Seven Golden Gate Gaza Protesters Face 15 Years Over 4-Hour Bridge Shutdown
Updated
Updated · The New York Times · Jun 5
Seven Golden Gate Gaza Protesters Face 15 Years Over 4-Hour Bridge Shutdown
3 articles · Updated · The New York Times · Jun 5
Summary
Seven protesters who locked themselves together during a 4-hour Golden Gate Bridge blockade on April 15, 2024 are now on trial in San Francisco Superior Court, facing up to 14 or 15 years in prison.
At 7:55 a.m. that Tax Day, 26 activists stopped cars midspan to protest U.S. tax dollars supporting Israel’s military campaign in Gaza; the seven defendants were the group that refused to move.
Thousands of vehicles backed up into Marin County before arrests and towing reopened the bridge about four hours later; commuters missed work and medical appointments, though no injuries were reported.
The potential sentence stands out in the Bay Area, where roadway protests have long been common and similar actions have often ended with community service and restitution rather than felony-level punishment.
The case could test how far prosecutors will go in treating disruptive Gaza-war demonstrations as serious criminal conduct in a region known for protest tolerance.