I've been a bit ambivalent about this up until now. The torch shouldn't have come here at all. $600k in already-scarce city funds and the shame & embarrassment of collaborating with an international human rights abuser aren't worth the few intangible good things the torch brings. I admire the Supes' resolution to accept the torch with indignation over human rights, but I think they should have found a way to prevent it from coming here at all. Then we could have saved money AND prevented any potential conflicts with the gangs of pro-China thugs infesting our streets.

From where I was standing (along the Embarcadero by Justin Herman Plaza), it appeared that Newsom and Fong actually did the pro-Tibet demonstrators a favor by moving the torch run; they may have prevented serious violence from being perpetrated on them. I overheard several pro-China supporters say they were ready go after anyone who tried to interfere with the torch. I was surprised by the size, strength of the pro-China group, and the level of anger by a few participants (on both sides). I doubt the pro-Tibetan demonstrators expected this, nor do I think they were prepared to deal with them.

I hope the media here and aboard goes after San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom for all his lies, secrecy, and misinformation to the populace. What a coward this man is. I don’t think it will happen; it wasn’t that bad on the Embarcadero as the Gav continues to portrayed the issue to the media. In fact, what disturbed me the most was how aggressive the pro-China protestors were towards the Tibetan, Burma, Darfur and even the Falun Gong? Simply put, I was watching pure Hatred being unleashed!

http://www.mcallisterhotel.org/newsletter/index.php

I hope the media here and aboard goes after San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom for all his lies, secrecy, and misinformation to the populace. What a coward this man is. I don’t think it will happen; it wasn’t that bad on the Embarcadero as the Gav continues to portrayed the issue to the media. In fact, what disturbed me the most was how aggressive the pro-China protesters were towards the Tibetan, Burma, Darfur and even the Falun Gong? Simply put, I was watching pure Hatred being unleashed!

Another disturbing thing I witnessed was how many of pro-China protesters basically stated, “Tiananmen Square Massacre 1989 didn’t happen” and “that it was Western Propaganda spreading lies about China and the Olympics!” When I heard that, I was completely fabricated in such stupidity. I thought so much for any meaningful dialogue. Why waste my breath!

The other thing I notice was how many Pro-China protesters were being bussed in…I counted at least 20 buses in one area near AT&T Stadium myself. Ok, you may be asking, “How do I know this, well the People’s Republic China Flags gave it away!

I kept putting myself in between both groups, I was sure someone was going to get hurt, they, the Pro-Chinese Government protesters couldn’t figure out whom I was so it kept allot of them at bay.

I am an American First and German Second but watching this event unfold on Wednesday, I am really starting to believe the People’s Republic of China has a stronger hold on our society then I want to admit. I have never seen so much Hate and Pure Evil in so few hours that day. It is bad enough that United States is under economic attack each day! Our market is flooded with products “Made in China” and We stupid Americans continue to tighten the noose a little more each day around our own necks!

I really began to wonder, what would happen if this country was ever attacked by China would the Chinese in the United States take up Arms to defend our Bill of Rights? Are they Chinese first and American second?

There was an incident that is barely getting any coverage in the main stream media. Hopefully, you will read more about this in the main stream media soon but until then you heard it from me first, ok, maybe second! What I am about to tell you should simply piss you off. Ask yourself, who is Majora Carter? Be honest, I didn’t know who she was either until I came upon this video clip with horror!

The last time I checked, and if there is anyone out there please let me know ASAP, this is the United States of America. Thankfully, we have something called the First Amendment here in the United States. It protects freedom of the press–including people like me who publish their thoughts on the internet. It protects the right to speak out on public issues. And it protects the right to assemble. It is this First Amendment Rights that ALL American’s should hold true too their heart!

Sadly, Gavin Newsom–despite the oath he took to uphold the Constitution of the United States–doesn’t know the first thing about the Constitution. Initially, he tried to confine free speech to “free speech zones.” It got worse, today in America; people were escorted from public parks because of their political views. The San Francisco Chronicle reported:

“Police escorted some pro-Tibetan protesters out of Justin Herman Plaza this morning, in some cases telling the demonstrators that the area was reserved for those supporting the torch run. In most cases, however, police simply told the protesters that they could not guarantee their safety in the area, which is packed with torch supporters holding Chinese flags.”

Ok, who is Majora Carter? Simply put, she was one of 80 torch-bearers. She had a small Tibetan flag stashed up her sleeve; when they passed her the torch, she pulled it out and the Chinese “security” team traveling with them pounced. Watch as one of the American cops shows her how they do it in Beijing, giving her a gratuitous shove into the crowd to keep her away from the communist propaganda pageant she was momentarily a part of. She’s wrong on the law, to be sure; her free speech rights don’t entitle her to violate the contract she signed before participating. But watching U.S. cops enforce Chinese policy is so disgusting; Newsom should have simply canceled the event lest he be forced to do it. Exit quotation: “Because we’re America, we can do that.”

I met a young lady from Los Angeles whom came up for the Tibet Virgil at UN Plaza Tuesday Night, she indicated to me that over 40 members of her family have simply disappeared in Tibet since the crack down in her homeland began about three weeks ago. I felt so sad, here I finally heard and met someone first hand account of these horrific acts taking place a world away. It just made more determine work harder on letter writing and anything else I can do to be a Voice for the Falun Gong, Tibetans, Burma and people in Darfur.

I think there was a small victory Wednesday, the World saw the flame come in under the cover of darkness to be hidden in Asian Museum, (at least that is where I think it was from all the security), and to be honest watch it sneak out of San Francisco via 19th Avenue to the SFO. Today, I really asked myself, is this still the United States of America that I swore to uphold and defend or has this country been finally taken over by the Communist….?

Thank you for educating me on this first hand, now I understand even more what I must do in this world and for those that are Voiceless.

As far as I'm aware the IOC is a private, for profit corporation and the PRC essentially has most of our money. This event was to be used as yet another of the mayor's PR events for his self aggrandisement and political aspirations, once again on the public dime. We are well aware of his varied assortment of 'strange bed fellows', he now seems to have added the PRC to his little black book, along with the likes of Lennar. Why should we be footing the bill yet again for his sleazy shennanigans, especially for a public event we weren't even allowed to witness.
Patrick Monk.RN. Noe Valley.