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Torchbearers blanketed by wall of police

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Apr 10, 2008 3:00 AM (149 days ago) by Will Reisman, The Examiner
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Related Topics: SAN FRANCISCO

SAN FRANCISCO (Map, News) - A large police presence during the Olympic torch relay through The City may have averted the chaos that marred the Paris and London legs of the journey, but it also made catching a glimpse of the torchbearers nearly impossible for spectators.

Even as the torch started up its unplanned route on Van Ness Avenue, San Francisco Police Department patrol officers and SWAT team members lined the sidewalk for three city blocks, moving spectators off the road and sometimes using batons to forcibly push people back onto the sidewalk.

With the new route lacking barricades, a police squad of 10 to 15 officers escorted the torchbearers. Inside the human wall were Olympic security officials, who oversaw the lighting of each torch.

Between 40 and 100 officers provided security for the route on foot. Officers on bicycles, motorcycles and dirt bikes also provided assistance.

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The event, however, did see some skirmishes between police and protesters.

On Marina Boulevard, near Baker Street, about one dozen pro-Tibetan supporters — including Laurel Sutherlin and Duane Martinez, two of the protesters who climbed the Golden Gate Bridge on Monday — sat down to halt the torch’s movement. Officers moved them to the sidewalks, ending the standoff in less than one minute.

In all, there were three arrests during the day, according to the SFPD.

wreisman@examiner.com

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Comments from Examiner Readers

10:14 PM MST on Fri., Jun. 20, 2008 re: "Olympic torch relay held in sealed-off Tibet"

 Examiner Reader said:
Some blood-thirsty China-haters have longed for this type articles for quite some time. I read your comments with a smile. I have to tell you though, you have to be prepared to pass your hatred to your child. You can't do much harm to us, cuz we know your real intentions now, ha!

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9:46 PM MST on Fri., May. 9, 2008 re: "Olympic flame summits Mount Everest"

 Examiner Reader said:
The people here in USA have been so intoxicated and brainwashed from cradle to grave about the infallibility and invincibility of human rights, democracy and freedom, so much so they have only a one track mind. That's how we got in trouble in Irag. That's sad. It's beyond pathetic.

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1:45 PM MST on Mon., May. 5, 2008 re: "Chinese cheer on as Olympic torch starts mainland leg"

 Condemn the Fascist Chinese Government said:
Down with the fascist claque that dominates China, and with the pro-China hooligans who have physically attacked those peacefully demonstrating their solidarity with the people of Tibet. China is one vast concentration camp; only those who have sworn allegiance to the ruling "Communist" Party are allowed to travel or live abroad. Anyone brave enough to voice their opposition to the nation's Hitlerian leaders is murdered, and his/her organs harvested and sold on the international market. China's rulers are savages with no sense of decency. All of us who live in the so-called "free" world have a duty to vociferously support our Chinese and Tibetan brothers and sisters in struggle.

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5:32 PM MST on Sat., May. 3, 2008 re: "Olympic torch arrives on safer terrain in mainland China"

 Examiner Reader said:
The Chinese are failing only themselves as they try to sweep the issue of Tibet under the carpet, as if no one will see it. Now that they have invited the limelight of the Olympics, they are about to trip and break their legs over the mound they've created. Tibet is now centerstage and the world is watching. The idea that this is a purely athletic event falls flat when they've invited world leaders to attend and represent their respective governments. Protests over President Bush’ attendance to the opening ceremonies are valid; his office represents us. Americans condone China’s human rights violations. If Bush attends, Americans will be seen as supporting human rights abuses, even promoting them. If Republicans, through Bush, want to save any sliver of respect left for his administration, then make him stay home. Let the athletes go and represent us athletically. Now, can Bush and his administration get it?

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7:09 PM MST on Thu., May. 1, 2008 re: "Mia Farrow enters Hong Kong to protest China-Sudan ties"

 Examiner Reader said:
I think she should have been banned from HK. Why cant the Chinese government stop trouble makers entering their country? The USA does this all the time.

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12:28 PM MST on Mon., Apr. 28, 2008 re: "Olympic torch begins South Korea leg"

 Best Wisher said:
Sad to hear that anti-China supporters are now feeling the heat from the full force of China supporters. Sad, not really, I am actually delighted that those who for whatever reason, decided to obstruct the Torch run should be given a kick in their butts.

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3:00 AM MST on Sun., Apr. 27, 2008 re: "Olympic torch begins South Korea leg"

 Examiner Reader said:
I'm currently in S.Korea, Seoul and a lot of Tibet supporters including several Americans and Canadians have been injured by the reckless Chinese students' throwing rocks, tools, and glass bottles. The S.Korean government is doing anything but merely forming barricades against the Chinese students because this was supposed to be a 'non-violent- protest. However, the Chinese Students started to chant 'China is the best/Anti-Tibet/Go Chinese Olympics/etc' and started violence against the S.korean, American, and Canadian Tibet Supporters. China may become the world's super economy but they will NEVER be respected by any country. It's disgusting.

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12:02 PM MST on Mon., Apr. 21, 2008 re: "S.F. Closing Torch Ceremony Canceled"

 Examiner Reader said:
On many issues Newsom appears strong on flash, short on subtance.

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10:43 PM MST on Wed., Apr. 16, 2008 re: "City coffers feeling heat from torch relay"

 Examiner Reader said:
It seems a huge missed opportunity that City hall did not in advance ask China to pay for the privilege of running the torch in San Francisco. The Chinese govenment could easily have, and should have paid all costs.

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1:34 PM MST on Wed., Apr. 16, 2008 re: "City coffers feeling heat from torch relay"

 Examiner Reader said:
How can the city explain this public relations and fiscal disaster? City residents are paying for a parade that was hidden from them. MUNI funds for a parade? We can't even get MUNI to be a decent public transportation system and now you are funneling funds from it for something totally unrelated? I do not understand. If you are going to use public funds the affair needs to be open to the public. How can Mayor Newsome say on one hand that there is a massive budget shortfall and then go and waste taxpayers money in this way? It is atrocious.He should be embarrassed and chagrined. No more pandering to Newsom. He needs to be ousted for a fiscally responsible mayor who listens to the contstituents and doesnt pander to illegal aliens and foreign dignitaries.

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1:32 PM MST on Wed., Apr. 16, 2008 re: "City coffers feeling heat from torch relay"

 Examiner Reader said:
We are experiencing serious Recession so this is an outrageous spending for this ridiculous grand stand for some indignant Communist Warlords!!!

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11:50 AM MST on Wed., Apr. 16, 2008 re: "City coffers feeling heat from torch relay"

 Examiner Reader said:
Frankly, [torch costs are] the last thing that’s been on our mind,” Newsom said - oh whats another $360,000 (maybe $210,000 less if they come up with the funds) this attitude is how we got to the huge deficit in the first place.

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11:24 AM MST on Wed., Apr. 16, 2008 re: "Demonstrators Gather Before Torch Relay"

 Examiner Reader said:
Those of you who pin the problems on the Chinese immigrant who wants to get out of China because of their Government ask yourselves if this country's Government got really bad and you wanted to leave, would you want people in Canada to blame you personally for the rotten Government? I went to France and was worried the French would spit on me for being American or something. Thank god they didn't. They tried to cheat me every so often but I think that was more to do with their thinking I was ignorant more than anything thing else and they'd be able to get away with it. Blaming a group of people in general for the government of their nation... well, those in Tibet aren't happy about the Chinese Government, but would you be able to see that they were "Tibetan" vs. "Communist" on a first meet basis? Probably not. I did not vote for Bush and I don't want the rest of the world to hate me because I happen to live here.

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11:01 PM MST on Fri., Apr. 11, 2008 re: "Demonstrators Gather Before Torch Relay"

 BROPOUS said:
I am a conservative. I do not care whether the people who prostested the torch death march are of the left or the right, they are CORRECT to stand up to a despicably brutal regime in the face of their own governments' mollycoddling of the Communist Chinese. You look at every word I said. Not once did I say anything negative about the Chinese. I said what I said about the COMMUNIST totalitarian butchering Chinese. I respect the Chinese people, and I attack every voice that voices apologism for the most brutal regime ever to curse this species. By attacking the Chinese Communist government, which sells organs from prisoners and blows peoples' heads off their shoulders for opening their mouths, I stand up for the innocent Chinese who do not have the rights to stand up for justice like I do. I am proud that people on both sides of the political spectrum have stood up to these brutal thugs, and thos who cry "racism" are paid agents of the Chinese Communist Party. 'Nuff sa

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10:45 PM MST on Fri., Apr. 11, 2008 re: "City alters torch route, leaving many fuming about event"

 Examiner Reader said:
Considering the potential for violence and the torch being hijacked, the mayor did the right thing. People may not like the decision but this is more than about their petty wants. As for the racist comments, those people have shown their true colors. They are not anti-Chinese government or pro-Tibet...they are anti-chinese period. They say they are liberal but the bigoted comments eventually come out. They are no better than the KKK. At least the KKK is honest about being prejudiced.

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8:54 PM MST on Fri., Apr. 11, 2008 re: "Torch Route Shortened by Almost Half"

 Bill said:
No more Chinese should be allowed into the US, EU or Australia if they are coming from mainland China. Follow an example of Japan on immigration. Those who are here and work in technology companies should be moved into other jobs. The defense contractors should be purged. No Chinese visiting "students" should be admitted into any science and technology universities. And no more voting or passing drivers license in Chinese. Then America will be a better country.

 51 agree | 9 disagree
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7:22 PM MST on Fri., Apr. 11, 2008 re: "Demonstrators Gather Before Torch Relay"

 BROPOUS said:
Gavin Newsome collaborated with the brutal Chinese Communist regime to deny the rights of free speech and the right to protest of American citizens. I don't care whether the protestors were liberal or conservative, they were doing the right thing. Newsom is complicit with the Chinese Communist butchery that is going on in Tibet. At least Diego Maradonna had the guts to tell the Chinese Communists to go pound sand. We had better be wary of a government that agrees to cover for the crimes of the Chinese Communists. Under Chinese Communism, over 120 MILLION innocent human beings have been butchered. Were it up to the Chinese Communist Olympic Organizing Committee, the entire Embarcadero would have been turned into a massacre of Tianenmen Square proportions. San Francisco, you folks had better not trust that nest of vipers in your midst, the Chinese Communist agents who parade as "immigrants". They conspired to threaten and silence American citizens in the streets of America.

 83 agree | 3 disagree
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7:08 PM MST on Fri., Apr. 11, 2008 re: "Torch Route Shortened by Almost Half"

 BROPOUS said:
The Chinese Communist government is worse than the Nazis. They have murdered over twenty times than Hitler did. And, if you are paying attention, thousadns of Chinese communist Party goons are flooding the Internet trying to drown out the true voices of freedom, those who are demonstrating against these brutal, brutal thugs. For proof, you only need look at the blue jumpsuited jackbooted thugs who have beaten innocent people in the streets of London and Paris, the Chinese Gestapo who have been hijacking the right of expression in our free nations. And, here in America, Chinese Communist Gestapo were allowed to stifle protests by American citizens, and Chinese communist Fifth Column agents provocateurs ganged up on American citizens who protested the brutality of Chinese Communist murder of innocent buddhist monks in Tibet. Just look at the comments these paid ChiComs make: The Dalai Lama is a terrorist, and Tibetan Buddhism is a death cult? Bravo, Maradonna!!!

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6:12 PM MST on Fri., Apr. 11, 2008 re: "City alters torch route, leaving many fuming about event"

 FREE PAR KING! said:
The Olympic Torch run: Simply a spurious and specious spectacle of dubious nature and intent, lots of sound and fury that signified little and accomplished even less.

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6:08 PM MST on Fri., Apr. 11, 2008 re: "City alters torch route, leaving many fuming about event"

 Examiner Reader said:
After reading reports and comments, I'm beginning to think Newsom and Fong made the right decision. Wow! I'm still sorry that people who only wanted to see the torch go by lost out, but it sure sounds like the vast majority of people who gathered did so only to make political points, for or against China. Both groups got the news coverage they wanted, and the re-route prevented serious head-to-head conflicts. And now, if there's recognition for Newsom diffusing a potential explosion, it might make a difference that he says it's better if the torch doesn't go to Tibet.

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5:34 PM MST on Fri., Apr. 11, 2008 re: "City stuck with expensive torch tab"

 Examiner Reader said:
Amazing! This is the first time nobody's been mad at the Mexicans in a while!

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4:07 PM MST on Fri., Apr. 11, 2008 re: "Demonstrators Gather Before Torch Relay"

 Examiner Reader said:
The Olympics used as a political platform is not a new idea, think Hitler 1937, Munich 1972 or the 1980 U.S Boycott. These protests were relatively mild when cast against the backdrop of Olympic history and surely China did consider them at least a possibility. I feel sure athletes hoping to participate at any Olympics are well aware of the political possibiites the games can develop. While a lifetime of hard work can be realized and celebrated in professonal sports, it may not be recognized by participation under the Olympic Torch.

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3:12 PM MST on Fri., Apr. 11, 2008 re: "City alters torch route, leaving many fuming about event"

 Examiner Reader said:
Why can't the Olympian Athletes who train for years to reach the goal of becoming an Olympian have the respect that they deserve? Many Olympians have trained as young as maybe five years old to accomplish where they are. These athletes are overshadowed by the protests.

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2:36 PM MST on Fri., Apr. 11, 2008 re: "City stuck with expensive torch tab"

 Richmond Resident said:
San Francisco dodged a bullet Wednesday. Some of the pro-China supporters were ready and willing to take on (physically) the pro-Tibet demonstators if an attempt to disrupt or stop the torch was made. I overheard these discussions personally. I get the feeling that the pro-Tibet demonstrators may not have appreciated the situation that was developing. Newsom and Fong saved the pro-Tibet demonstrators' butts. Imagine the uproar that would have happened if a melee' between two very vocal, polar opposite groups had occurred. If some lady got hit over the head, or Pro- Tibet protesters were taken down, either by Cops or pro-Chinese sympathizers. They'd be demanding Newsom's and Fong's heads on platters, and the City would be facing MILLION OF DOLLARS in lawsuits.

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10:59 PM MST on Thu., Apr. 10, 2008 re: "Olympic Torch Dodges S.F. Protesters"

 Kim said:
Many of these opinions look like written by the China's agents. They can write opinions against America here, but they could not write opinions against China in China. Yet they are still so dumb that they do not comprehend what the freedom is.

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6:57 PM MST on Thu., Apr. 10, 2008 re: "Unrelenting demonstrations in disrupt Olympic torch relay across Paris, in second day of chaos"

 Goodbye Chinese newspaper said:
I wrote a post stating that China was our enemy, very detailed. And this communist rag removed it. I will look at other local forums and will not be using this site or read their publications any more. I am sure this post will be removed by the communists as well.

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5:56 PM MST on Thu., Apr. 10, 2008 re: "City alters torch route, leaving many fuming about event"

 Examiner Reader said:
I was lucky to have been an alternate on the U.S. Olympic Team for the 2000 Syndey Games as well as my cousin who competed in the 2000 Games for Malaysia. I don't agree what China is doing not just to Tibet but also in Mongolia or even in the eastern part of China, where Chinese Muslims are being oppressed within their own country and are not given the same rights either. I don't think this protests should override the games and like most athletes, we think that all our work is being forgotten. Let politics out of the games. Let the athletes have their glory in which they deserve.

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4:25 PM MST on Thu., Apr. 10, 2008 re: "Torch Concludes Bumpy Tour of Bay Area"

 True San Franciscian said:
Interesting how the leftists don't like it when their own tactics are used against them...

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3:53 PM MST on Thu., Apr. 10, 2008 re: "Torch Rerouted Away From S.F. Protests"

 Murder is politics? said:
Since when did beating and murdering religious monks become politics? Crime against humanity maybe... simple politics? Never.

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3:49 PM MST on Thu., Apr. 10, 2008 re: "Torch Concludes Bumpy Tour of Bay Area"

 Chompsky said:
Why put the torch on display if you're just going to play cat and mouse with the people who show up to see it? Save the time, effort and resources and just keep it at home to light cigarettes or something.

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3:40 PM MST on Thu., Apr. 10, 2008 re: "Unrelenting demonstrations in disrupt Olympic torch relay across Paris, in second day of chaos"

 Just say NO to CHINA said:
We don't need a Chinese operative telling us to Educate ourselves nor "PLEASE don?t forget those 4000 dead in Iraq war, focus on the bad economy we face it today." and especially "If you know nothing, do not making noise by thinking you are the fighter." This is not China, do not try to bully us... we are immune to your Jedi mind tricks.

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1:15 PM MST on Thu., Apr. 10, 2008 re: "Torch Concludes Bumpy Tour of Bay Area"

 Examiner Reader said:
I'm actually surprised by some of the comments posted on this article. Some of these comments are just plain racist. When considering we look at China's human rights issues, how far has the US come along? If racism is still this blatant in American society, why don't we correct social issues we have at home first? When people look at how far America has come along since the civil rights area, comments found on this article shows just how little America has moved along.

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12:11 PM MST on Thu., Apr. 10, 2008 re: "Demonstrators Gather Before Torch Relay"

 Examiner Reader said:
Thanks to San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newson's craven capitulation to the Chinese Communist government the Olympic Torch Relay was turned into the Olympic Farce Relay. Free Tibet! Free City Hall!

 28 agree | 5 disagree
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11:12 AM MST on Thu., Apr. 10, 2008 re: "Torch Concludes Bumpy Tour of Bay Area"

 Examiner Reader said:
Agree, Newsome is only looking after himself. The IOC is really to blame though for awarding the Olympics to communist China. And, all of you so called "Chinese-Americans" go back to Beijing! YOU ARE NOT AMERICANS!

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10:35 AM MST on Thu., Apr. 10, 2008 re: "Torch Concludes Bumpy Tour of Bay Area"

 Examiner Reader said:
It just goes to show that no one has the confidence that SFPD can handle crowd control anymore. Remember what TAC was, Big burly intimidating cops from the 60's. Now you have a bunch of midgets, with the lower standards, that can't even hold there weight. So SFPD policy is to retreat and run the other way. SFPD is a joke and run by a bunch of jokers. SFPD is just a bunch of over paid security guards.

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9:44 AM MST on Thu., Apr. 10, 2008 re: "Torch Concludes Bumpy Tour of Bay Area"

 Examiner reader said:
The Olympics have become just another multi-national corporation. Their only concern now is themselves and the money they can generate. I used to like to watch the Olympics on television, now I will boycott the Olympics. As for the pro-China demonstrators... I agree, go back to China and quit using America to voice your freedom of speech for that oppressive communist dicatatorship.

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9:33 AM MST on Thu., Apr. 10, 2008 re: "Torch Concludes Bumpy Tour of Bay Area"

 Examiner Reader said:
Who exactly would think that France is the only country in the world left with real balls? Britain and the U.S. are stepping it up - I'm excited - but we aren't doing enough. Come on guys, get it together. We can't let this thing happen.

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9:15 AM MST on Thu., Apr. 10, 2008 re: "Torch Concludes Bumpy Tour of Bay Area"

 Examiner Reader said:
The Mayor should be hanging his head in shame and the people of SF just be holding his feat to the fire. To avoid protests or supporters the right to show themselves is disgusting! This spectacle was ridiculous and shows the extent of the error of having the Olympics in Bejing. The real problem is with the IOC who voted to have them there knowing that China is an oppressive cruel country. That being said the Mayor can say whatever he wants about safety, etc. It was a simple fact that he didn't want the protestors to be seen or heard, plainly put - silenced. When a city such as San Francisco does something like this it is truly a sign of the current conditions in this country. Newsom is all about having his picture seen all over the world and about making things work for him in order to hold another political office after his current arrogant reign ends.

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8:27 AM MST on Thu., Apr. 10, 2008 re: "Unrelenting demonstrations in disrupt Olympic torch relay across Paris, in second day of chaos"

 Examiner reader said:
Next thing you know the pro-China demonstrators will be demanding that California be a part of China. I said to one One pro-China demonstrator, why do you wave the chinese flag here in America, and he yelled at me "go back to your own country." I said to him, this is my country. For the record my family has been here for 15 generations and now some immigrant tells me "go back to my own country." This is colonization not immigration.

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8:13 AM MST on Thu., Apr. 10, 2008 re: "S.F. Closing Torch Ceremony Canceled"

 Examiner reader said:
Newsom has turned out to be a sell-out. The chinese government called his idea of moving to torch to Van Ness Avenue "brilliant". Newsom should move to China where he can better serve the chinese government. He's a hypocrite. Paris and London are real countries with real people as they stood up to the dictatorship of China. Newsom is just another typical american nerd who will always go with whoever has the money. I will never ever vote for him for anything.

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8:05 AM MST on Thu., Apr. 10, 2008 re: "Olympic Torch Dodges S.F. Protesters"

 John Smith said:
With all the pro-China flag waving at the Olympic torch protest I wonder how long it will be before China takes over California, so that California becomes the new Tibet.

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7:59 AM MST on Thu., Apr. 10, 2008 re: "Torch Concludes Bumpy Tour of Bay Area"

 Examiner Reader said:
At the Olympic torch demostration pro-China demonstrators were waving the chinese communist flag. It is very hypocritical to come to America and have freedom of speech while waving the flag of a country that does not allow free speech. All those "immigrants" waving the chinese communist flag should be sent back to China where they can practice their free speech. There should be better screening at the immigration office as too many of these hypocrites are taking over America.

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2:04 AM MST on Thu., Apr. 10, 2008 re: "Torch Concludes Topsy-Turvy Tour of S.F."

 Examiner Reader said:
Don't cry for China. Ask anyone who lives there.

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2:02 AM MST on Thu., Apr. 10, 2008 re: "Torch Concludes Topsy-Turvy Tour of S.F."

 Examiner Reader said:
The Olympic events themselves are about sports, but the Games certainly do not exist in a political vacuum. To claim otherwise is to ignore history, including the massacre of Israeli athletes by Palestinian terrorists at the 1972 Olympic Games in Munich and the U.S. boycott of the 1980 Games in Moscow after Soviet tanks rolled into Afghanistan. China is using the Olympics to further its image and make more money. China made these Games about politics. China does not deserve any sort of break on that count. What China deserves is for the entire world to boycott its goods until it stops its atrocious behaviors and at the very least allows Tibet to regain sovereignty that was so unspeakably ripped away.

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1:12 AM MST on Thu., Apr. 10, 2008 re: "Torch Rerouted Away From S.F. Protests"

 Examiner Reader said:
Gavin has lost a ton of cred. now he is just china's P.R. boy. The size of the demo against china's torch meant that it should have been canceled. the fact that they went a secret route was deeply disappointing to me, and seamed very un san francisco. before today i was casually boycotting china import, now i will be much more vigilant about boycotting china. did u know coke is the sponsor of this torch tour? BOYCOTT COKE.

 29 agree | 9 disagree
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10:12 PM MST on Wed., Apr. 9, 2008 re: "Torch Rerouted Away From S.F. Protests"

 Examiner Reader said:
the olympic commetee is out of line, the olympics has nothing to do with sports, its about politics

 10 agree | 12 disagree
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8:35 PM MST on Wed., Apr. 9, 2008 re: "Olympic Torch Dodges S.F. Protesters"

 Ron said:
There were 50 chartered buses coming from around the Bay Area carrying the pro-Beijing demonstrators. China has enough extra cash to orchestrate such events.

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8:24 PM MST on Wed., Apr. 9, 2008 re: "Olympic Torch Dodges S.F. Protesters"

 Bob said:
And who are the pro-Beijing demonstrators? In America?! Those are arrivals in the last decade who never assimilated, feel that they are outpost of communist China, many hate America. This invites a question who let them in? Visas were given, but probably they arrived under false identity, considering that in China there are more than 100 million Li-s and similar numbers of only few other surnames. Why do we need such people here? Other have business ties with the communist government. On our side - one may wonder which side gets support of Mr Blum and his wife Mrs Feinstein? He has business deals with China.

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6:54 PM MST on Wed., Apr. 9, 2008 re: "Olympic Torch Rerouted for US Relay"

 Dissed said:
I went down to the Embarcadero on my lunch break to see the *TORCH* like so many others for nothing. Talk about hoodwinked! I didn't see to many *PRO* Olympic supporters which is very sad. Everyone has their own agenda and I just wanted to catch a glimpse of the *TORCH*. I'm disappionted in the City San Francisco for having stage a rally and ruining it for the common folk. You must be proud Mayor Newsome

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6:54 PM MST on Wed., Apr. 9, 2008 re: "S.F. Closing Torch Ceremony Canceled"

 Examiner Reader said:
One commenter wrote, "There was Heavy police presence as I ran along with the torch, yelling China out of Tibet, Religious Freedom for Tibet, Let the Dalai Lama Go Home." As a result of your action, China will no doubt reverse its policies regarding Tibet. Right. That's a lib for you.

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