AM850.com

Every four years, the world celebrates as the olympic torch passes from hand to hand. But recent protest are turning up the heat for the summer games. The flame made it's way through San Francisco today in it's only North American stop. San Francisco was chosen to host the relay because of its large Chinese-American population. Protests for a Free Tibet are springing up everywhere the torch seems to go. Leader of Tibetan Meditation Center of Gainesville Angela Pate says these protests are bringing much needed attention to the situation. Pate says the thing to remember is they are promoting a message of peace. She feels many people are unaware of the troubles in Tibet. Pate says conflict surrounding the games is nothing new. She has no problem with the games being held in China. She hopes these protests will add to the conversation surrounding the area and bring even more awareness to other suffering parts of the world.