Protests precede arrival of Olympic torch in America

Protesters scaled cables on th Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, adorning the national treasure with signs that read "Free Tibet" and "One World, One Dream" in advance of the arrival of the Olympic torch. Activists calling for the freedom of the once-soverign nation of Tibet from China have seized the symbolism of the Olympic Torch relay as opportunities to have their voices heard, as China is the host of this summer's Olympic games, and thus the final destination of the torch. The route of the flame has been blocked in cities such as London and Paris already, and angry mobs of protesters have even put the torch out, although the flame itself was not extinguished thanks to a back-up lantern. The activists have seized on the recent crackdowns of the Chinese government in the Tibetan region as examples of Chinese oppression in the area, as well as the desires of the Tibetan people for freedom. For now, the United States can only brace itself for the protests in advance of the torch's imminent arrival.