A jury in San Francisco has convicted seven pro-Palestinian protesters on multiple misdemeanour charges for blocking the Golden Gate Bridge during a 2024 demonstration against the war in Gaza.
The activists were found guilty of six misdemeanour offences, including false imprisonment, unlawful assembly and obstruction of a public roadway. One of the defendants, who served as a police liaison during the protest, was also convicted of refusing to disperse.
The protest took place on April 15, 2024, when demonstrators blocked the bridge's southbound lanes for about four hours as part of a nationwide "Tax Day" campaign. Protesters used vehicles to block traffic and chained themselves together, demanding an end to United States military aid to Israel.
However, the jury failed to reach a unanimous verdict on a more serious felony conspiracy charge. The panel was reportedly split 10-2 in favour of conviction, prompting the judge to declare a mistrial on that count. Prosecutors are expected to decide whether to seek a retrial.
Defence lawyers described the outcome as a partial victory, arguing that the protesters acted out of moral conviction after peaceful efforts to influence government policy failed.
San Francisco District Attorney Brooke Jenkins said the demonstration caused major public disruption, affecting thousands of motorists, including healthcare workers heading to hospitals and families caught in the traffic gridlock.
The seven defendants are scheduled to be sentenced in August and could each face up to five years in county jail for the misdemeanour convictions.
The group was among 26 protesters arrested during the demonstration. While 19 accepted diversion programmes, community service and fines, the remaining seven chose to contest the charges in court.
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