Photo Essay of Olympic Torch Run

Photo essay of Olympic Torch Run

The April 9 Olympic Torch Relay through San Francisco showed both a change in tactics by the pro-Tibet and Save Darfur activists after negative press from the London and in particular the Paris torch relay demonstrations, and saw a strong and well organized showing by the pro-China demonstrators, arranged in part by the Chinese consulate in San Francisco, in association with local Chinese businesses and social organizations and student groups.

The pro-China demonstrators sought to portray an orderly and positive image, seeking to contrast with the images of demonstrations and protests against the Torch relay in London and Paris. Groups of demonstrators were positioned along the anticipated torch relay route early in the morning and equipped with signs, Chinese flags, and Olympic Ring and American flags. In addition to portraying an image of strong overseas support for mainland China, the groups were also used to collect images and information on anti-China activists as part of a broader intelligence gathering effort by China to block entry or add extra monitoring to potential demonstrators seeking to carry out actions in China during the Olympic Games.

A frequent occurrence (and one apparently pre-scripted) was for pro-China demonstrators to approach and engage pro-Tibet demonstrators, particularly American demonstrators, do give the Chinese view of the issue. Since the March 14 riots in Tibet, Beijing has launched a coordinated public image campaign, relying not only on media but also encouraging and directing internet and other social activism to target what Beijing sees as oversees misperceptions and media bias regarding Tibet.

The flag of TsinghuaUniversity, one of China’s premier universities and the source of many top government officials, flies over the demonstrations in San Francisco. Several Chinese student organizations (including the Chinese Students and Scholars Association, seen below) were represented, including overseas alumni associations, all promoting the Chinese view and countering the anti-China demonstrators.

Most heavily represented among those demonstrating against the torch relay and the Olympics were supporters of a free Tibet. Several different pro-Tibet groups organized activities, with the overall goal of both raising attention to the Tibet issue and blocking the progress of the Olympic Torch. The latter proved unsuccessful after the torch relay organizers moved the route at the last minute, and the demonstrators were unable to gather large enough crowds along the new route to counter the security presence.

As the demonstrators began to gather in the morning along the planned torch relay route, a pro-Tibetan demonstrator burned a Chinese flag across the street from a group of pro-China demonstrators. This was one of the few acts of potential violence outside of a few scuffles between competing protest groups. Local security forces did not intervene in the flag burning.

The windshield of a chartered bus was damaged, and the bus spray painted with “Free Tibet” after demonstrators blocked the progress of the bus, suspecting it of carrying Chinese officials and the back-up Olympic flame. Most individuals on the bus were evacuated by security forces, but the bus remained immobile through the day as pro-Tibetan protestors laid in front of it and others kept surrounding it and pasting Tibet stickers on the bus. The action did not end the torch run, but it did contribute to the decision to move the relay route several blocks away at the last minute.

The second largest group of protestors was the Save Darfur demonstrators, who had a much lower key presence than the pro-Tibetan activists. Also present were East Turkistan Uighur demonstrators (below), pro-Taiwanese groups, Vietnamese groups, free Burma advocates, and several assorted smaller groups or individuals supporting human and religious rights, calling for product boycotts, or opposing the U.S. war in Iraq.

Police and DSS security teams provided a multi-layered cordon around the torch and the attendant vehicles. There were only intermittent scuffles as a few protestors sought to block the path of the relay.