Seven pro-Palestine protesters convicted of misdemeanour charges in US

Seven pro-Palestine protesters have been convicted of multiple misdemeanor charges for blocking the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco on April 15, 2024. A jury found them guilty of charges including false imprisonment, obstruction of a thoroughfare, and unlawful assembly. The demonstration, part of a coordinated "Tax Day" protest, halted southbound traffic for four hours as activists demanded an end to U.S. military aid to Israel. While the jury reached a mistrial on a more serious felony conspiracy charge due to being deadlocked, the seven individuals face misdemeanor convictions.

Seven protesters who blocked traffic on the Golden Gate Bridge in April 2024 have been convicted of misdemeanor charges, including false imprisonment and obstruction of a thoroughfare. A jury deliberated for seven days but was unable to reach a verdict on the more serious felony conspiracy charge, which carried a potential 15-year prison sentence. The jury also could not agree on a misdemeanor trespassing charge. Sentencing for the seven defendants is scheduled for August 21. Prosecutors argued the demonstration trapped motorists and posed safety risks, while defense attorneys stated the protesters acted out of moral obligation to protest U.S. aid to Israel.