Disruptive Protest Goes on Trial as Seven Who Shut Down Golden Gate Bridge Face Jury In SF

Seven individuals charged over a 2024 Tax Day demonstration that shut down the Golden Gate Bridge for several hours are set for trial in San Francisco Superior Court. The case involves felony conspiracy and multiple misdemeanor counts including false imprisonment, unlawful assembly, and willful restriction of free movement. Conviction could result in up to 14 years in prison. The defendants were part of a larger group that became known as the Golden Gate 26, with many charges reduced or dismissed after a judge’s rulings. The bridge remained closed for about four hours while CHP addressed the protest. Restitution sought for toll money was reduced from $160,000 to $5,300 total for all 26 participants.

"The trial of the Golden Gate Seven, who used to be the Golden Gate 26, kicked off Wednesday in San Francisco Superior Court, and it will be battle between the perception of need for protest action, and the real-time impacts such actions can have on innocent bystanders whose lives are disrupted as well as the need for a major piece of infrastructure to remain unobstructed."

"The San Francisco District Attorney's office has charged these seven individuals with felony conspiracy, along with multiple counts of false imprisonment, unlawful assembly, and willful restriction of free movement, the latter three of which are misdemeanors. If convicted, they could face up to 14 years in prison."

"The group was part of a larger group who shut down the southbound lanes of the Golden Gate Bridge on April 15, 2024, 26 of whom were arrested and initially charged with felony false imprisonment and a slew of other charges many of which were subseqently dismissed by a judge that November. The entire bridge ended up remaining closed for about four hours, after CHP officers shutdown the northbound lanes as they worked to address the protest on the southbound side."

"A judge in the case ultimately declined to reduce the charges for the final seven in the group, partly in light of the $160,000 in restitution of toll money that was being sought by the Golden Gate Bridge, Highway and Transportation District. That sum has since been reduced to $5,300 for all 26 involved, or about $330 apiece."

Read at sfist.com