In a marked presence, Tibetans carrying Snowlion national flags were among hundreds of protesters in San Francisco on November 15, where U.S. President Joe Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping attended the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit. The demonstrators marched, waved signs, and occasionally scuffled, emphasizing calls for human rights and independence.

Protestors, wielding Taiwanese, Tibetan, and East Turkestan flags, gathered at various stages of Xi's visit, including the airport, the APEC venue, and the Woodside estate where talks with Biden took place. A banner over the Moscone Centre, the APEC Summit site, echoed calls for ending the Chinese Communist Party's rule, advocating freedom for Hong Kong, Tibet, and the Uyghur people in Xinjiang.

Tibetan flag-bearing demonstrators chanted "Free Tibet" and criticized the Chinese Communist Party, leading to physical confrontations between opposing groups. Amid the protests near the Filoli Historic House, where the high-stakes meeting occurred, tensions escalated with clashes and conflicting banners.

The diverse "No to APEC Coalition," comprising 150 organizations, staged peaceful protests reflecting varied interests such as climate change and anti-imperialism. The first day's demonstrations concluded before the afternoon, highlighting the complex motivations within the coalition.