Golden Gate Bridge protesters found guilty on lesser charges; judge declares mistrial on felony

SAN FRANCISCO (KGO) -- More than two years after a group of anti-war demonstrators shut down traffic on the Golden Gate Bridge during a protest calling for an end to U.S. military aid to Israel during the war in Gaza, a jury has reached a verdict in the case.

Seven demonstrators were found guilty on misdemeanor charges, while a judge declared a mistrial on a felony conspiracy charge and a misdemeanor trespass to interfere with a business charge after jurors were unable to reach a verdict.

San Francisco District Attorney Brooke Jenkins said the defendants were convicted on multiple counts.

"They convicted each of those seven defendants with six counts. Six misdemeanor counts and one of them with an additional count," Jenkins said.

RELATED: 26 pro-Palestinian protesters charged for blocking Golden Gate Bridge back in April, SF DA says

The verdict followed a trial stemming from an April 15, 2024, protest in which demonstrators parked their vehicles in unison on the Golden Gate Bridge and chained themselves together, bringing traffic to a standstill for hours. The action was part of a coordinated day of protest calling for an end to U.S. military aid to Israel during the war in Gaza.

The group later became known as the "Golden Gate 26." Nineteen participants had their charges dropped or reduced, while seven proceeded to trial.

Outside the courtroom, supporters and family members of the demonstrators viewed the jury's inability to reach a verdict on the felony conspiracy and misdemeanor trespass counts as a victory, noting that convictions on those charges could have resulted in a different outcome.

One of the demonstrators, Bhavika Anandpura, reacted to the verdict by saying, "I felt like such a relief that I could actually do something."

Public defenders representing the demonstrators defended the protest and criticized the prosecution.

"Blocking traffic for a few hours. Years ago, is the bare minimum that we should be doing as American citizens. While our tax dollars continue to fund the mass genocide of Palestinians," said San Francisco Public Defender Nuha Abusamra.

Jenkins said all seven demonstrators could still face a retrial on the two unresolved charges, a possibility that surprised defense attorneys.

"To me, that shows that this is a decision that she's making, not actually based on this case or about the jurors experience or about the facts or about the evidence or about the actual people here, but about some other influence and, I would invite her to, maybe give us a call so that we could talk about that and really figure out a way to move forward in the interests of not just our seven clients, but the people of San Francisco," attorney Shaffy Moeel said.

Jenkins rejected suggestions that the prosecution was politically motivated, saying the case was focused on public safety.

"This isn't about agreeing or disagreeing with anybody's political position on what's going on abroad. This is about making sure when we speak our minds and we exercise our first amendment rights that we do it in a way that respects the safety of others," Jenkins said.

Jenkins said video showing demonstrators blocking traffic on the Golden Gate Bridge, along with testimony from people who were stranded on the bridge, was central to the prosecution's case. The seven demonstrators face potential jail sentences of between five and five-and-a-half years in county jail.

The sentencing on the guilty charges is scheduled for August 21.