The Human Rights Torch, a symbol of protest against the Chinese government, made an appearance in San Francisco’s Union Square this afternoon and was greeted with sunny skies and a vocal crowd of several hundred.

The Human Rights Torch comes to the Bay Area four days before the official Olympic Torch’s only stop in North America. The Human Rights Torch is in the middle of a worldwide tour that is to include 37 countries across six continents.

San Francisco Supervisor Chris Daly opened the Human Rights Torch Relay. Daly authored a resolution condemning human rights violations by the Chinese government, which was unanimously passed by the Board of Supervisors

“It is my honor to welcome the Human Rights Torch to San Francisco….because this torch embodies San Francisco values,” he said as he held his young son in his arms. “We have a moral obligation to speak out, and we cannot divorce the Olympics from politics.”

Sherry Zhang, an organizer of Saturday’s Torch Relay event, said the arrival of the Human Rights Torch is intended to bring people together. She added that organizers hope the torch’s journey will shed awareness on human rights violations that the Chinese government is responsible for.

“We’re positive that many people here care about human rights in China,” she said. “The Olympic spirit is about peace and freedom…and what’s going on in China is exactly the opposite of that.”

Zhang cited specific examples of these violations, including violence in Tibet, persecution of followers of Falun Gong—a spiritual movement practiced throughout China—and the holding of political prisoners by the Chinese government.

One onlooker who was spending the afternoon enjoying the sun and good weather voiced his support of the protest.

“I hope people understand what’s going on there,” said Clyde Burkle, who was visiting from Washington, as he sat with several friends at a Union Square Café. “I think it’s great that people have gathered like this to protest the Olympics being held in China, and I’m in full support of what they’re doing today.”

“People say the Olympics aren’t political…but let’s face it—they are,” he added.

Although support for demonstrators against the Chinese government was high Saturday afternoon—and is only expected to increase in the coming days with the arrival of the Olympic torch on Wednesday—the true essence of the Olympics is lost amid the protests, said Cathie Lam, a community activist who works with the Chinatown Community Development Center.

“People have the freedom to protest. But we must remember to promote the spirit, and respect the Olympic spirit that is not just all about China,” she said. “The Olympics is about the Olympics, nothing more.” she added.

Although she was not in attendance, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, who has been a vocal critic of the Chinese government, condemned human rights violations in China.

“Sadly, the Chinese government has not lived up to its commitments to improve the human rights situation in China and Tibet,” she said in a prepared statement. “Because of this, I believe the International Olympic Committee made a mistake in awarding the Olympics to China.”

Saturday’s event included a wide-range of speakers who discussed the correlation between the Olympic games and China’s human rights violations. Among them was John Carlos, a bronze medalist in track and field at the 1968 Mexico City games.

“The people of China deserve to have the Olympic games,” he said. “But their government does not deserve that same right.”

Event canceled at SF State downtown campus
by Jerold Chinn, spot news editor
Contact: jchinn84@sfsu.com

A forum about the Olympics and human rights was to be held at SF State's downtown campus this afternoon, but university officials decided to cancel the event last night.

The forum was scheduled on the 6th floor at 2:30 p.m., but was canceled due to the number of people that might show up.

"We heard that potentially there could have been hundreds of people coming to this event," said Zelinda Zingaro, director of the Campus Asset & Space Administration. "We were not prepared to handle that many people."

The event was sponsored by the Human Rights Torch Relay, a grass root campaign to bring attention to the human rights record of China before the 2008 Olympics in Beijing, China.