Seven protesters convicted in Golden Gate Bridge blockade trial
A San Francisco jury has convicted seven pro-Palestinian protesters of multiple misdemeanor charges for blocking the Golden Gate Bridge during a 2024 demonstration, but remained deadlocked on a more serious felony conspiracy charge.
The seven activists were each found guilty of six misdemeanor counts, including false imprisonment, obstruction of thoroughfare and unlawful assembly, according to a statement from San Francisco District Attorney Brooke Jenkins. One defendant, Sara Cantor, was also convicted of an additional misdemeanor charge of refusing to disperse.
The demonstration, which took place on April 15, 2024, as part of a coordinated “Tax Day” protest, brought southbound lanes of the bridge to a standstill for four hours. Protesters used vehicles to block traffic and chained themselves together through pipes to demand an end to US military aid to Israel during its war in Gaza. According to a report by CBS News San Francisco, the blockaded toll plaza usually records approximately 5,000 vehicles during those specific hours.
The jury could not reach a verdict on the most serious charge of felony conspiracy, which could have led to a sentence as long as 15 years upon conviction. After weeks of trial and seven days of deliberation, the jury split 10-to-2 in favor of guilty on the conspiracy count, resulting in a mistrial on that charge, as reported by KQED. The jury also could not reach a verdict on a misdemeanor trespassing charge, according to some reports.
The protesters will be sentenced on August 21. Six of the protesters face a maximum sentence of five years in county jail; Cantor faces five and a half years.
Prosecution and defense arguments
During the trial, prosecutors argued the demonstration caused a level of safety risk, including extreme threats to the health and welfare of those trapped on the bridge. Assistant District Attorney Angela Roze argued that the protest blocked traffic for more than four hours, trapping motorists in an effort that resulted in a conspiracy and false imprisonment, as reported by the San Francisco Chronicle.
Defense attorneys argued that demonstrators were acting out of what they saw as a moral responsibility to oppose the devastation from Israel’s war in Gaza and Washington’s support for Israel. Following the verdict, public defender Nuha Abusamra, who represents one of the defendants, said, “Today remains a victory. We do not fight solely to win. We fight for the resistance.”
District Attorney Jenkins said, “At this time we will evaluate our options and consider next steps,” regarding the deadlocked felony charge.
Broader context
The case became another flashpoint in the ongoing debate over how governments and major institutions respond to pro-Palestinian protests. Large-scale protests in the US in 2024 demanded an end to Israel’s military campaign in Gaza and Washington’s support for its ally, and also called for universities to divest from companies supporting Israel.
The seven protesters were named Bhavika Anandpura, River Allen, Rocky Chau, Conrad de Jesus, Sarah Ferrell, Em Tillotson, and Sara Cantor, according to local media.