Olympic Torch Protesters Scale Golden Gate Bridge, Ties Tibetan Flag

One of the charities Speedendurance.com supports is the Vairotsana Foundation in Santa Barbara, CA.

With all the civil unrest going on between China and Tibet, we are happy to see non-violent demonstrations in protest of human rights (or lack of in this case).

While I don’t support a boycott for this summer’s Olympics, I think more people should be aware of what’s happening to Tibet.

Full story here on AP

Olympic torch protesters scale Golden Gate Bridge, 1 ties Tibetan flag to cable

By JULIANA BARBASSA, Associated Press Writer

SAN FRANCISCO (AP)—Three people protesting China’s human rights record and the impending arrival of the Olympic torch climbed up the Golden Gate Bridge on Monday and tied the Tibetan flag and two banners to its cables.

The banners read One World One Dream. Free Tibet” and Free Tibet 08.”

The protesters wore helmets and harnesses as they made their way up the cables running next to the south tower of the famed span. The climb had the group suspended several 150 feet above traffic.

Reached by cell phone as he dangled from the bridge, demonstrator Laurel Sutherlin said he was worried that the torch’s planned route through Tibet would lead to more arrests and Chinese officials would use force to stifle any visible dissent.

The leaders of China have said they’ll maintain order at all costs, and we know what that means—bloodshed and violent oppression,” he said. If the IOC allows the torch to proceed into Tibet they’ll have blood on their hands.”

The organizers behind Monday’s action said they’ll remain faithful to their mission of protesting without violence when the torch relay takes place Wednesday here, its only North American stop, despite the disruptive action on the bridge.

They said they wanted to take full advantage of the moment in the international spotlight to get their message out.

This is a life or death situation for Tibetans,” said Yangchen Lhamo, an organizer of Monday’s banner hanging, who is on the board of directors of Students for a Free Tibet.

Mary Ziegenbien, a spokeswoman with the California Highway Patrol, said authorities would not try to go get the protesters out of concern for their safety.

We don’t want to put their lives in danger by going and grabbing them off the suspension cables right now,” she said.

The torch’s path around the globe already has been marked by protests against China’s policies toward Tibet and Sudan.

In Paris, organizers canceled the final leg of the Olympic run after chaotic protests, snuffing out the torch and putting it aboard a bus.

Rallies, vigils and news conferences related to the torch’s arrival have taken place in San Francisco almost daily for the past several weeks. More are planned over the next two days in anticipation of the torch’s arrival.

About 80 torchbearers will carry the flame on a six mile route along the San Francisco Bay.