Crowds await Olympic torch relay in San Francisco

Hundreds of pro-Chinese spectators, many waving Chinese flags, took their places this morning along the planned route of the Olympic torch relay here, hours before the start of what is expected to be the latest chaotic leg as the torch makes its way to its final destination at the Summer Olympics in Beijing.

Already this city has seen high-profile protests, with climbers scaling Golden Gate Bridge cables to unfurl “Free Tibet” banners on Monday, and thousands gathered late Tuesday at a candlelight vigil to hear Nobel Peace Prize winner Desmond Tutu and actor Richard Gere rally support for the Tibetan cause.

The San Francisco leg – the only North American stop for the torch relay – comes after violent protests in London and Paris. In Paris, security officials halted the event and ushered the torch onto a bus. That decision came after swarms of protesters forced officials to repeatedly extinguish the iconic flame.

The mayor toured the relay start site at 9 a.m. to encourage the scores of black-unformed police. He was accompanied by Rose Pak, president of the pro-Beijing Chinese Chamber of Commerce.

Hours before the start of the relay, pro-China activists waved hundreds of red flags of the Peoples’ Republic of China. Many carried signs that read “Go China. Go Olympics.” Others performed traditional Chinese dances.

Chen Zheng, a graduate student at Stanford University, said she was one of 200 students who arrived at 7 a.m.

“We want to occupy the good spots,” she said. “We’re Chinese. We’re here to cheer on the torch.”

Unlike London and Paris, San Francisco is home to 30,000 Chinese Americans, many of them loyal to Beijing. Police worried there might be face-offs with protesters. But Zheng said she hoped there would be minimal conflicts.

“It’s just a torch, why try to put it out?” she asked. “This is a celebration. Be happy, Why ruin things?”

San Francisco police have said they expect as many as 6,500 protesters today, but the numbers could grow higher. An organizer for the Coalition to Save Darfur – one of numerous groups planning to be out in force in the city – said Tuesday that the group had already rallied 2,100 supporters, double original estimates.

Police in San Francisco, where all 2,000 of its officers are on duty today, said they will use tactics employed in London and Paris to provide a human shield around the 80 Olympic torch carriers to discourage anyone from trying to reach out and snuff the flame.

At least one Bay Area torchbearer has dropped out of the event, citing safety concerns, officials say.

The planned route for the six-mile relay traces San Francisco’s picturesque waterfront, but Mayor Gavin Newsom reiterated Tuesday that he might change the route even after the 1 p.m. start time in order to thwart trouble.

San Francisco police have sought backup from the California Highway Patrol, U.S. Secret Service and neighboring police agencies.

The FBI will also be ready to join in the security effort but a spokeswoman said that agents would not engage in surveillance of protesters.

Police will ride bicycles and motorcycles to keep an eye on activists on the fringes of the event. The torch will be further protected by officers running alongside the torchbearers.

In London, protesters were outraged at the sight of Chinese security officials surrounding the flame San Francisco officials said those same torch-minders might be on hand today, but that police were in charge.

The flame embarked in March from Greece on an 85,000-mile, six-continent journey – one of the most ambitious torch relays in the history of the Olympics.

It has also proven to be among the most contentious, despite China’s slogan: “Journey of Harmony.”

Although top Olympic officials said Tuesday that they would discuss stopping the remainder of the relay at a Friday meeting, Beijing officials insisted that there would be no route changes after the flame leaves San Francisco.

“No force will disrupt the torch relay,” said Sun Weide, a spokesman for the Beijing organizing committee.

Chinese Americans in San Francisco echoed those sentiments Tuesday, saying they would cheer the torch today in the face of protest. Organizers said they expected more than 15,000 to wave banners in support of Beijing.

“We’re going to show the world that San Francisco stands behind China,” social worker Citania Tam said as she walked in Chinatown. “We’re going to be the anti-demonstrators.”

Newsom said he expected “tens of thousands” to witness the event. He met with protesters Tuesday and advised them to not threaten the torch: “Nothing gets in the way of a movement more than doing something to take you away from your message… . I am not over-promising that this is the Summer of Love. [People] can peacefully disagree.”

Still, San Francisco officials said they have no regrets about beating out Seattle last year in a bid to become the only North American city to welcome the torch. In a recent speech before journalists in Sacramento, Newsom, referring to San Francisco’s torch relay, quipped, “Be careful what you wish for.”

Mayoral spokesman Nathan Ballard said San Francisco was chosen for its status as a Pacific Rim city and home to thousands of Chinese Americans. “We knew from Day One there would be protests and that we would have to accommodate that,” he said. “This is a free country.”

John.Glionna@latimes.com