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**Immampdah** · 04-08-2008, 12:11 AM

Let the games begin ...

Pro-Tibet protesters climb Golden Gate Bridge tower

San Francisco Chronicle
Jonathan Curiel, Marisa Lagos, Chronicle Staff Writers
April 7, 2008

Three people climb the suspension cables of the Golden Gate Bridge on
Monday, April 7, 2008, in a protest aimed at drawing attention to
Chinese human rights violations in Tibet.

(04-07) 13:12 PDT SAN FRANCISCO -- Three demonstrators scaled the south tower of the Golden Gate Bridge today and unfurled a banner intended to draw attention to Chinese human rights violations in Tibet.

The protest by Students for a Free Tibet comes two days before the Olympic Torch makes its only North American stop in San Francisco before the games this summer in Beijing.

The protesters scaled the bridge tower around 10:30 a.m., carrying a banner reading, "One World, One Dream, Free Tibet 08." They unfurled the banner - a play on the official slogan of this year's Olympic Games, "One World, One Dream" - at 11:20 a.m., facing the bay.

The activists rappelled down about 1 p.m. and were arrested by California Highway Patrol officers. They left the banner hanging on the tower. Iron workers will cut it down, said Mary Currie, a spokeswoman for the Golden Gate Bridge district.

Currie said police also detained another five activists who did not scale the bridge.

Authorities have cameras trained on the span at all times, but the three protesters scaled the tower quickly without bridge police immediately seeing them, Currie said.

Traffic is slow on the span in both directions and authorities blocked pedestrian access to the bridge, stranding tourists on either side of the span.

Wangbhen Lhamo, a Tibetan American who lives in San Francisco, said Students for a Free Tibet hopes to persuade the International Olympic Committee to keep the torch out of Tibet this summer. It is scheduled to pass through Tibet on June 19-21.

Lhamo said the group planned other protests Tuesday and Wednesday that she said would be peaceful. On Tuesday, there will be an alternative torch event, the celebration of the Tibetan Freedom Torch, beginning at 10 a.m. at United Nations Plaza in San Francisco.

A number of visitors who were prevented from crossing the bridge appeared to take the protest in stride. Cincinnati resident Jim Hayden, 62, who is visiting San Francisco for the first time, said he was well aware of the city's reputation for political activity.

"If they're going to do it, do it here," Hayden said. "These people have their point of view, and find very strange ways to express them."

© 2008 Hearst Communications Inc.

***

A series of four pictures captured by a KPIX-TV Webcam shows
protesters unfurling a banner on the Golden Gate Bridge on
Monday morning, April 7, 2008.
Webcam images via CBS5.com.

04-08-2008, 12:11 AM	#21
Immampdah Join Date Oct 2005 Posts 744 Senior Member	*Let the games begin ...* Pro-Tibet protesters climb Golden Gate Bridge tower San Francisco Chronicle Jonathan Curiel, Marisa Lagos, Chronicle Staff Writers April 7, 2008 Three people climb the suspension cables of the Golden Gate Bridge on Monday, April 7, 2008, in a protest aimed at drawing attention to Chinese human rights violations in Tibet. (04-07) 13:12 PDT SAN FRANCISCO -- Three demonstrators scaled the south tower of the Golden Gate Bridge today and unfurled a banner intended to draw attention to Chinese human rights violations in Tibet. The protest by Students for a Free Tibet comes two days before the Olympic Torch makes its only North American stop in San Francisco before the games this summer in Beijing. The protesters scaled the bridge tower around 10:30 a.m., carrying a banner reading, "One World, One Dream, Free Tibet 08." They unfurled the banner - a play on the official slogan of this year's Olympic Games, "One World, One Dream" - at 11:20 a.m., facing the bay. The activists rappelled down about 1 p.m. and were arrested by California Highway Patrol officers. They left the banner hanging on the tower. Iron workers will cut it down, said Mary Currie, a spokeswoman for the Golden Gate Bridge district. Currie said police also detained another five activists who did not scale the bridge. Authorities have cameras trained on the span at all times, but the three protesters scaled the tower quickly without bridge police immediately seeing them, Currie said. Traffic is slow on the span in both directions and authorities blocked pedestrian access to the bridge, stranding tourists on either side of the span. Wangbhen Lhamo, a Tibetan American who lives in San Francisco, said Students for a Free Tibet hopes to persuade the International Olympic Committee to keep the torch out of Tibet this summer. It is scheduled to pass through Tibet on June 19-21. Lhamo said the group planned other protests Tuesday and Wednesday that she said would be peaceful. On Tuesday, there will be an alternative torch event, the celebration of the Tibetan Freedom Torch, beginning at 10 a.m. at United Nations Plaza in San Francisco. A number of visitors who were prevented from crossing the bridge appeared to take the protest in stride. Cincinnati resident Jim Hayden, 62, who is visiting San Francisco for the first time, said he was well aware of the city's reputation for political activity. "If they're going to do it, do it here," Hayden said. "These people have their point of view, and find very strange ways to express them." © 2008 Hearst Communications Inc. *** A series of four pictures captured by a KPIX-TV Webcam shows protesters unfurling a banner on the Golden Gate Bridge on Monday morning, April 7, 2008. Webcam images via CBS5.com.
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