstrations and rallies throughout the city including a Tibetan Freedom Torch Ceremony.
"I'd like to express my deep sadness of the situation inside Tibet. Thousands of Tibetans are in danger as we speak. Just recently the Chinese government has deployed massive amounts of military troops in all parts of Tibet," said Tenzing Chonden, director of Tibetans for North America, at a rally in the city's United Nations Plaza.
"We've confirmed that at least 156 Tibetans have been killed and several Tibetan monks have been forced to commit suicide," he added.
A candlelight vigil will be held tonight where movie star Richard Gere and Nobel Peace Laureate Archbishop Desmond Tutu will call on the world's people to protest the treatment of Tibetans and their leader in exile, the Dalai Lama.
Already several pro-Tibetan protesters have been arrested in San Francisco. Three protesters have been taken into custody for scaling the Golden Gate Bridge to hang banners, making a dramatic statement against the Chinese government's violent crackdown in Tibet.
The three climbers scaled the bridge's suspension cables. Two Tibetan flags fluttered in the wind, as protesters hung up banners which unfurled slowly in the wind and read: "One World, One Dream: Free Tibet." A second sign read "Free Tibet 08."
According to bridge authorities, the protesters went unnoticed by security as they wore casual clothes and their "Free Tibet" T-shirts were covered; their climbing gear was hidden inside a baby stroller.
As the Tibetan Freedom Torch arrived carried by Olympians on Tuesday, 50 snow-white doves were released out of a cage. The doves were symbols of the monks that were killed during the recent uprising in Tibet, according to event organizers.
Charles Altekruz, a former Olympian from 1980, when 466 U.S. Olympians were denied the opportunity to go to the Olympics in Moscow, said at the Tibetan Freedom Torch ceremony: "Would we not be betraying the Olympic spirit, and the spirit of all nations and people that cherish freedom, justice, and liberty if we did not take a stance today?" the former Olympian asked the crowds of protesters.
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