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Jury deliberations in the case of a group of San Francisco protesters dubbed the “Golden Gate Defendants” resulted in multiple misdemeanor convictions on July 2, 2026. The case stems from an organized action that took place April 15, 2024, in protest of the U.S.-enabled Israeli genocide in Gaza. Twenty-six people were initially arrested for blocking traffic on San Francisco’s Golden Gate Bridge and jailed for more than 48 hours. After a majority of the 1,144 combined charges were dropped, seven people went to trial.

In spite of being found guilty of multiple misdemeanors, the Golden Gate Defendants view the outcome as a victory. Tori Porell, senior staff attorney at Palestine Legal, who has been supporting the defendants, said San Francisco District Attorney Brooke Jenkins “failed to secure convictions on the most serious charges” of felony conspiracy. Jury members were deadlocked on the felony charges that could have resulted in 15-year prison sentences.

Still, defendants and their allies have spent two years enmeshed in the stress of a long-drawn-out trial. Now, those charged and convicted await a sentencing hearing in August.

Defendants and their allies have spent two years enmeshed in the stress of a long-drawn-out trial.

Defendants and their allies have spent two years enmeshed in the stress of a long-drawn-out trial.

The decision to bring such a wide array of charges in relation to a protest action was unusual. Porell called it “a classic case of over-prosecution, meant to stifle dissent and scare people away from speaking out against the United States and Israeli-backed genocide of Palestinians.” During the trial, DA Jenkins even attempted to prevent Golden Gate Defendants and their supporters from wearing keffiyehs — a symbol of solidarity with Palestinians. “The judge, fortunately, knows the First Amendment and did not proceed with that request,” Porell said.

Sara Cantor, one of the defendants, was quoted in a press release as saying that the goal of the protest was “to show that the status quo cannot continue while our government funds genocide.”

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Porell explained that Cantor and her fellow activists are using their serious predicament to continue raising awareness of the genocide. “These defendants have bravely showed up and centered Palestine throughout this trial, showing that even under this aggressive prosecution, they won’t be silenced, and they won’t be scared away from speaking up against a genocide.”

Although the actions of April 15, 2024, ought........

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