San Francisco to Chinese government: "Free Tibet!" - Fog City JournalFog City Journal

Fifty doves representing 50 years of Chinese government occupation of Tibet
were released yesterday during a Tibetan Freedom Torch rally at UN Plaza.
Photos by Luke Thomas and John Han

Bay City News

April 9, 2008

Dozens of doves soared above scores of Pro-Tibet signs and Tibetan flags Tuesday as activists congregated at San Francisco’s United Nations Plaza, standing together for human rights and to oppose the arrival of the Beijing Olympic torch.

Photo by John Han

The Tibetan Freedom Torch ceremony kicked off a day of activities to protest the Olympic torch, which arrived at San Francisco International Airport early Tuesday morning.

Tenzin Dasang, president of the Tibetan Youth Congress, said that the doves represented a commitment to peace and freedom.

As the doves were released, a crowd of hundreds chanted “Free Tibet now” and “Chinese government out of Tibet,” while many gripped signs reading “We Will Rise Up Until Tibet Is Free” and “China Stop The Killings in Tibet.”

Dasang joined speakers including former Olympians Charles Altekruse and Ed Ferry, San Francisco Supervisor Chris Daly, leaders of several Bay Area Tibetan organizations and others.

“Would we not be betraying the Olympic spirit … if we do not take a stand today?” Altekruse asked the crowd.

Supervisor Chris Daly, who authored a controversial resolution that addresses human rights concerns with the Beijing Olympic torch’s arrival in the city, was welcomed with cheers.

Supervisor Chris Daly

“We will meet this torch on the streets of San Francisco with alarm and protest,” said Daly, borrowing language from the resolution.

Photo by John Han

Yesterday’s events also included a march from the United Nations Plaza to City Hall, the Consulate of the People’s Republic of China and back to the plaza.

As the Chinese national flag flaps in the San Francisco wind atop the Chinese Consulate,
a sky banner overhead read “Stop Cultural Genocide in Tibet.”

A candlelight vigil was held last night with Archbishop Desmond Tutu, actor Richard Gere, Tibetan leaders and others.

Tutu, who was dressed in his familiar pink robe, said: “We want to say to China, ‘We thought that the Olympic Games would help you improve your human rights record.’ We still hope, but what we are saying to the heads of state, to President George Bush, is, ‘For goodness sake, don’t go to the Beijing Games, for the sake of our children, for the beautiful people of Tibet. Don’t go!'”

Archbishop Desmond Tutu dances off stage following his speech.

Actor turned activist Richard Gere said: “There is no harmony, no genuine harmony, without truth.”

Richard Gere

Yesterday’s protest comes after the Monday arrest of seven people who were involved in hanging banners on the Golden Gate Bridge to protest the Beijing Olympic torch.

Today, the Olympic torch relay, which is scheduled to begin at 1 p.m. with an opening ceremony at McCovey Cove, will wind through the city.

The relay is expected to be met with thousands of protesters in San Francisco, its only North American stop, and the San Francisco Police Department will receive assistance from local, state and federal agencies for crowd control.