Olympic Torch Protest, 4/9; any DUers going?

[beltanefauve]

Finally, the torch route and time have been revealed by the city of San Francisco. I know, we in the US probably shouldn't throw stones at glass houses (Chinese proverb! :)) with Iraq, torture, Gitmo and rendition practices as part of our legacy, but I'm hoping that enough protestors worldwide will be an embarrassment to the Chinese government and that eventually change in the way they have persecuted Tibet, not to mention their policies in Burma and Darfur will be forthcoming.

(snip) "Protesters are expected to gather in large public squares and along the route, which will start at McCovey Cove, run both ways along the Embarcadero and make a short turnaround at Polk Street. The torch lighting ceremony in Greece was disrupted by demonstrators last week, and protests are expected in cities the torch visits around the world.

At City Hall, Supervisor Chris Daly, who introduced the resolution critical of China, encouraged the audience that packed into the Board of Supervisors' chambers Tuesday to be on the streets and show disdain for the Chinese government during the torch relay.

His resolution, which passed 8-3, calls for an international investigation of China's recent crackdown on dissenters in Tibet and encourages the city's official representative at the torch festivities to accept the flame with "alarm and protest."

"The eyes of the world will be on San Francisco, and, let's be honest, if there is not alarm and there is not protest in San Francisco when the torch arrives here, that too would be news, and that would be San Francisco complicit in the human rights violations that are happening in China and around the world," Daly said."

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/04/02/MND6VU4JK.DTL&hw=olympic+torch&sn=001&sc=1000

[Book Lover]

1. I work basically along the route

so I'll sure be there :-)

[EFerrari]

2. Chris Daly, on the right side of things as always.

:applause:

I can't go but I will try to send some folks out there. Thanks for posting!

[beltanefauve]

3. You're welcome

I was surprised someone didn't already beat me to this, actually.

[TomInTib]

4. Hey, there!

I was just thinking about you, not ten minutes ago.

I do believe that I will close the gallery and take the ferry to town for that one.

One of our Easter guests was a dancer from Tibet (I spent Easter in NYC, my domestic {Tiburon} life being an absolute trainwreck) and she presented quite an eye-popping account of what is going on over there.

[EFerrari]

5. Hi there, Tom!

Amy Goodman has been covering it. It's horrendous and only a measure of how morally BANKRUPT our government is that the US is participating at all. Brave New World.

[TomInTib]

6. I'll check it out.

I have pretty much sworn off of TV and radio this year, so I am not always (as in never) up to speed.

[Hell Hath No Fury]

7. I work blocks from the starting point...

and plan on attending. I am not sure if I am going to go to the ballpark or go a little further down the Embarcadero. I saw the last Olympic torch come through the city on its last journey so I was planning on attending anyway, not just to protest.

[beltanefauve]

8. I saw the last torch

come through Oakland in 2002. My how things change!

Not sure where I'll be situated, but I'll be taking BART and getting off at Embarcadero.

[beltanefauve]

9. Update from London

http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,1728261,00.html

(snip) "(LONDON) — Police repeatedly scuffled with protesters as Olympians and dignitaries carried the Olympic torch through snowy London during a chaotic relay Sunday.
Demonstrators tried to board a relay bus after five-time Olympic gold medalist rower Steve Redgrave launched procession at Wembley Stadium?presaging a number of clashes with police along the torch's 31-mile journey.

There have been 30 arrests, Metropolitan Police said.

In West London, a protester tried to grab the torch out of the hands of a TV presenter, forcing police to briefly stop the procession as officers detained the man. Another demonstrator tried to snuff out the flame with what appeared to be a fire extinguisher. Others in the crowd threw themselves at torchbearers running past in official Beijing 2010 Olympics tracksuits."

[Book Lover]

10. Newsom's changing the route!

http://cbslocalblogs.prospero.com/n/blogs/blog.aspx?nav=main&webtag=kpix_eyeonblogs&entry=1167

http://cbs5.com/video/?id=[e-mail]

http://sfist.com/2008/04/07/newsom_changes.php

[mythyc]

11. thanks for the link

i just checked it and learned that the ceremony occurs at the exact same time as a class. it's not a class i can miss but i want to participate in this protest. i might be able to get someone to cover for me, and will work on it tonight. doing my best to make it, as this is a cause i feel very strongly about.

[AtomicKitten]

12. Hey, hope you can make it.

I can't not make it!

Cheers.

[mythyc]

13. Any of you guys want to meet up?

post here and we can organize a little DU contingency there. check out this youtube video, so inspiring, especially the interview at 5:28:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C6eqO7Da7aI&feature=related

[proud patriot]

14. good luck and Free Tibet

the protest looks big and beautiful

[EFerrari]

15. Is everyone all right? I couldn't go

but have been monitoring the local news.

Is everyone okay?