For protesters, the games have also begun
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Three Americans, a Canadian, and a German protester were detained in Beijing Saturday for chanting pro-Tibet sayings in the infamous Tianenmen Square. The AP reports:
The activists clasped each others’ hands and walked around the square, chanting ‘Freedom for Tibet,’ and ‘One World, One Dream, Free Tibet’ — a play off a Beijing Olympics motto — before they were confronted, according to Canadian Broadcasting Corp. video footage. Men who appeared to be plainclothes security agents separated the two sides and led the protesters away, said John Hocevar, a member of the activist group, Students for a Free Tibet, who also videotaped the protest. Separately, two protesters unfurled the Tibetan flag and chanted pro-democracy slogans among the spectators at the equestrian stadium in Hong Kong, but were removed and banned from the venue. Earlier in the day, two protesters tried to unveil a Tibetan flag that was concealed behind a Canadian flag but security officers covered them with a piece of cloth before it was fully exposed. At the Tiananmen protest, the protesters — three Americans, a Canadian and a German — ‘were calling for an end to the Chinese government’s occupation in Tibet,’ said Lhadon Tethong, executive director of the New York-based group.
Officials identified the activists as ‘Chris Schwartz of Montreal, Canada; Diane Gatterdam, Evan Silverman and Joan Roney from New York; and David Demes of Germany.’
After the jump, more video of protesters who climbed flag poles to unfurl their message.
Protests and demonstrations have taken place around the world from marches in Canada which drew hundreds, to a demonstration in India that attracted more than 1,000. The common complaint is China’s harsh rule of Tibet and the belief that it’s hypocritical to the Olympic spirit.
-- Tony Pierce