This morning while I was getting ready for work I turned on the news to see three crazy dudes climbing the Golden Gate Bridge. My first thought was that’s the coolest thing I have ever seen! My next thought was how the hell did they get up there? My third was: I could totally do that if I wanted!

After a while it became clear that the three rouges were putting up banners and after a while the newscasters seemed to be rooting for these guys and whatever cause they were climbing for, this is something I feel is very specific of San Francisco. If someone were to climb the Brooklyn Bridge I feel there would be thousands of people getting out of their cars to throw rocks at them in fear of terrorism. But not here, here people just slow down in their hybrids point and say ‘’Look honey, an act of non-violent protest! Good for them.’’

Hanging by ropes and pulleys hundreds of feet above the bay the protesters unfurled two glorious signs one that that read “One World One Dream” and the other ‘’Free Tibet’’. I left my house before I could see the climbers get down, or to see them get arrested.

All of this excitement comes three days before the very controversial journey of the Olympic torch makes its only North American stop is San Francisco. Already the torch has gone threw its share of tumult on its way threw Europe. In France on Monday organizers had to cancel the final leg of its travels due to the protesters unrest. The torch had to be put away five times before they finally packed it up and called it quits. Judging by the way things went down in France it seems when the torch gets here; the reception will be just a welcoming.

Most of the protesters are opposed to the torch being carried through their respective region because of China’s poor human rights record. Since China is hosting the games this year it is only natural for the protestors to do whatever they can to show how unhappy they are with the emerging world power.

When the relay goes under way here in San Francisco at Embarcadero, I’m sure there will be plenty of dread headed, new age, sandal wearing protesters carrying buckets of water and fire extinguishers to keep the SFPD busy. But I’m also sure the cops will have plenty of nightsticks and rubber bullets to keep the protesters in line.

The non-violent protesters on the bridge, more than anything, seemed to want to raise awareness. They wanted everyone to see their signs and react to what they feel is an injustice, and for someone like me, that if asked were Tibet was on a map, would knock the map to the floor on “accident” to avoid the question. Seeing that someone would risk imprisonment and their lives to raise a banner on the Golden Gate Bridge makes me want to know what’s going on over there in Tibet, and figure out what all the fuss is about and after I do – hey—who knows, you might see me out there on Wednesday with cargo shorts and a bucket of water.
—Donny Lumpkins