Some images of today's torch relay/protest/insanity/Newsomness as the torch run turned into, well, complete chaos. Whew, what a day.
Images of Today's Torch Rally at Embarcadero/Protest at Golden Gate Bridge
Olympic Torch Switcharoo
Pretty sneaky, Gavin.
Olympic Torch Relay Live Cam -- At Last!
Care of Justin.tv. Also, for more live blog coverage, visit studentsforafreetibet.
Torch Route
Although, according to fine Mayor Gavin Newsom, the torch route change at a moment's notice, the path is currently starting at AT&T Park (where confrontations are reportedly already taking place), running along the Embarcadero Park (where confrontations are reportedly already taking place), and ending at Justin Herman Plaza (where confrontations are reportedly already taking place). If you get any shots of the flame or hot-headed behavior, be sure to tag them with "sfist" in your Flickr stream for everyone to see.
Images From Yesterday's Tibet Rally and Peace March
Before today's Olympic torch run, check out some images from yesterday's
Your Olympic Torch Relay Related MUNI Delays
Today's Olympic torch relay, set to start just outside AT&T Park at 1 p.m., will result in MUNI delays. Here are the lines that will be affected today. Or not.
Olympic Torch Route to Go Through Berry Street?
While we can say for sure where the torch route will go tomorrow--KTVU confusedly announced the "official map route" during today's noon broadcast and KPIX interviewed a fake Bono, so we can't be sure of anything anymore--we can take a stab at it, yes? Yes.
Watch Today's Tibet/Olympic Torch Protest/Rally/Star Sighting/Melee Live
Can't make it to today's Tibet rally? Well then, check out the live feed above, or head over to justin.tv to catch to watch/chat about it. Be sure to visit OlympicTorchSF for additional coverage, as well as their Twitter updates, which we highly recommend for culling up-to-the-second torch route specifics.
Olympic Flame Arrives With Cool Insouciance
The divisive Olympic flame arrived in SF today all the way from Paris (how chic!) under a shroud of security normally "reserved for head-of-state visits." It touched down at SFO with no protesters in sight (it arrived at 3:40 a.m.)
Newsom Changes Olympic Torch's SF Route
In light of today's Golden Gate Bridge scaling/protest incident, Mayor Gavin Newsom--according to Brittney Gilbert at CBS 5's Eye On Blogs--"announced the route of the Olympic torch has been changed from the published course to a new route whose details will not be made public."
Breaking News: Tibet Protesters Scale Golden Gate Bridge
Currently three protesters are climbing the cables of the Golden Gate Bridge, attempting to hang up a sign on the bridge in protest over the Olympic torch run through San Francisco, which is scheduled to make its only U.S. run in San Francisco on Wednesday. Check out KPIX's live cam for what's going down right now.
Before the Unfurling
Jim Herd, currently at the Golden Gate Bridge, sent us the above shot, taken just before the (pretty damn brave) protesters unfurled their messages.
Olympic Torchbearers Revealed, Da (Former) Mayor to Run
At 74 years young, today former San Francisco Mayor Willie Brown was named a torchbearer for the controversial Olympic flame's San Francisco tour. The tireless--yes, tireless!-- advocate for human rights and environmental concerns will drag his crazy-old-coot ass out for next week's "sustainable journey" torch run.
Protesters, Get Those Signs Ready: SF Olympic Torch Route Revealed!
In an attempt to make protesting -- and cheering, we suppose -- easy, the mayor's office has unveiled the route of the Olympic torch as it makes its way through *ahem* the city. Included in the article is a link-happy sidebar discussing the problems residents have with the Olympic torch running through our fair city.
Et Tu, David?: Eggers Pens NYT Op-Ed Piece About SF Olympic Torch
In our continuing Beijing Olympic-boycotting coverage, Dave Eggers--the scribe ever well-educated San Franciscan loves to hate (because he's successful at what he does)--wrote a piece in this Sunday's about the Olympic Torch's run in San Francisco. He claims that the protests that will occur during the run will be a strong statement, especially since it's the torch's only run in Northern America and its an election year. China’s "complicity in the genocide in Darfur" and the Sudan are the focus of his article. Let's dive in, shall we?
Give Us the SF Olympic Torch Route, Activists Demand
Tibetan activists and the San Francisco Darfur Coalition (who, by the way, are trying to turn the holy day of "Casual Friday" into "Darfur Friday") are demanding to know exactly where the torch will be going during its San Francisco run so they can protest that they can protest the China's ongoing human rights violations. Grrr.
No Torch For Chinatown
Mayor Gavin Newsom released a few details yesterday regarding the Beijing Olympic Torch jog throughout the city . The route will include areas around the Ferry Building and AT&T Park, but not Chinatown. Why? Well, according to the Gate, "the density of Chinatown and the small streets running through the historic neighborhood make it logistically difficult to include the neighborhood on the route." (But it would look soooo pretty going to Chinatown!) Newsom announced the flame's path after yesterday's attack at the Chinese Consulate, where someone tried but failed to immolate the building, and before the Board of Supervisors had to sit and listen to "4 1/2 hours of public testimony mostly critical of China's human-rights record."
Breaking News: Mayor Newsom Snubs Olympic Torch Naysayers
The battle to keep the Olympic torch from hitting the streets of San Francisco is looking grim. Yesterday outside City Hall, around 40 people rallying for a free Tibet/damning the Olympic flame were allegedly "snubbed" by Mayor Gavin Newsom. Ouch. According to KCBS:
Rally at City Hall Protests SF's Hosting of the Olympic Torch
A small protest was held at City Hall yesterday by 400-plus pissed off Tibetan immigrants, honoring the 49th anniversary of Tibet's uprising against China, but also San Francisco's hosting of the Olympic torch. Just a preface of what will happen in the city next month, San Francisco will be the focus of a major protest since it's the only US city hosting the Olympic torch relay in the 2008 Beijing games.

