The torch lit from the flame ran into heavy protests as it was being run through the streets of Paris today. Police in jogging gear put the torch out and took it on board a bus, apparently to get it away from demonstrators. It happened as the Olympic torch was being carried down a road along the Seine River. The relay was halted by demonstrators carrying Tibetan flags.
The flame ran into anti-China demonstrations yesterday in London. One demonstrator nearly managed to snatch the torch away from the runner. Another tried to douse it with a fire extinguisher. There's been heavy security for the relay in Paris. About 3,000 officers are on hand, on motorcycles, on foot and even on roller skates. The Olympic flame itself is kept in a separate container from which the torches are lit at each stop. It's to be in San Francisco Wednesday, its only scheduled stop in North America. The flame has been followed by protesters since it left Greece.
New York Times CNN Intl: Olympic Torch: A Public Relations Nightmare"
French video at link - police Mace demonstators etc
Here is a good diary on it at DocuDharma, which has several more videos, including police on rollerblades
The YouTube ones are more revealing than the official news reports.
Will SF demonstrators "carry the torch" for those in Europe? A security blanket is already being put in place there. Hundreds of police will line the streets, with tighter security than in 1992 and 1996. Meanwhile, human rights activists in SF are already warming. The torch route is being drastically altered (1/3 of the population is Asian in SF) and will skip scheduled stops at the Golden Gate Bridge, SF cable car and Chinatown with its narrow, busy streets. The city government itself passed a symbolic resolution to greet the Olympic torth with "alarm and protest." Activists from Falun Gong and critics of China's position on Taiwan, Sudan and Myanmar are also organizing.
A billboard along a main highway to San Francisco reads: "Stand up for Tibet, say 'No' to China's bloody torch." People are being rallied nationwide to join a "Tibetan Freedom Torch" relay and march in San Francisco Tuesday, the day before the Torch arrives, to include Archbishop Desmond Tutu and actor Richard Gere. Officials at the Chinese consulate in San Francisco are downplaying the protests, saying that most of the Chinese community is proud Beijing is hosting the games.
Dalai Lama will be in Seattle all next week for the "Seeds of Compassion" events.
FREEDOM TORCH CEREMONY
Tuesday, April 8, 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
United Nations Plaza, Market and Hyde Streets, San Francisco
A Tibetan Freedom Torch Ceremony features a march and rally (rain or shine) in support of Tibet's struggle for human rights.
10 a.m. Meet at UN Plaza
11 a.m. Press Conference & Torch Ceremony
12 p.m. Rally
1 p.m. March to SF City Hall
1:15 p.m. Rally at the SF City Hall
1:45 p.m. March to Chinese Consulate
2:15 p.m. Protest and speeches at the Chinese Consulate
3:15 p.m. March back to UN Plaza
4:00 p.m. End of Torch Ceremony
CANDLELIGHT VIGIL FOR HUMAN RIGHTS
Tuesday, April 8, 6:00 p.m.
United Nations Plaza
Join Richard Gere, Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Tibetan leaders and other special guests for a historic rally and candlelight vigil in support of the Tibetan people and their struggle for basic human rights. As China prepares to host the Olympics in August, the government is conducting the worst crackdown in Tibet since the 1960s Cultural Revolution. Come show your support for the Tibetan and Chinese people on the eve of the Beijing Olympic torch passing through San Francisco. The evening begins with speeches, music and performances and will conclude with a candlelight Vigil at 8 p.m.
Wednesday, April 9
Wednesday, April 9, 12 NOON
Ferry Park (just North of Justin Herman Plaza)
Washington St. and Embarcadero
Volunteer for Change
THis column is even called "Political Intelligence" - racism is going to die out eventually. Clinton isn't popular either and McCain will be the "last gasp" of the old white mans' dominance in America (and elsewhere.)
Obama leads in N.C.; voters distrust Clinton
Hillary Clinton is within striking distance in North Carolina, but a worrisome number of voters don't trust her.
That's the decidedly mixed message from a new poll conducted for The News & Observer in Raleigh, The Charlotte Observer, and TV stations in the two cities.
Barack Obama, who is favored in the May 6 primary, leads Clinton 32 percent to 26 percent, but an unusually high 39 percent remain undecided, according to the survey.
It found that trustworthiness is the most important quality sought by voters, with nearly 90 percent saying it would play an important role in deciding whom they support. On that measure, presumptive Republican nominee John McCain fared best, with 54 percent giving him high marks. Obama won high marks from 48 percent of voters, but only 25 percent of voters said that of Clinton.
The poll, which has a margin of error of plus of minus 4.9 percentage points, was conducted March 29 to April 1, during heavy coverage of Clinton acknowledging that she "misspoke" when she described landing in Bosnia under sniper fire during a 1996 humanitarian visit while first lady.
Posted by: Slugbug | April 07, 2008 at 10:20 AM
Monkey said
Torch protesters scale Golden Gate Bridge
SAN FRANCISCO (KGO) -- Three protesters have scaled the suspension cables of the Golden Gate Bridge as part of an advance protest to the coming Olympic torch relay in San Francisco.
The three protesters are tethered together at 150 feet up the bridge. They have strung banners across the cables that read, "One World One Dream," and "Free Tibet '08."
more...
http://abclocal.go.com/kgo/story?section=news/local&id=6066082
Soooo, the Golden Gate was talked about in the last few years for its potential as a high profile terrorist target, and assurances were made that it was safe, etc... so how the hell did three protestors make it up 150 feet?
Feel safer yet?
Posted by: Not my president | April 07, 2008 at 03:20 PM