Torch relay, protest taunts competing in S.F.

Even before the speakers were finished, the crowd lit their candles near the glow of San Francisco City Hall. Hundreds of Tibet supporters including actor Richard Gere and Archbishop Desmond Tutu took part in a candle light vigil near United Nations Plaza in San Francisco Tuesday, April 8, 2008. less Even before the speakers were finished, the crowd lit their candles near the glow of San Francisco City Hall. Hundreds of Tibet supporters including actor Richard Gere and Archbishop Desmond Tutu took part in a ... more Photo: Brant Ward, The Chronicle Photo: Brant Ward, The Chronicle Image 1 of / 24 Caption Close Torch relay, protest taunts competing in S.F. 1 / 24 Back to Gallery

As the Beijing Olympic flame is carried through the streets of San Francisco today, what happens could be a triumphant acknowledgement of the power of peaceful protest or a blow to "our reputation as a country," according a top Olympic official worried about a repeat of disrupted torch events in Paris and London.

Thousands of protesters are expected to line the route and hold rallies to raise awareness of China's human-rights record. Hundreds of police officers and security officials are expected to surround the torch runners to keep them safe. And contingency plans have been drafted so the torch's route can be shortened or changed if the event starts to get out of hand.

"The only concern is our reputation as a country," U.S. Olympic Committee President Peter Ueberroth said after meeting with Mayor Gavin Newsom on Tuesday. "Can we very, very powerfully say we believe in dissent, all dissent, that we believe in people's freedoms and we can still operate as a city and respect our own athletes and our own people as they participate in the Olympic movement?"

Ueberroth met with Newsom at City Hall to go over planning for the 6-mile waterfront relay, which is to begin at 1 p.m. with an opening ceremony at McCovey Cove and end at Justin Herman Plaza.

Newsom said the route along San Francisco's waterfront is likely to be changed as a result of protests, even as the relay is under way.

Although he said the changes to the route would not be drastic, he also urged spectators to gather near the Ferry Building in case organizers decide to make last-minute changes.

"The likelihood that things will change is greater than the likelihood that things will not change," Newsom said.

Conference call to London

The mayor spent the day on a conference call with London's police chief and in a City Hall meeting with France's ambassador to the United States, he said, to learn about security protocols in Paris and "what went right and what went wrong" in those two cities, where protesters nearly tackled torchbearers along the route and forced security officials to snuff out the flame several times.

Police Chief Heather Fong said officers, including some who will run with torchbearers, have watched events unfold in other countries and are adjusting their strategy.

"What is most important is at the end of the day the people are peaceful and safe and it's a successful situation," Fong said. "If there's violence and people get hurt, then it hurts every opinion that is out there."

Relay organizers said one torchbearer, a 14-year-old San Francisco girl, backed out of the relay over concerns about security on the route.

Though San Francisco officials have spent months preparing for the Olympic torch relay, Newsom conceded on Tuesday he had no idea pro-Tibetan groups would be such a force.

Pro-Tibet rally and march

Hundreds of protesters gathered Tuesday at a pro-Tibet rally and march that began at United Nations Plaza and moved on to City Hall and the Chinese Consulate building in the Western Addition neighborhood. By evening, thousands assembled at U.N. Plaza for a candlelight vigil and speeches by actor Richard Gere and Archbishop Desmond Tutu. On Monday, three people scaled the Golden Gate Bridge and unfurled banners supporting Tibetan independence.

"We knew that Tibet was going to be an issue," said Newsom, who has been under pressure to make a public statement critical of China's human-rights record. "We didn't expect it to be as acute."

One influential Chinatown group denounced protesters on Tuesday.

Mel Lee of the fraternal organization known as the Chinese Six Companies, a coalition of business leaders, said his group represents "the silent majority" in its support for the torch coming to San Francisco.

"Human rights is something that you have to deal with," Lee said. "These people protesting are using that as an excuse to protest against China. ... If there's any discrepancy, they should go through the U.N."

The city's Board of Supervisors passed a resolution last week sharply critical of China's record. Newsom has yet to sign it and said Tuesday that he had raised concerns during a meeting with China's ambassador to the United States but that he would not make any formal comments on human rights during today's ceremonies.

Even members of the International Olympic Committee - who met in Beijing on Monday with 206 Olympic committees from around the world - have been caught off guard by the loud protests and violent reaction to the torch run, said Anita DeFrantz, senior U.S. member of the international committee, who is in San Francisco as the committee's representative. "I think it's fair to say that it's not so much a surprise as shock that people would go so far," said Frantz, who said members of the executive team of the international committee will meet today to discuss the remainder of the torch route. The torch is to leave San Francisco for Buenos Aires.

"There probably have been protests before, but not someone actually attacking a person carrying the torch to wrest it out of their hands and trying to douse it. What is that about?" she said.

Li Ping, a spokeswoman for the torch relay, said she hopes everything goes well in San Francisco but said the relay will continue regardless of the outcome.

"We will not give up our travel. We will carry on our travel and we look forward to celebrating the Olympics with people in other countries," she said.

In addition to the thousands of pro-Tibetan protesters expected to turn out for the relay, members of a broad coalition of other activists have said they also plan to protest.

Those include Burmese monks, dressed in red robes, who will march on the Golden Gate Bridge to denounce China's support of Burma's military junta; animal-rights groups protesting what they say is China's practice of killing dogs and cats for their fur; and human-rights activists who want to call attention to labor issues in China, including to support workers who made the official Olympics apparel.

IF YOU GO Where to watch Opening festivities start at 1 p.m. at McCovey Cove. City officials say the Ferry Building is the best viewing site because changes could truncate the planned route. Other tips Hundreds of protesters are expected at Justin Herman Plaza. Protesters are also expected on the Golden Gate Bridge, which could affect traffic. Road closures -- The Embarcadero will be closed to traffic from about noon to 4 p.m. -- The northbound Interstate 280 off-ramp will be closed at King Street from about 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. -- Streets along the route will be closed in the afternoon. -- Additional streets could be closed if the route is changed. Transit BART is the best transit option - exit at Embarcadero Station. Cable car service has been canceled between about 11 a.m. and 4 p.m. Motor coaches will replace the historic cable cars until service resumes. Service on other Muni lines along the route is likely to be suspended. Log on to links.sfgate.com/ZCYUfor more information about a specific Muni route. Service disruptions are expected all day.