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SAN FRANCISCO (CBS 5 / KCBS / AP / BCN) ― Three people protesting China's human rights record and the impending arrival of the Beijing Olympic torch climbed up the Golden Gate Bridge Monday and tied the Tibetan flag and two banners to its cables.

The banners read "One World, One Dream. Free Tibet" and "Free Tibet '08."
 
One of the climbers was 30-year-old Laurel Sutherlin of Sausalito. Speaking to CBS 5 live via his cell phone while dangling from a bridge cable, Sutherlin said he and his fellow climbers were urging the International Olympic Committee to ask China not to allow the torch to go through Tibet.

Sutherlin said he was worried that the torch's planned route through Tibet would lead to more arrests and Chinese officials would use force to stifle dissent.

"The leaders of China have said they'll maintain order at all costs, and we know what that means -- bloodshed and violent oppression," he said. "If the IOC allows the torch to proceed into Tibet they'll have blood on their hands."

The protesters wore helmets and harnesses as they made their way up the cables running next to the south tower of the famed span that connects the city of San Francisco to Marin County.

The climb had the group suspended about 150 feet above traffic, said Mary Ziegenbien, a spokeswoman with the California Highway Patrol.

Ziegenbien said for safety reasons, authorities did not try to get the protesters down.  They waited for the trio to climb down on their own about 1 p.m. before arresting them.

"We didn't want to put their lives in danger by going and grabbing them off the suspension cables," she said.

The three climbers were arrested on felony charges of conspiracy, causing a public nuisance and trespassing, according to the CHP. Four additional people detained on the walkway who were also involved in planning the incident an are facing conspiracy and public nuisance charges too, Ziegenbien said.

In addition to Sutherlin, the others arrested by police were Tashi Sharzur, 47, of San Mateo; Hannah Strange, 29, of Oakland; Duane Martinez, 27, of Sausalito; Alexandra Taub, 22, of Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada; Thomas Parkin, 38, of San Francisco and Leslie Kaup, 38, of St. Paul, Minnesota.

Police said the group of seven protesters were on the bridge at 11:15 a.m., having used baby strollers to haul their gear up the bridge's sidewalk. Three of the group members then went climbing on the cables of the bridge to hang the banner.

Golden Gate Bridge spokeswoman Marry Currie said that metal workers later used skyboxes to cut down the banners.

One northbound lane of the bridge was closed from the toll plaza to the
south tower during the demonstration, which backed up and snarled traffic in the area. Sidewalks on the bridge were also closed for the remainder of the day.

The protest comes two just days before the Olympic torch relay reaches San Francisco, its only North American stop.

The bridge protest's organizers said they would remain faithful to their mission of protesting without violence when the torch relay takes place Wednesday, despite the disruptive action on the Golden Gate. 

The group Students for a Free Tibet said they simply wanted to take full advantage of San Francisco's moment in the international spotlight to get their message out.

"The Chinese government is bringing the Olympic torch to San Francisco, while inside Tibet it continues its brutal and violent crackdown on Tibetans crying out for freedom," said Sharzur.

"This is a life or death situation for Tibetans," added Yangchen Lhamo, an organizer of Monday's banner hanging who is on the board of directors for the student group.

China has been called to task over its treatment of Tibet and others ever since the torch was lit. The torch path around the globe has been marked by protests against China's policies toward Tibet, Sudan, Myanmar and
Chinese dissidents, such as practitioners of Falun Gong.

In Paris, organizers canceled the final leg of the Olympic run after chaotic protests, snuffing out the torch and putting it aboard a bus.

Rallies, vigils and news conferences related to the torch's arrival have taken place in San Francisco almost daily for the past several weeks. More are planned over the next two days in anticipation of the torch's arrival.

About 80 torchbearers will carry the flame on a six mile route along the bay.

(© CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. The Associated Press and Bay City News contributed to this report.)