Over two dozen pro-Palestinian protesters who blocked traffic along the Golden Gate Bridge in April now face criminal charges ranging from trespassing to felony conspiracy and false imprisonment.
San Francisco District Attorney Brooke Jenkins announced the criminal filings Saturday.
“While we must protect avenues for free speech, the exercise of free speech can not compromise public safety," Jenkins said. "The demonstration on the Golden Gate Bridge caused a level of safety risk, including extreme threats to the health and welfare of those trapped, that we as a society cannot ignore or allow," she said.
As a result of the April demonstrations, some organ transplant surgeries were delayed.
Nearly one year after the war in Gaza began, a ceasefire remains elusive and demonstrations continue across the United States. On Tuesday, a portion of the 405 freeway in West Los Angeles was shut down by another group of protesters upset over U.S. aid to Israel. There were eight arrests, according to California Highway Patrol.