Protesters who blocked the Bay Bridge in San Francisco last month during a rally over the Israel-Hamas conflict will face charges and be arraigned in groups starting next week, San Francisco District Attorney Brooke Jenkins announced Dec. 15.
About 80 people blocked traffic on the bridge for nearly four hours Nov. 16 in a protest calling for a cease-fire in the Middle East.
Ms. Jenkins announced that the protestors will face five misdemeanor counts: false imprisonment, refusing to comply with a peace officer, unlawful public assembly, refusing to disperse, and obstruction of street, sidewalk, or another place open to the public.
“While we must protect avenues for free speech, the exercise of free speech cannot compromise public safety,” Ms. Jenkins said in a statement. “The demonstration on the Bay Bridge that snarled traffic for hours had a tremendous impact on those who were stuck on the bridge and required tremendous public resources to resolve.”
The district attorney’s announcement prompted another protest Dec. 18 in response.
Hundreds of people gathered on the steps outside of San Francisco’s Hall of Justice, demanding Ms. Jenkins drop the charges.
