A San Francisco jury convicted seven activists on multiple misdemeanor charges after they orchestrated a four-hour shutdown of the Golden Gate Bridge in April 2024, blocking thousands of commuters while demonstrating against United States military aid to Israel. The jury deadlocked on felony conspiracy charges that could have sent the protesters to prison for 15 years.

Jury Delivers Split Verdict After Weeks of Trial

The seven defendants—Bhavika Anandpura, River Allen, Rocky Chau, Conrad de Jesus, Sarah Ferrell, Em Tillotson, and Sara Cantor—each received guilty verdicts on six misdemeanor counts including false imprisonment, obstruction of thoroughfare, and unlawful assembly. San Francisco District Attorney Brooke Jenkins announced the convictions Thursday, noting Cantor faced an additional count for refusing to disperse after serving as a police liaison during the demonstration.

During the April 15, 2024 protest, activists used vehicles to block traffic and chained themselves together through pipes in the southbound lanes. Approximately 5,000 vehicles normally pass through the toll plaza during those morning hours. Medical workers missed hospital shifts, and one mother could not access water to prepare baby formula during the lengthy standstill, according to Jenkins.

Felony Charges Fail as Defense Claims Victory

After days of deliberation, jurors split 10-to-2 in favor of guilty on the felony conspiracy charge, resulting in a mistrial on that count. Public defender Nuha Abusamra, representing one defendant, framed the deadlocked felonies as a significant win against prosecutors. She argued her clients acted from moral necessity after traditional channels like contacting elected officials produced no results on their concerns about foreign policy.

District Attorney Jenkins emphasized the safety risks created by the protest and stated her office would evaluate options for potentially retrying the conspiracy charge. The defendants face up to five years in county jail for the misdemeanor convictions when they return for sentencing in August.

Most Co-Defendants Accepted Plea Deals

The seven convicted activists originally belonged to a group of 26 people arrested during the coordinated demonstration. Nineteen others accepted pretrial diversion programs, performed community service, and paid fines rather than proceed to trial. The remaining seven chose to fight the charges, betting on jury sympathy for their cause. That gamble succeeded partially, with jurors rejecting the most serious felony count that would have branded them as conspirators facing more than a decade behind bars.