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THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 2009
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SF Mayor Takes Heat for Torch Dodge

Rerouting Olympic flame relay enrages duped protesters

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(Newser) – The San Francisco leg of the Olympic torch relay avoided some of the chaos that plagued London and Paris, but pro-Tibetan activists were fuming that Mayor Gavin Newsom rerouted the flame's path at the last minute to dodge protesters. "He did it so China can report they had a great torch run," one demonstrator complained to the San Francisco Chronicle.

The city police chief said she had no choice but to reroute the torch to avoid scenes of "helmet-clad officers with batons pushing back protesters." Some protesters caught up with the diverted Olympic flame as the day went on, shouting "Shame on China!" as it passed. The Bay Area was the torch's only American stop; it now heads to Argentina.

Two pro-Tibet protesters are arrested by San Francisco police near Justin Herman Plaza during demonstrations held during the Beijing Olympic torch relay in San Francisco, Wednesday, April 9, 2008.
Two pro-Tibet protesters are arrested by San Francisco police near Justin Herman Plaza during demonstrations held during the Beijing Olympic torch relay in San Francisco, Wednesday, April 9, 2008.   (AP Photo/Darryl Bush)
Torch runners Mark Henderson, left, and Special Olympian Michael Bailey, right, move the torch down Van Ness Avenue Wednesday, April 9, 2008 during the Torch Relay in San Francisco.
Torch runners Mark Henderson, left, and Special Olympian Michael Bailey, right, move the torch down Van Ness Avenue Wednesday, April 9, 2008 during the Torch Relay in San Francisco.   (AP Photo/Carlos Avila Gonzalez, Pool)
Official torch bearer Majora Carter speaks to the media after her duties were cut short when she displayed a Tibetan flag while carrying the Olympic torch on Wednesday, April 8, 2008.
Official torch bearer Majora Carter speaks to the media after her duties were cut short when she displayed a Tibetan flag while carrying the Olympic torch on Wednesday, April 8, 2008.   (AP Photo)
A pro-Tibet demonstrator, left, argues with a pro-China supporter in a large crowd as they wait for the Beijing Olympic torch relay near the Ferry Building in San Francisco, Wednesday, April 9, 2008.
A pro-Tibet demonstrator, left, argues with a pro-China supporter in a large crowd as they wait for the Beijing Olympic torch relay near the Ferry Building in San Francisco, Wednesday, April 9, 2008....   (AP Photo/Darryl Bush)
A Chinese supporter, right, yells at Tibetan supporters at a rally for China's Olympic torch at the Ferry Plaza in San Francisco, Wednesday, April 9, 2008.
A Chinese supporter, right, yells at Tibetan supporters at a rally for China's Olympic torch at the Ferry Plaza in San Francisco, Wednesday, April 9, 2008.   (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)
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