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Torch Changes Keep Protesters Off Balance

San Francisco's bait-and-switch approach keeps Olympic flame's tour mainly peaceful

By Nick McMaster,  Newser Staff

Posted Apr 9, 2008 4:24 PM CDT
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(Newser) – Throngs of pro- and anti-China demonstrators in San Francisco forced drastic changes in the Olympic torch's tour of the city, the San Francisco Chronicle reports. Officials bused the flame and relay runners from the bayside opening ceremony miles across town; after heading west toward the Golden Gate Bridge, the convoy turned south and headed for the airport.

The new route remained mainly protest-free most of the way—to the chagrin of the president of the city's board of supervisors, who said Mayor Gavin Newsom "runs San Francisco the way the premier of China runs his country—secrecy, lies, misinformation, lack of transparency and manipulating the populace." The flame was set to depart for its next stop, Buenos Aires.

A pro-Chinese spectator yells at protesters before the opening ceremonies of the Olympic Torch relay April 9, 2008 in San Francisco, Calif.
A pro-Chinese spectator yells at protesters before the opening ceremonies of the Olympic Torch relay April 9, 2008 in San Francisco, Calif.   ((Simon Hayter/Getty Images))
Chinese supporters surround a taxi and yell as two Tibetan protesters(in Taxi) depart the area, before the start of the Olympic Torch relay on April 9, 2008 in San Francisco, California.
Chinese supporters surround a taxi and yell as two Tibetan protesters(in Taxi) depart the area, before the start of the Olympic Torch relay on April 9, 2008 in San Francisco, California.   ((ROBYN BECK/AFP/Getty Images))
A pro-Tibet protestor (R) is yelled at by a pro-Chinese spectator before the opening ceremonies of the Olympic Torch relay April 9, 2008 in San Francisco, California.
A pro-Tibet protestor (R) is yelled at by a pro-Chinese spectator before the opening ceremonies of the Olympic Torch relay April 9, 2008 in San Francisco, California.   ((Simon Hayter/Getty Images))
Pro-China supporters wave flags near the San Francisco Bay Bridge as they await the start of the Olympic Torch Relay April 9, 2008 in San Francisco, California.
Pro-China supporters wave flags near the San Francisco Bay Bridge as they await the start of the Olympic Torch Relay April 9, 2008 in San Francisco, California.   ((Justin Sullivan/Getty Images))
Pro-Tibet protestors march across the Golden Gate Bridge on April 9, 2008 in San Francisco.
Pro-Tibet protestors march across the Golden Gate Bridge on April 9, 2008 in San Francisco.   ((Max Whittaker/Getty Images))
Burmese Buddhist monk Ashin Nanika, (L, in robes) and former Burmese Buddhist monk Jack Kornfield (R) lead a protest march across the Gold Gate Bridge on April 9, 2008 in San Francisco, California.
Burmese Buddhist monk Ashin Nanika, (L, in robes) and former Burmese Buddhist monk Jack Kornfield (R) lead a protest march across the Gold Gate Bridge on April 9, 2008 in San Francisco, California.   ((Max Whittaker/Getty Images))
Police line the torch route to provide security before the start of the Olympic Torch relay on April 9, 2008 in San Francisco, California.
Police line the torch route to provide security before the start of the Olympic Torch relay on April 9, 2008 in San Francisco, California.   ((ROBYN BECK/AFP/Getty Images))
Police line the torch route to provide security before the start of the Olympic Torch relay on April 9, 2008 in San Francisco, California.
Police line the torch route to provide security before the start of the Olympic Torch relay on April 9, 2008 in San Francisco, California.   ((ROBYN BECK/AFP/Getty Images))
The Olympic torch was rerouted away from thousands of demonstrators and spectators who crowded San Francisco's waterfront Wednesday to witness the flame's symbolic journey to the Beijing Games.
The Olympic torch was rerouted away from thousands of demonstrators and spectators who crowded San Francisco's waterfront Wednesday to witness the flame's symbolic journey to the Beijing Games.   (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)
Torch bearers move the Olympic torch through the city of San Francisco during the Beijing Olympic torch relay Wednesday Wednesday, April 9, 2008, in San Francisco.
Torch bearers move the Olympic torch through the city of San Francisco during the Beijing Olympic torch relay Wednesday Wednesday, April 9, 2008, in San Francisco.   (AP Photo/San Francisco Chronicle, Carlos Avila Gonzalez, Pool)
Spectators with signs lined up at the beginning of the route of the Olympic torch run in San Francisco, Wednesday, April 9, 2008.
Spectators with signs lined up at the beginning of the route of the Olympic torch run in San Francisco, Wednesday, April 9, 2008.   (AP Photo/Paul Sakuma)
Xiao Tan, a 32-year-old medical student from Stanford University, tries to protect a Tibetan flag as he is grabbed and jeered at by pro-China supporters on April 9, 2008 in San Francisco, California.
Xiao Tan, a 32-year-old medical student from Stanford University, tries to protect a Tibetan flag as he is grabbed and jeered at by pro-China supporters on April 9, 2008 in San Francisco, California.   ((AFP PHOTO / ROBYN BECK))
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Scenes from along the original route
Los Angeles Times

Closing ceremony moved to airport
Associated Press

US • Sports

 
China • San Francisco • 2008 Beijing Olympics • protests • Tibet • Olympic Games • Olympic torch • political protest • political demonstrations • Olympic protests

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