The protestors participated in a 2024 demonstration that blocked the Golden Gate Bridge to protest Israel’s genocide in Gaza.
The mood outside the San Francisco Hall of Justice on August 21st was decidedly celebratory. That’s because the punishment, 30 days in jail, is much lighter than the maximum of five years they each faced for misdemeanor convictions.
Those charges included unlawful assembly, obstruction of a thoroughfare, and false imprisonment.
Prosecutors dismissed the heaviest charge of felony conspiracy.
In addition to the jail time, half of which can be served through the Sheriff’s Work Alternative Program, the defendants got six months of probation and are ordered to pay fines totaling around $1,300.
Defense attorney Anthony Gideon objects to his clients getting any jail time. He referenced the long history of protests on the Golden Gate Bridge.
"They can say a million times that this was not politically motivated, but in none of those cases did the CHP solicit people to come forward to say they were falsely imprisoned," said Gideon. "In none of these cases did a district attorney bring false imprisonment charges. In none of those cases did they bring a felony."
Defense attorney Jac Lyons says this case is part of a local trend in over-prosecution
"Any form of dissent is being punished now in San Francisco, whether it's fighting for the liberation of trans people, fighting for the liberation of Palestine; in the eyes of DA Brooke Jenkins, that’s unacceptable."
During the hearing, Assistant District Attorney Angela Roze said a retrial wasn’t necessary because the protestors had been held accountable. She also said a retrial would "require courtroom resources and seating another jury."
According to supporters of the defense, the trial has cost as much as $650,000 to date.
San Francisco DA Brooke Jenkins said in a statement that she encourages exercising First Amendment rights, but that “this serves as a reminder that when such acts become unlawful and compromise public safety that there will have to be consequences. “
The defense team says it will now move to appeal both the jail sentences and the underlying convictions.