Cease-fire protesters swarmed San Francisco's Superior Court on Monday morning as activists who blocked the Bay Bridge in November were set to appear in court this week.
District Attorney Brooke Jenkins announced charges Friday against 80 protesters who caused traffic chaos for over four hours when they staged a die-in on the bridge. They will be arraigned in batches throughout this week.
Dozens of protesters filed into the Hall of Justice at 850 Bryant St. just after 9 a.m. The activists held their signature yellow banner demanding a cease-fire in the Israel-Hamas war. A long line to get into the court had formed by 9:40 a.m.
Occasional cars passing by the courthouse honked in support, drawing cheers from dozens of protesters and supporters in line outside the visitors' entrance. All were dressed for the rainy weather. Several wore masks while a few others wore keffiyehs, the black and white patterned scarves meant to signal Palestinian solidarity.
"What brought everyone out today is that we're outraged to see that 80 protesters were charged with five different charges related to the Bay Bridge protest," said Rami Abdelkarim of the Palestinian Youth Movement. "We are here to heed the national call for a free Palestine, a cease-fire and an end to U.S. aid to Israel as the protesters were calling [for]."
Abdelkarim urged Jenkins to drop the charges, saying that prosecuting the protesters is a waste of taxpayers' money.
"While we must protect avenues for free speech, the exercise of free speech can not compromise public safety," Jenkins said in a press release. "The demonstration on the Bay Bridge that snarled traffic for hours had a tremendous impact on those who were stuck on the bridge for hours and required tremendous public resources to resolve."
In total, 80 protesters calling for a cease-fire in the Gaza Strip will face charges of false imprisonment, refusing to comply with a peace officer, unlawful public assembly, refusing to disperse and obstruction of street, sidewalk or other place open to public, the DA's Office said Friday.
A spokesperson for the office told The Standard that the first 17 protesters who appeared in court on Monday had their arraignments continued to Feb. 1 or Feb. 2.
Maisa Morrar, one of the protesters who is facing charges, urged the crowd gathered outside the courthouse to continue showing up to support the protesters at their hearings.
"Fill the room," Morrar said. "It looks like the judge doesn't really want to let us in, but we're gonna show up anyway to let her know because we have the right to be in a public court—the right to see what's going on."
"This is unfortunately, a long battle, but we know that we have your support," she added. "We support each other, and we're going to continue to show up for Palestine."
Morrar then led the crowd in a chant of "I believe that we will win."