Protesters arrive after hanging ` ` Free Tibet '' banner from bridge . The climbers come down voluntarily after 24 hours . The climbers -- who were on the bridge for about three hours -- came down voluntarily about 1:15 p.m. ( 4:15 p.m . ET ) after workers with the Golden Gate Bridge District began cutting down their banner , Ziegenbein said . Earlier in day , protests in Paris , France , cut short Olympic torch relay . China faces international criticism over ban on protests for Tibetan self - rule .
Protesters arrive after hanging ` ` Free Tibet '' banner from bridge . The climbers come down voluntarily after 24 hours . Earlier in day , protests in Paris , France , cut short Olympic torch relay . China faces international criticism over ban on protests for Tibetan self - rule .