The Board of Supervisors passed that resolution Tuesday. Also, San Francisco revealed its top secret Olympic Torch route.
The torch relay will begin at 1:00 p.m. next Wednesday, April 9th, near the Giants' ballpark at McCovey Cove. It will travel up the Embarcadero then along Jefferson and Hyde, passing Fisherman's Wharf before circling back along the Embarcadero. The journey will end at Justin Herman Plaza, where there will be a celebration and most likely, a demonstration.
A super majority of the Board of Supervisors, 8 out of 11, supported a resolution by Chris Daly putting the city on record as criticizing China's human rights record.
Tibetan Americans from the Bay Area were at City Hall. It's something they had been pushing for. They say the torch is tainted with Tibetan blood and should not be welcomed when it comes to San Francisco next week.
Even though Supervisor Daly's resolution is non-binding, he says it sends a strong message that could influence international opinion.
"If there's not alarm and there's not protests in San Francisco when the torch arrives here, that too, would be news, and that would be San Francisco complicit in the human rights violations that are happening in China and around the world," says Supervisor Daly.
"You know what I'm focused on? The event. I'm focused on making sure it's safe for everybody. I'm focused on reminding people it's an Olympic torch and it's about athletes," says San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom.
Supervisor Carmen Chu had a competing measure that welcomed the torch. Her colleagues shot that down, effectively, by tabling it.
The mayor has 10 days to respond to this resolution. He can takes his time, and if he does, by then, the torch will have come and gone.
Olympic Torch Relay Route through San Francisco:
- McCovey Cove northbound to Third Street
- Third Street to the Embarcadero
- The Embarcadero to Jefferson Street
- Jefferson Street to Hyde Street
- Hyde Street to Beach Street
- Beach Street to Polk Street
- Polk Street to Bay Street
- Bay Street back to the Embarcadero
- The Embarcadero to Justin Herman Plaza for a concluding ceremony
