SAN FRANCISCO, TIBETANS STAND UP FOR TIBET
Updated: 1 day ago
By Giovanni Vassallo
The 2008 Beijing Olympics offered a rare opportunity for Tibetans and human rights activists to shine a spotlight on the Chinese government's illegal, unjust occupation of Tibet that has lasted over 50 years. San Francisco (SF) was the sole United States stop on the Beijing Olympic torch relay, with the flame set to pass through on April 9, 2008.
This gave San Francisco Team Tibet (SF Team Tibet), a coalition of five California-based Tibetan organizations, an opportunity to galvanize local and international Tibetans, supporters, and San Franciscans to oppose it.
Leaders of SF Team Tibet
Tibetan Association of Northern California (TANC): President Ngodup Tsering and Secretary Tsering Gyurmey
San Francisco Regional Tibetan Youth Congress (SFRTYC): President Tenzin Dasang and Vice President Youtso Tenzin
Students for Free Tibet (SFT): Board Member Yangchen Lhamo and Regional Coordinator Tenzin Seldon
Committee of 100 for Tibet (C100): President Giovanni Vassallo and Board Member Geoff Lewis
Bay Area Friends of Tibet (BAFoT): Secretary Barbara Green and others
August 7, 2008 Demonstration & March
On August 7, 2008, SF Team Tibet led a protest rally and march that began at the SF Civic Center Plaza facing San Francisco City Hall. Tibetans called on the Chinese government to end its egregious human rights abuses in Tibet and to resolve the issue of Tibet through earnest negotiations with the Dalai Lama or his representatives.
SF Team Tibet called on Mayor Gavin Newsom to say “No” to Beijing’s torch as long as the Chinese government continued its brutal reign in Tibet.
Video of the demonstration is available at:
SF Team Tibet organizers delivered a letter to Mayor Newsom’s office informing him that an Olympic torch under the auspices of the Chinese government "does not represent any values consistent with those of the city of San Francisco."
The letter explained:
“There is a brutal repression still going on to clamp down on freedom of opinion and expression in Tibet. Olympics are China's excuse to further harass, arrest, intimidate, coerce, and beat Tibetans and human rights dissidents into silence… Your welcoming of the Olympic torch would suggest ... that you are ready to turn your back on a unique opportunity to promote legitimate international concerns and ... take a stand for justice in Tibet and China.”
They marched about another mile to the Chinese consulate and held a press conference. Deyden Tethong of SFT spoke at the event, along with Laurel Sutherlin, who had been arrested and released by the Chinese government for assisting SFT demonstrators on Mount Everest earlier that year. SF Team Tibet was not going to allow the Chinese government to promote its propaganda.
TIBETAN UPRISING DAY
Every year, Tibetans and Tibet supporters gather to commemorate Tibetan National Uprising Day and the 1.2 million Tibetans killed due to the occupation of Tibet. This year, SF Team Tibet used the anniversary to protest the SF Olympic torch relay.
300 members of SF Team Tibet gathered as a large Tibetan flag unfurled over the flight of white stone steps leading into SF City Hall. They held a portrait of the Dalai Lama above the crowd next to banners stating:
"Olympics in China, Torture in Tibet"
"Truth is our only weapon"
They pleaded for the Mayor’s help and urged city officials to pass a resolution calling on China to improve conditions for Tibetans in their homeland. The public was informed of the plan to line the April 9 Olympic torch route to protest. News helicopters flew overhead as the community gathered that evening for a candlelight vigil at Union Square, in the heart of San Francisco’s financial district.
FREE SPEECH RESTRICTIONS?
On March 12, the SF Chronicle reported that there were "tense times between Beijing and city officials over the possibility of protests along the torch route, especially after a 'Free Tibet' rally outside City Hall..." It also reported that the city would restrict free speech during the Olympic torch relay, noting that "despite grumblings from China, the city will provide 'free speech' zones at both the opening and closing ceremonies."
San Francisco is often remembered as a great city for promoting human values such as human rights and civil rights. Unbelievably, city officials considered suppressing the voices of dissent or restricting free speech along the torch route. News of this plan caused outrage throughout SF among those concerned. Was the long arm of China’s government attempting to influence local SF policy and silence Tibet’s legitimate expression of concern for justice?
Tibet groups had long been denied permits to use Civic Center Plaza and had been told that all the large SF gathering squares were on hold for the Mayor’s office. A March 18th SF Chronicle editorial pointed out that the planned intrusion of free speech rights was "undeserved," asking: "Beijing may like these plans, but why should San Francisco?"
CRISIS IN TIBET SPURS RALLIES
In March 2008, Tibetans in Tibet took part in the biggest protests in decades across all three Tibetan provinces of Amdo, Kham, and U-Tsang. SF Team Tibet organizers immediately supported the peaceful protestors, condemned the use of unwarranted force against them, and vowed daily protests and nightly vigils.
Starting March 17, SFRTYC led daily protests outside SF City Hall. The Olympic torch was now the symbol of real-time oppression. Chants reverberated outside and around city hall every weekday until the week the Olympic torch relay was held:
"Olympics in China: Torture in Tibet"
"Human Rights In Tibet"
"Reject China's bloody torch"
"We will never give up"
Signatures and letters were mailed to Mayor Newsom to seek his support to cancel the torch relay.
Organizers met almost daily and often nightly to draw up plans and various levels of action for the torch passing.
RESOLUTION FOR HUMAN RIGHTS
There was an effort to pass a human rights resolution for Tibet at San Francisco City Hall in the lead-up to the torch relay. SF Supervisor Chris Daly was approached to sponsor the resolution. He responded positively and included support for other victims of China’s lack of human rights.
He presented a resolution to the SF Board of Supervisors:
"commending the Tibetan Freedom Torch and the Global Human Rights Torch Relay and in their efforts to raise awareness regarding human rights violations in China and urging the San Francisco City Representatives accepting the Beijing 2008 Olympic Torch to welcome the Torch in the explicit spirit of Olympism, consistent with the United Nations Charter established in this City, and the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights."
SF Team Tibet lobbied all SF supervisors to support it. Supervisor Carmen Chu did not support the resolution. She chaired the venue for the first vote on the resolution on March 20, 2008. Supervisor Daly presented the legislation. Around 200 people—mostly Tibetans—provided public testimony, while only about four members of the public opposed Daly’s resolution. Nevertheless, Chu produced her own resolution, which gutted any critical references to the Chinese government and commended the Beijing Olympic Torch. It passed 2 to 1 in this subcommittee, leading Supervisor Daly to remove his name as sponsor.
Undeterred, Supervisor Daly reintroduced the original resolution to the full board. Both resolutions came up for a vote on April 1, 2008, following a huge rally on the City Hall steps. Chu’s resolution failed and Daly’s passed 8-3. It called for an international investigation into China’s recent crackdown on dissenters in Tibet and encouraged the city’s official representative at the torch festivities to accept the flame with “alarm and protest.”
Representatives of the Chinese government tried to pressure supervisors and met with the Mayor regarding the votes, condemning both resolutions which they claimed would "harm San Francisco-China relations."
Daly later acknowledged that he had been encouraged by Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s strong stand against the Chinese government’s oppression of Tibetans—calling on President George W. Bush to boycott the opening Olympic ceremonies in Beijing. Speaker Pelosi called for vigorous protest during the torch relay.
The Mayor’s office finally released details of the torch route, which would employ around 80 torch bearers. SFT, TANC, and TYC members made numerous banners, placards, and shirts. Volunteers organized websites for the public and engaged in a huge public relations campaign. Tibetan bikers rode around Berkeley and SF leafleting about upcoming events. TANC members hosted hundreds of Tibetans who arrived from across the United States to attend the April 8–9 events.
MEETING MAYOR GAVIN NEWSOM
Mayor Newsom finally agreed to a meeting. On April 3rd, Ngodup Tsering, Tenzin Dasang, Barbara Green, Yangchen Lhamo, and Giovanni Vassallo met with him. They expressed concerns about Tibetan safety during the torch relay and asked him to support the Tibetan human rights resolution recently passed. They also requested that he reach out to the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to seek their support in canceling the scheduled torch run through Tibet.
The Mayor agreed to raise concerns with the IOC and later called for the cancellation of the Olympic torch relay in Tibet. SF Team Tibet and the Tibet movement’s efforts seemed to be taking effect. Suddenly, permits were no longer needed to demonstrate along the route, and the city backed off its plan to require protesters to be confined to free speech zones.
GOLDEN GATE BRIDGE ACTION FOR TIBET
On Monday, April 7th, three SFT demonstrators scaled cables near the south tower of the Golden Gate Bridge and unfurled two banners:
"One World, One Dream, Free Tibet 08" (a play on the official Olympic slogan, "One World, One Dream")
"Free Tibet"
It turned out that the protesters had performed similar actions at Mt. Everest and later on the Great Wall of China. Laurel Sutherlin, Duane Martinez, and Hannah Strange firmly established themselves as champions of Tibet.
TIBETAN FREEDOM TORCH & RALLIES
Thousands gathered at United Nations Plaza on the morning of April 8 to witness the Tibetan Freedom Torch (TFT) ceremony and participate in a march to City Hall and the Chinese consulate.
A press conference was held featuring speakers including:
Giovanni Vassallo
Tenzing Chonden (North American Representative of the Parliament-in-Exile)
Charles Altekruse (Former Olympian)
Representatives of SF Team Tibet
Ceremony Highlights:
Opening: Blessings, prayers, a dedication, and a moment of silence.
Welcome Speech: Given by Ngodup Tsering.
Performance: Vigorous performance by the Chaksampa Tibetan Dance and Opera Company.
Presentation: The TFT was introduced and placed in front of a portrait of the Dalai Lama. Supervisor Daly and Tenzing Chonden presented Good-Luck scarves to the portrait.
Oath & Anthem: Tenzin Dasang read a statement on the TFT and led the crowd in an oath to continue the struggle for Tibetan freedom, followed by the Tibetan National Anthem.
Peace Symbol: A Tibetan monk released 50 white doves—one for each year Tibet had been under Chinese occupation.
Key Speeches: Supervisor Daly called on everyone to receive the torch with "alarm and protest." Further speeches were given by Tenzing Chonden and Jamyang Norbu (a respected founder of TYC).
Thousands then marched to SF City Hall. At City Hall, Tenzin Seldon addressed the crowd through a bullhorn, followed by Vassallo, SF Board of Supervisors President Aaron Peskin, and Jigme Norbu (nephew of the Dalai Lama).
The crowd then marched to the Chinese Consulate, where they sang the Tibetan National Anthem and sat in the street to listen to speakers:
Namgyal Kyulu (President of the Tibetan Association of Southern California)
Lhadon Tethong (Executive Director of SFT)
Tenzin Dorjee (SFT)
The crowd marched back to UN Plaza for another performance by Chaksampa and the tossing of Tsampa (flour) into the air to propitiate the Buddhas, Gods, and Goddesses for "Peace on Earth and Victory to the Truth."
Candlelight Vigil
That evening, thousands braved cold winds during a candlelight vigil to hear Tibetan speakers, followed by Archbishop Desmond Tutu, who called on President George Bush and other world leaders to skip the opening ceremonies of the Beijing Olympics for the sake of human rights. Actor Richard Gere, flanked by Tibetan Buddhist monks, echoed Desmond Tutu’s call as thousands joined in prayers for victims of Chinese government abuse in Tibet.
OLYMPIC FARCE
On April 9, SF Team Tibet gathered at Ferry Park, dispatching protesters in groups of 50 along the published route. Hundreds of pro-torch demonstrators carrying extra-large red Chinese national flags were present—many reported to have been bused in by the Chinese consulate and pro-China groups, though some claimed to have come on their own. Meanwhile, pro-Tibet, Darfur, and Burma activists carried Tibetan flags and shouted slogans demanding independence and human rights.
The rerouting of the torch from its published course became widely publicized:
Thousands of demonstrators were denied the right to protest along the torch route as previously promised.
The closing ceremony at Justin Herman Plaza was canceled as thousands waited.
After a brief opening ceremony, the torch was hidden for over 45 minutes, reappearing on Van Ness Avenue—far from the crowds gathered along the scheduled route.
Escorted by police and security officials, the torch moved north to Bay Street and toward the Golden Gate Bridge before turning around and heading to San Francisco International Airport for a hasty closing ceremony, bypassing tens of thousands of people.
Around noon, about 300 Tibetan protesters and Supervisor Daly pushed past a police line on the Embarcadero near Folsom Street along the torch route. Holding a 40-foot sign reading "San Francisco says: No Torch in Tibet," they stopped the 50-passenger bus carrying six Olympic torch bearers and Chinese officials near Embarcadero and Bryant Street.
Topden Tsering, Barbara Green, Giovanni Vassallo, and Tenzin Dasang were among those in front of the bus. Video footage shows the bus continuing approximately 10 feet into the crowd after stopping; Tsering and Vassallo stepped in to prevent emotional crowd members from vandalizing the vehicle. Nine protesters lay down in front of the bus to block its passage until police removed them.
Watch videos of the bus blockage:
Reaction to the Reroute
The Mayor and Chief of Police stated to the press that the reroute was an eleventh-hour decision made after the bus was stopped. However, SF Board of Supervisors President Aaron Peskin strongly denounced the decision:
"Gavin Newsom runs San Francisco the way the premier of China runs his country—secrecy, lies, misinformation, lack of transparency and manipulating the populace," Peskin said. "He misled supporters and opponents of the run. People brought their families and their children, and (mayoral officials) hatched a cynical plan to please the Bush State Department and the Chinese government because of the incredible influence of money.”
Some demonstrators managed to catch up to the rerouted torch. Television footage captured a Tibetan protester being pulled back by police after trying to break through the security perimeter. Many others successfully displayed banners and T-shirt messages within clear view of the flame.
VICTORY RALLY & LEGACY
SF Team Tibet held a victory rally at Ferry Park, adjacent to the canceled closing ceremony location. The crowd cheered following a speech by Majora Carter, an official Olympic torch bearer who pulled a Tibetan flag from her sleeve and waved it shortly after receiving the torch.
The crowd was also introduced to Bikers for Tibet, who were set to carry the Tibetan Freedom Torch down the coast of California. Gratitude was expressed to SFT’s Golden Gate Bridge activists for their brave action.
Thousands who demonstrated on April 8 and 9 also saw a giant billboard displayed over one of the city’s busiest freeways calling on the public to “Stand up for Tibet.”
Tibetans and San Francisco will forever be remembered in Olympic history for vigorously protesting and displaying tremendous alarm toward Beijing’s fake symbol of peace.
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