Monks march through Golden Gate

SAN FRANCISCO

"Long live Aung San Suu Kyi , long live Aung San Suu Kyi ," the crowd chanted.

About 500 people marched on the Golden Gate Bridge, shouting the praises of Nobel Peace Prize Laurette, Aung San Suu Kyi , who is under house arrest, put there by Burma's military regime.

"Military regime took over the power September 1988, then we escaped from Burma to cross the border and formed all Burma Student Democratic Front," said Koko Lay, an exiled Burmese student.

"We'll fight for democracy," said a marcher.

Rather than try and follow the unpredictable path of the Olympic torch, the Burmese contingent, waving maroon flags, headed for the Embarcadero.

From the Golden Gate Bridge, the Free Burma protesters mixed in with a mass of other flag waving protestors, including pro-China demonstrators.

Many of them complained that few reporters were covering their perspective, and they say the overall media coverage has been biased.

"This information I can guarantee is not true here. If you want to know the truth you should go to China," said Yong Qun Qu, a China supporter.

The Burmese protestors got scattered amongst the different demonstrators, but they later regrouped.

"Free, Free, Free Burma! Free, Free, Free Burma!" shouted the crowd.

And in the turmoil of shouting, clanging, and swirling crowds they believe Wednesday's effort was a success.

"Finally it all comes down to the fact that China needs to act more responsibly. If that is the message that everybody is going to hear regardless of what these colored flags are. The message in the madness. The message in the madness, but there is a method to this madness," said Kenneth Wong, a Free Burma supporter.

FULL COVERAGE: SF Olympic Torch Run

=======================================================

View video taken by Students for a Free Tibet of the Golden Gate Bridge protest here.

For Olympic Torch schedule and information, including street closures and the six-mile route through San Francisco, click here.

SEND US YOUR PHOTOS: If you have a photo of this news story, email it to us at photos@kgo-tv.com

Copyright © 2024 KGO-TV. All Rights Reserved.