Torch leaves San Francisco after surprise route designed to thwart
protesters
Rachel Gordon, Cecilia M. Vega, Wyatt Buchanan, Tanya Schevitz,Marisa
Lagos, Chronicle Staff Writers
Wednesday, April 9, 2008
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/04/09/MNDS102IIM.DTL&tsp=1
(04-09) 17:18 PDT SAN FRANCISCO -- San Francisco leaders surprised
thousands of supporters and protesters today by rerouting the Beijing
Olympic torch run from its advertised route to a picturesque course
that avoided the throngs of demonstrators along the Embarcadero.
The result was a much more low-key event than anticipated.
Some protesters caught up to the run along its surprise route, but
most stayed at Justin Herman Plaza, where a closing ceremony was
planned. That ceremony was canceled in lieu of a quieter affair at San
Francisco International Airport. The torch is expected to leave for
Buenos Aires on a China Airways flight.