San Francisco Judge Sentences Pro-Palestinian Activists to Jail for Golden Gate Bridge Shutdown
A San Francisco judge has sentenced seven pro-Palestinian activists to 30 days in county jail and six months of probation for their involvement in a 2024 protest that halted traffic on the Golden Gate Bridge for approximately four hours. The San Francisco District Attorney’s Office dismissed several outstanding charges, including felony conspiracy, after a jury failed to reach a consensus on them in July. Superior Court Judge Teresa Caffese emphasized the importance of accepting legal consequences for civil disobedience, stating that those who disrupted commuters' lives should be prepared for the repercussions of their actions. The defendants were convicted of misdemeanors such as unlawful assembly, obstructing a thoroughfare, and multiple counts of false imprisonment. Defense attorneys argued for home detention, citing personal reasons, but most requests were denied, with one exception for a defendant with a disability. 
