A Tibetan supporter, right, argues with a Chinese supporter at a rally for China's Olympic torch at the Ferry Plaza in San Francisco, Wednesday, April 9, 2008.
Posted on 04/09/2008 4:14:03 PM PDT by SmithL
SAN FRANCISCO - Officials say the planned closing ceremony for the Olympic torch at the San Francisco Bay waterfront is canceled and another one will take place at an undisclosed location.
The ceremony had been slated to take place Wednesday at Justin Herman Plaza, where thousands had gathered to support and protest the Beijing-bound flame's visit to the city.
Just before the relay began, the torch was rerouted about a mile away from the demonstrators and spectators. Officials say they changed the path because of security concerns.
San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom tells The Associated Press that a closing ceremony will still take place, but he would not specify where.
A Tibetan supporter, right, argues with a Chinese supporter at a rally for China's Olympic torch at the Ferry Plaza in San Francisco, Wednesday, April 9, 2008.
This summer olympics is going to get REALLY political.
A San Francisco Torch Song Eulogy...
Typical liberal media photo. Show the supporter of evil oppression as being calm and collected and the opponent of evil tyranny looking like an unhinged nut.
I hope they drop the torch and burn down the whole damn city...good riddance to these liberal scum bags....
On the Gold Channel......Nothing.
WORD!
That went well.
Just let me get on BART and get home first!
SAN FRANCISCO -- San Francisco leaders surprised thousands of supporters and protesters today by rerouting the Beijing Olympic torch run from its advertised route to a more picturesque course that avoided the throngs of demonstrators along the Embarcadero.
The closing ceremony at Justin Herman Plaza was canceled although thousands of people remained there, and the torch was put onto a bus bound for San Francisco International Airport. After a closing ceremony at the airport, the torch is expected to leave for Buenos Aires on a China Airways flight.
The torch was originally scheduled to head from McCovey Cove to Fisherman's Wharf and back to Justin Herman Plaza. But after an opening ceremony, the torch was instead driven from McCovey Cove to Van Ness Avenue, where pairs of runners - buffered by dozens of police officers - carried it north to Bay Street and Marina Boulevard and onto Doyle Drive near the Golden Gate Bridge. That route was originally discounted by city officials as being too high profile.
The torch finally headed south on 19th Avenue toward the freeway around 3:30 p.m.
The change in plans allowed city officials to avoid the majority of protesters and spectators, though some sprinted to catch up with the convoy as it reached the Marina district. The run remained peaceful and was not interrupted by protesters, as it was in France and London last week. As word filtered through the crowds at Justin Herman Plaza that there would be no ending ceremony after all, many reactions ranged from deflated to flat-out angry.
MORE: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/04/09/MNDS102IIM.DTL&tsp=1
Actually, those blue/white suited jerks were here as well. They were pushing people away that even approached the runners (with cameras, mind you). The S.F.P.D. came over and “reminded” the Chinese dips to keep their hands off American citizens.
"That don't make no sense."
“...to a more picturesque course...”
and unseen by almost everyone as will be any closing ceremony at an undisclosed location.
According to CNN, those thugs were Olympic committee officials.
SNORT.
That picture says it all.
There is more police protecting a torch, than when a President comes to town.
How much money was spent on police and security to protect a torch from being extinguished?
More than necessary. What a farce.
Too bad it can't ignite the Beijing air pollution: kind of like Ohio's famous Cuyahoga River fire, except in the sky.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.