Newsom Signs Coal Terminal Law as Oakland Wins Key Court Fight
3 California Residents Sue ICE Officers Under New ‘No Kings’ Law
Alameda County Prosecutors Drop Murder Charges Against Man Jailed for Nearly 2 Years
Pro-Palestinian Protesters Get Jail Time for Golden Gate Bridge Shutdown
Oakland Sues La Peralta Apartment Owners Over Elevator Outages, Livability Issues
Golden Gate Bridge Gaza Protesters: Jury Deadlocked on Felony Conspiracy Charges
San Francisco’s Case Against Pro-Palestinian Activists Who Blocked Bridge Heads to Jury
Activists Defend Golden Gate Bridge Shutdown in Gaza War Protest Trial
These Protesters Could Go to Prison for Blocking the Golden Gate Bridge
Golden Gate Bridge Protest Trial Opens in San Francisco
Search of Golden Gate Bridge Protesters’ Social Media Was Illegal, Attorneys Argue
While SF Sees Fewer Fatal Overdoses, Death Rate Is Still Among the Country’s Worst
Player sponsored by
window.__IS_SSR__=true
window.__INITIAL_STATE__={
"attachmentsReducer": {
"audio_0": {
"type": "attachments",
"id": "audio_0",
"imgSizes": {
"kqedFullSize": {
"file": "https://ww2.kqed.org/news/wp-content/themes/KQED-unified/img/audio_bgs/background0.jpg"
}
}
},
"audio_1": {
"type": "attachments",
"id": "audio_1",
"imgSizes": {
"kqedFullSize": {
"file": "https://ww2.kqed.org/news/wp-content/themes/KQED-unified/img/audio_bgs/background1.jpg"
}
}
},
"audio_2": {
"type": "attachments",
"id": "audio_2",
"imgSizes": {
"kqedFullSize": {
"file": "https://ww2.kqed.org/news/wp-content/themes/KQED-unified/img/audio_bgs/background2.jpg"
}
}
},
"audio_3": {
"type": "attachments",
"id": "audio_3",
"imgSizes": {
"kqedFullSize": {
"file": "https://ww2.kqed.org/news/wp-content/themes/KQED-unified/img/audio_bgs/background3.jpg"
}
}
},
"audio_4": {
"type": "attachments",
"id": "audio_4",
"imgSizes": {
"kqedFullSize": {
"file": "https://ww2.kqed.org/news/wp-content/themes/KQED-unified/img/audio_bgs/background4.jpg"
}
}
},
"placeholder": {
"type": "attachments",
"id": "placeholder",
"imgSizes": {
"thumbnail": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/KQED-Default-Image-816638274-2000x1333-1-160x107.jpg",
"width": 160,
"height": 107,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"medium": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/KQED-Default-Image-816638274-2000x1333-1-800x533.jpg",
"width": 800,
"height": 533,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"medium_large": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/KQED-Default-Image-816638274-2000x1333-1-768x512.jpg",
"width": 768,
"height": 512,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"large": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/KQED-Default-Image-816638274-2000x1333-1-1020x680.jpg",
"width": 1020,
"height": 680,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"1536x1536": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/KQED-Default-Image-816638274-2000x1333-1-1536x1024.jpg",
"width": 1536,
"height": 1024,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"fd-lrg": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/KQED-Default-Image-816638274-2000x1333-1-1536x1024.jpg",
"width": 1536,
"height": 1024,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"fd-med": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/KQED-Default-Image-816638274-2000x1333-1-1020x680.jpg",
"width": 1020,
"height": 680,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"fd-sm": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/KQED-Default-Image-816638274-2000x1333-1-800x533.jpg",
"width": 800,
"height": 533,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"post-thumbnail": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/KQED-Default-Image-816638274-2000x1333-1-672x372.jpg",
"width": 672,
"height": 372,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"twentyfourteen-full-width": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/KQED-Default-Image-816638274-2000x1333-1-1038x576.jpg",
"width": 1038,
"height": 576,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"xxsmall": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/KQED-Default-Image-816638274-2000x1333-1-160x107.jpg",
"width": 160,
"height": 107,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"xsmall": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/KQED-Default-Image-816638274-2000x1333-1-672x372.jpg",
"width": 672,
"height": 372,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"small": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/KQED-Default-Image-816638274-2000x1333-1-672x372.jpg",
"width": 672,
"height": 372,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"xlarge": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/KQED-Default-Image-816638274-2000x1333-1-1020x680.jpg",
"width": 1020,
"height": 680,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"full-width": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/KQED-Default-Image-816638274-2000x1333-1-1920x1280.jpg",
"width": 1920,
"height": 1280,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"guest-author-32": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/KQED-Default-Image-816638274-1333x1333-1-160x160.jpg",
"width": 32,
"height": 32,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"guest-author-50": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/KQED-Default-Image-816638274-1333x1333-1-160x160.jpg",
"width": 50,
"height": 50,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"guest-author-64": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/KQED-Default-Image-816638274-1333x1333-1-160x160.jpg",
"width": 64,
"height": 64,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"guest-author-96": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/KQED-Default-Image-816638274-1333x1333-1-160x160.jpg",
"width": 96,
"height": 96,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"guest-author-128": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/KQED-Default-Image-816638274-1333x1333-1-160x160.jpg",
"width": 128,
"height": 128,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"detail": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/KQED-Default-Image-816638274-1333x1333-1-160x160.jpg",
"width": 160,
"height": 160,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"kqedFullSize": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/KQED-Default-Image-816638274-2000x1333-1.jpg",
"width": 2000,
"height": 1333
}
}
},
"news_12087686": {
"type": "attachments",
"id": "news_12087686",
"meta": {
"index": "attachments_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "12087686",
"found": true
},
"title": "West Oakland Drone View",
"publishDate": 1781561187,
"status": "inherit",
"parent": 12087600,
"modified": 1781561225,
"caption": "The maze and part of the old Oakland Army Base are seen from this drone view in West Oakland, California, on Tuesday, Nov. 23, 2021. A controversial proposed coal terminal would sit on part of the army base. ",
"credit": "Jane Tyska/Digital First Media/East Bay Times via Getty Images",
"altTag": null,
"description": null,
"imgSizes": {
"thumbnail": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/GettyImages-1356445057-160x107.jpg",
"width": 160,
"height": 107,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"1536x1536": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/GettyImages-1356445057-1536x1024.jpg",
"width": 1536,
"height": 1024,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"post-thumbnail": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/GettyImages-1356445057-672x372.jpg",
"width": 672,
"height": 372,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"twentyfourteen-full-width": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/GettyImages-1356445057-1038x576.jpg",
"width": 1038,
"height": 576,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"npr-cds-wide": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/GettyImages-1356445057-1200x675.jpg",
"width": 1200,
"height": 675,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"npr-cds-square": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/GettyImages-1356445057-600x600.jpg",
"width": 600,
"height": 600,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"kqedFullSize": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/GettyImages-1356445057.jpg",
"width": 1980,
"height": 1320
}
},
"isLoading": false,
"fetchFailed": false
},
"news_12060605": {
"type": "attachments",
"id": "news_12060605",
"meta": {
"index": "attachments_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "12060605",
"found": true
},
"title": "20251018_NoKingsOakland_Hernandez-26_qed",
"publishDate": 1760830068,
"status": "inherit",
"parent": 12060511,
"modified": 1760830080,
"caption": "A demonstrator’s silhouette is cast beneath an American flag during the No Kings National Day of Action in Oakland on Oct. 18, 2025.",
"credit": "Gustavo Hernandez/KQED",
"altTag": null,
"description": null,
"imgSizes": {
"thumbnail": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/10/20251018_NoKingsOakland_Hernandez-26_qed-160x107.jpg",
"width": 160,
"height": 107,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"1536x1536": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/10/20251018_NoKingsOakland_Hernandez-26_qed-1536x1024.jpg",
"width": 1536,
"height": 1024,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"post-thumbnail": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/10/20251018_NoKingsOakland_Hernandez-26_qed-672x372.jpg",
"width": 672,
"height": 372,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"twentyfourteen-full-width": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/10/20251018_NoKingsOakland_Hernandez-26_qed-1038x576.jpg",
"width": 1038,
"height": 576,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"kqedFullSize": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/10/20251018_NoKingsOakland_Hernandez-26_qed.jpg",
"width": 2000,
"height": 1333
}
},
"isLoading": false,
"fetchFailed": false
},
"news_12098639": {
"type": "attachments",
"id": "news_12098639",
"meta": {
"index": "attachments_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "12098639",
"found": true
},
"title": "260905-insufficientevidence-TV01621-KQED",
"publishDate": 1788889609,
"status": "inherit",
"parent": 0,
"modified": 1788908618,
"caption": "Christy White, mother of Michael Perillo who was wrongfully jailed for a murder charge, poses for a portrait at Castle Oaks Club House in Ione, California on Sept. 5, 2026. In a violent attack in Oakland’s Chinatown, Michael Perillo was wrongfully jailed for two years and was released from jail last week after murder charges were dropped for insufficient evidence.",
"credit": "Tâm Vũ/KQED",
"altTag": null,
"description": null,
"imgSizes": {
"thumbnail": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/260905-insufficientevidence-TV01621-KQED-160x107.jpg",
"width": 160,
"height": 107,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"1536x1536": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/260905-insufficientevidence-TV01621-KQED-1536x1024.jpg",
"width": 1536,
"height": 1024,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"post-thumbnail": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/260905-insufficientevidence-TV01621-KQED-672x372.jpg",
"width": 672,
"height": 372,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"twentyfourteen-full-width": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/260905-insufficientevidence-TV01621-KQED-1038x576.jpg",
"width": 1038,
"height": 576,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"npr-cds-wide": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/260905-insufficientevidence-TV01621-KQED-1200x675.jpg",
"width": 1200,
"height": 675,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"npr-cds-square": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/260905-insufficientevidence-TV01621-KQED-600x600.jpg",
"width": 600,
"height": 600,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"kqedFullSize": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/260905-insufficientevidence-TV01621-KQED.jpg",
"width": 2000,
"height": 1333
}
},
"isLoading": false,
"fetchFailed": false
},
"news_12096326": {
"type": "attachments",
"id": "news_12096326",
"meta": {
"index": "attachments_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "12096326",
"found": true
},
"title": "260821-GGBS-NG-6_qed",
"publishDate": 1787345433,
"status": "inherit",
"parent": 0,
"modified": 1787350187,
"caption": "Pro-Palestinian activist and defendant Em Tillotson hugs a supporter outside the Hall of Justice in San Francisco before a sentencing hearing on Aug. 21, 2026, for seven defendants who were found guilty of blocking traffic on the Golden Gate Bridge in 2024.",
"credit": "Nina Glick/KQED",
"altTag": null,
"description": null,
"imgSizes": {
"thumbnail": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260821-GGBS-NG-6_qed-160x107.jpg",
"width": 160,
"height": 107,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"1536x1536": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260821-GGBS-NG-6_qed-1536x1024.jpg",
"width": 1536,
"height": 1024,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"post-thumbnail": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260821-GGBS-NG-6_qed-672x372.jpg",
"width": 672,
"height": 372,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"twentyfourteen-full-width": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260821-GGBS-NG-6_qed-1038x576.jpg",
"width": 1038,
"height": 576,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"npr-cds-wide": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260821-GGBS-NG-6_qed-1200x675.jpg",
"width": 1200,
"height": 675,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"npr-cds-square": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260821-GGBS-NG-6_qed-600x600.jpg",
"width": 600,
"height": 600,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"kqedFullSize": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260821-GGBS-NG-6_qed.jpg",
"width": 2000,
"height": 1333
}
},
"isLoading": false,
"fetchFailed": false
},
"news_12095131": {
"type": "attachments",
"id": "news_12095131",
"meta": {
"index": "attachments_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "12095131",
"found": true
},
"title": "260813-OAK LANDLORD SUIT-MD-05-KQED",
"publishDate": 1786644543,
"status": "inherit",
"parent": 0,
"modified": 1786651671,
"caption": "Kathy Vaquilar stands outside the La Peralta building, where she lives, in Oakland on Aug. 13, 2026.",
"credit": "Martin do Nascimento/KQED",
"altTag": null,
"description": null,
"imgSizes": {
"thumbnail": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260813-OAK-LANDLORD-SUIT-MD-05-KQED-160x107.jpg",
"width": 160,
"height": 107,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"1536x1536": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260813-OAK-LANDLORD-SUIT-MD-05-KQED-1536x1025.jpg",
"width": 1536,
"height": 1025,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"post-thumbnail": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260813-OAK-LANDLORD-SUIT-MD-05-KQED-672x372.jpg",
"width": 672,
"height": 372,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"twentyfourteen-full-width": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260813-OAK-LANDLORD-SUIT-MD-05-KQED-1038x576.jpg",
"width": 1038,
"height": 576,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"npr-cds-wide": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260813-OAK-LANDLORD-SUIT-MD-05-KQED-1200x675.jpg",
"width": 1200,
"height": 675,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"npr-cds-square": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260813-OAK-LANDLORD-SUIT-MD-05-KQED-600x600.jpg",
"width": 600,
"height": 600,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"kqedFullSize": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260813-OAK-LANDLORD-SUIT-MD-05-KQED.jpg",
"width": 2000,
"height": 1334
}
},
"isLoading": false,
"fetchFailed": false
},
"news_12089813": {
"type": "attachments",
"id": "news_12089813",
"meta": {
"index": "attachments_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "12089813",
"found": true
},
"title": "260702-GGBVerdict-15-BL",
"publishDate": 1783022843,
"status": "inherit",
"parent": 0,
"modified": 1783023185,
"caption": "River Allen greets supporters as they rally outside a courtroom at the Superior Court of California in San Francisco on July 2, 2026, after a jury deadlocked on a felony conspiracy charge against seven protesters accused of blocking the Golden Gate Bridge during a 2024 protest against the war in Gaza.",
"credit": "Beth LaBerge/KQED",
"altTag": null,
"description": null,
"imgSizes": {
"thumbnail": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260702-GGBVerdict-15-BL-160x107.jpg",
"width": 160,
"height": 107,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"1536x1536": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260702-GGBVerdict-15-BL-1536x1024.jpg",
"width": 1536,
"height": 1024,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"post-thumbnail": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260702-GGBVerdict-15-BL-672x372.jpg",
"width": 672,
"height": 372,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"twentyfourteen-full-width": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260702-GGBVerdict-15-BL-1038x576.jpg",
"width": 1038,
"height": 576,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"npr-cds-wide": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260702-GGBVerdict-15-BL-1200x675.jpg",
"width": 1200,
"height": 675,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"npr-cds-square": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260702-GGBVerdict-15-BL-600x600.jpg",
"width": 600,
"height": 600,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"kqedFullSize": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260702-GGBVerdict-15-BL.jpg",
"width": 2000,
"height": 1333
}
},
"isLoading": false,
"fetchFailed": false
},
"news_12086297": {
"type": "attachments",
"id": "news_12086297",
"meta": {
"index": "attachments_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "12086297",
"found": true
},
"title": "260604-GGBTRIALCLOSING-01-BL-KQED",
"publishDate": 1780608288,
"status": "inherit",
"parent": 0,
"modified": 1780609475,
"caption": "Manan Kocher speaks during a rally across from the San Francisco Superior Courthouse on June 4, 2026, to support the \"Golden Gate 26\" ahead of closing arguments in their trial. The defendants are accused of blocking traffic on the Golden Gate Bridge during a 2024 protest against the war in Gaza.",
"credit": "Beth LaBerge/KQED",
"altTag": null,
"description": null,
"imgSizes": {
"thumbnail": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/260604-GGBTRIALCLOSING-01-BL-KQED-160x107.jpg",
"width": 160,
"height": 107,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"1536x1536": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/260604-GGBTRIALCLOSING-01-BL-KQED-1536x1024.jpg",
"width": 1536,
"height": 1024,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"post-thumbnail": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/260604-GGBTRIALCLOSING-01-BL-KQED-672x372.jpg",
"width": 672,
"height": 372,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"twentyfourteen-full-width": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/260604-GGBTRIALCLOSING-01-BL-KQED-1038x576.jpg",
"width": 1038,
"height": 576,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"npr-cds-wide": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/260604-GGBTRIALCLOSING-01-BL-KQED-1200x675.jpg",
"width": 1200,
"height": 675,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"npr-cds-square": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/260604-GGBTRIALCLOSING-01-BL-KQED-600x600.jpg",
"width": 600,
"height": 600,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"kqedFullSize": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/260604-GGBTRIALCLOSING-01-BL-KQED.jpg",
"width": 2000,
"height": 1333
}
},
"isLoading": false,
"fetchFailed": false
},
"news_12085588": {
"type": "attachments",
"id": "news_12085588",
"meta": {
"index": "attachments_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "12085588",
"found": true
},
"title": "260529-GGBTRIALTESTIMONY00089_TV-KQED",
"publishDate": 1780094766,
"status": "inherit",
"parent": 12089732,
"modified": 1783020771,
"caption": "From left, Em Tillotson, Conrad de Jesus, Sara Cantor, Rocky Chau, Sarah Ferrell, River Allen, and Bhavika Anandpura, the seven defendants on trial for blocking the Golden Gate Bridge for a pro-Palestinian protest, pose for a portrait at the San Francisco Superior Courthouse in San Francisco on May 29, 2026.",
"credit": "Tâm Vũ/KQED",
"altTag": null,
"description": null,
"imgSizes": {
"thumbnail": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/260529-GGBTRIALTESTIMONY00089_TV-KQED-160x107.jpg",
"width": 160,
"height": 107,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"1536x1536": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/260529-GGBTRIALTESTIMONY00089_TV-KQED-1536x1024.jpg",
"width": 1536,
"height": 1024,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"post-thumbnail": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/260529-GGBTRIALTESTIMONY00089_TV-KQED-672x372.jpg",
"width": 672,
"height": 372,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"twentyfourteen-full-width": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/260529-GGBTRIALTESTIMONY00089_TV-KQED-1038x576.jpg",
"width": 1038,
"height": 576,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"npr-cds-wide": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/260529-GGBTRIALTESTIMONY00089_TV-KQED-1200x675.jpg",
"width": 1200,
"height": 675,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"npr-cds-square": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/260529-GGBTRIALTESTIMONY00089_TV-KQED-600x600.jpg",
"width": 600,
"height": 600,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"kqedFullSize": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/260529-GGBTRIALTESTIMONY00089_TV-KQED.jpg",
"width": 2000,
"height": 1333
}
},
"isLoading": false,
"fetchFailed": false
},
"news_12084463": {
"type": "attachments",
"id": "news_12084463",
"meta": {
"index": "attachments_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "12084463",
"found": true
},
"title": "260520-GGB PROTEST-02-KQED",
"publishDate": 1779293024,
"status": "inherit",
"parent": 12084403,
"modified": 1779311452,
"caption": "First responders on The Golden Gate 26 on April 15, 2024. A group of Bay Area residents were arrested during a protest against the U.S. role in the war on Gaza on Tax Day.",
"credit": "Courtesy of Saman Qadir",
"altTag": null,
"description": null,
"imgSizes": {
"thumbnail": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/260520-GGB-PROTEST-02-KQED-160x107.jpg",
"width": 160,
"height": 107,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"1536x1536": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/260520-GGB-PROTEST-02-KQED-1536x1024.jpg",
"width": 1536,
"height": 1024,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"post-thumbnail": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/260520-GGB-PROTEST-02-KQED-672x372.jpg",
"width": 672,
"height": 372,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"twentyfourteen-full-width": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/260520-GGB-PROTEST-02-KQED-1038x576.jpg",
"width": 1038,
"height": 576,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"npr-cds-wide": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/260520-GGB-PROTEST-02-KQED-1200x675.jpg",
"width": 1200,
"height": 675,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"npr-cds-square": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/260520-GGB-PROTEST-02-KQED-600x600.jpg",
"width": 600,
"height": 600,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"kqedFullSize": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/260520-GGB-PROTEST-02-KQED.jpg",
"width": 2000,
"height": 1333
}
},
"isLoading": false,
"fetchFailed": false
},
"news_12084462": {
"type": "attachments",
"id": "news_12084462",
"meta": {
"index": "attachments_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "12084462",
"found": true
},
"title": "260520-GGB PROTEST-01-KQED",
"publishDate": 1779293019,
"status": "inherit",
"parent": 0,
"modified": 1779312078,
"caption": "Pro-Palestinian protesters on the bridge on April 15, 2024, demanded an end to U.S. aid, arms and technology to Israel to fund what they say is an ongoing genocide of Palestinians, supported by U.S. tax dollars. ",
"credit": "Courtesy of Saman Qadir",
"altTag": null,
"description": null,
"imgSizes": {
"thumbnail": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/260520-GGB-PROTEST-01-KQED-160x107.jpg",
"width": 160,
"height": 107,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"1536x1536": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/260520-GGB-PROTEST-01-KQED-1536x1024.jpg",
"width": 1536,
"height": 1024,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"post-thumbnail": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/260520-GGB-PROTEST-01-KQED-672x372.jpg",
"width": 672,
"height": 372,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"twentyfourteen-full-width": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/260520-GGB-PROTEST-01-KQED-1038x576.jpg",
"width": 1038,
"height": 576,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"npr-cds-wide": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/260520-GGB-PROTEST-01-KQED-1200x675.jpg",
"width": 1200,
"height": 675,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"npr-cds-square": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/260520-GGB-PROTEST-01-KQED-600x600.jpg",
"width": 600,
"height": 600,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"kqedFullSize": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/260520-GGB-PROTEST-01-KQED.jpg",
"width": 2000,
"height": 1333
}
},
"isLoading": false,
"fetchFailed": false
},
"news_12010374": {
"type": "attachments",
"id": "news_12010374",
"meta": {
"index": "attachments_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "12010374",
"found": true
},
"title": "US-PALESTINIANS-ISRAEL-CONFLICT",
"publishDate": 1729529558,
"status": "inherit",
"parent": 12010363,
"modified": 1777579705,
"caption": "Pro-Palestinian demonstrators blocked San Francisco's Golden Gate Bridge on April 15, 2024, completely halting traffic for hours as part of a coordinated day of action against Israel's war in Gaza.",
"credit": "Paul Kuroda/AFP via Getty Images",
"altTag": null,
"description": null,
"imgSizes": {
"medium": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/10/GGBridgeProtestAprilGetty-800x549.jpg",
"width": 800,
"height": 549,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"large": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/10/GGBridgeProtestAprilGetty-1020x700.jpg",
"width": 1020,
"height": 700,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"thumbnail": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/10/GGBridgeProtestAprilGetty-160x110.jpg",
"width": 160,
"height": 110,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"1536x1536": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/10/GGBridgeProtestAprilGetty-1536x1054.jpg",
"width": 1536,
"height": 1054,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"post-thumbnail": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/10/GGBridgeProtestAprilGetty-672x372.jpg",
"width": 672,
"height": 372,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"twentyfourteen-full-width": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/10/GGBridgeProtestAprilGetty-1038x576.jpg",
"width": 1038,
"height": 576,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"full-width": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/10/GGBridgeProtestAprilGetty-1920x1317.jpg",
"width": 1920,
"height": 1317,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"kqedFullSize": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/10/GGBridgeProtestAprilGetty.jpg",
"width": 2000,
"height": 1372
}
},
"isLoading": false,
"fetchFailed": false
},
"news_11969941": {
"type": "attachments",
"id": "news_11969941",
"meta": {
"index": "attachments_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "11969941",
"found": true
},
"parent": 0,
"imgSizes": {
"twentyfourteen-full-width": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/12/231214-SF-OVERDOSE-GETTY-SS-KQED-1038x576.jpg",
"width": 1038,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg",
"height": 576
},
"thumbnail": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/12/231214-SF-OVERDOSE-GETTY-SS-KQED-160x107.jpg",
"width": 160,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg",
"height": 107
},
"post-thumbnail": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/12/231214-SF-OVERDOSE-GETTY-SS-KQED-672x372.jpg",
"width": 672,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg",
"height": 372
},
"kqedFullSize": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/12/231214-SF-OVERDOSE-GETTY-SS-KQED.jpg",
"width": 2000,
"height": 1334
},
"large": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/12/231214-SF-OVERDOSE-GETTY-SS-KQED-1020x680.jpg",
"width": 1020,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg",
"height": 680
},
"1536x1536": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/12/231214-SF-OVERDOSE-GETTY-SS-KQED-1536x1025.jpg",
"width": 1536,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg",
"height": 1025
},
"full-width": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/12/231214-SF-OVERDOSE-GETTY-SS-KQED-1920x1281.jpg",
"width": 1920,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg",
"height": 1281
},
"medium": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/12/231214-SF-OVERDOSE-GETTY-SS-KQED-800x534.jpg",
"width": 800,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg",
"height": 534
}
},
"publishDate": 1702603508,
"modified": 1710287802,
"caption": "Flowers lay on the sidewalk where a 16-year-old girl died from a possible overdose in the SoMa neighborhood of San Francisco on Feb. 20, 2022.",
"description": null,
"title": "teendeath0220",
"credit": "Scott Strazzante/San Francisco Chronicle via Getty Images",
"status": "inherit",
"altTag": "A bouquet of flowers lays on the sidewalk beside a chainlink fence in an urban setting.",
"isLoading": false,
"fetchFailed": false
}
},
"audioPlayerReducer": {
"postId": "stream_live",
"isPaused": true,
"isPlaying": false,
"pfsActive": false,
"pledgeModalIsOpen": true,
"playerDrawerIsOpen": false,
"liveAudioPlayStartedAt": 0,
"liveAudioPlayContext": ""
},
"authorsReducer": {
"jlara": {
"type": "authors",
"id": "11761",
"meta": {
"index": "authors_1716337520",
"id": "11761",
"found": true
},
"name": "Juan Carlos Lara",
"firstName": "Juan Carlos",
"lastName": "Lara",
"slug": "jlara",
"email": "jlara@kqed.org",
"display_author_email": false,
"staff_mastheads": [],
"title": "KQED Contributor",
"bio": null,
"avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/19e2052b9b05657c5ff2af2121846e9c?s=600&d=blank&r=g",
"twitter": null,
"facebook": null,
"instagram": null,
"linkedin": null,
"sites": [
{
"site": "arts",
"roles": [
"editor"
]
},
{
"site": "news",
"roles": [
"editor"
]
},
{
"site": "forum",
"roles": [
"editor"
]
},
{
"site": "liveblog",
"roles": [
"contributor"
]
}
],
"headData": {
"title": "Juan Carlos Lara | KQED",
"description": "KQED Contributor",
"ogImgSrc": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/19e2052b9b05657c5ff2af2121846e9c?s=600&d=blank&r=g",
"twImgSrc": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/19e2052b9b05657c5ff2af2121846e9c?s=600&d=blank&r=g"
},
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/author/jlara"
},
"ecruzguevarra": {
"type": "authors",
"id": "8654",
"meta": {
"index": "authors_1716337520",
"id": "8654",
"found": true
},
"name": "Ericka Cruz Guevarra",
"firstName": "Ericka",
"lastName": "Cruz Guevarra",
"slug": "ecruzguevarra",
"email": "ecruzguevarra@kqed.org",
"display_author_email": true,
"staff_mastheads": [
"news"
],
"title": "Producer, The Bay Podcast",
"bio": "Ericka Cruz Guevarra is host of \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/podcasts/thebay\">\u003cem>The Bay\u003c/em>\u003c/a> podcast at KQED. Before host, she was the show’s producer. Her work in that capacity includes a three-part reported series on policing in Vallejo, which won a 2020 excellence in journalism award from the Society of Professional Journalists. Ericka has worked as a breaking news reporter at Oregon Public Broadcasting, helped produce the Code Switch podcast, and was KQED’s inaugural Raul Ramirez Diversity Fund intern. She’s also an alumna of NPR’s Next Generation Radio program. Send her an email if you have strong feelings about whether Fairfield and Suisun City are the Bay. Ericka is represented by SAG-AFTRA.",
"avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/accefc1de4bafc7e234b69bcb9b6f6536c130fd84709bc3069ef11a78787e1bb?s=600&d=blank&r=g",
"twitter": "NotoriousECG",
"bluesky": null,
"facebook": null,
"instagram": null,
"linkedin": null,
"sites": [
{
"site": "arts",
"roles": [
"subscriber"
]
},
{
"site": "news",
"roles": [
"editor",
"manage_categories"
]
},
{
"site": "futureofyou",
"roles": [
"subscriber"
]
},
{
"site": "stateofhealth",
"roles": [
"subscriber"
]
},
{
"site": "science",
"roles": [
"editor"
]
},
{
"site": "forum",
"roles": [
"subscriber"
]
}
],
"headData": {
"title": "Ericka Cruz Guevarra | KQED",
"description": "Producer, The Bay Podcast",
"ogImgSrc": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/accefc1de4bafc7e234b69bcb9b6f6536c130fd84709bc3069ef11a78787e1bb?s=600&d=blank&r=g",
"twImgSrc": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/accefc1de4bafc7e234b69bcb9b6f6536c130fd84709bc3069ef11a78787e1bb?s=600&d=blank&r=g"
},
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/author/ecruzguevarra"
},
"amontecillo": {
"type": "authors",
"id": "11649",
"meta": {
"index": "authors_1716337520",
"id": "11649",
"found": true
},
"name": "Alan Montecillo",
"firstName": "Alan",
"lastName": "Montecillo",
"slug": "amontecillo",
"email": "amontecillo@kqed.org",
"display_author_email": false,
"staff_mastheads": [
"news"
],
"title": "KQED Contributor",
"bio": "Alan Montecillo is the senior editor of \u003cem>\u003ca href=\"http://kqed.org/thebay\">The Bay\u003c/a>, \u003c/em> KQED's local news podcast. Before moving to the Bay Area, he worked as a senior talk show producer for WILL in Champaign-Urbana, Illinois and at Oregon Public Broadcasting in Portland, Oregon. He has won journalism awards from the Society of Professional Journalists Northern California, the Public Media Journalists Association, The Signal Awards, and has also received a regional Edward R. Murrow award. Alan is a Filipino American from Hong Kong and a graduate of Reed College.",
"avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/268f53a2066899ea9efdd8a5900218b17c822d9862cbc9326cccec53ef41d349?s=600&d=blank&r=g",
"twitter": "alanmontecillo",
"bluesky": null,
"facebook": null,
"instagram": null,
"linkedin": null,
"sites": [
{
"site": "",
"roles": [
"editor"
]
},
{
"site": "news",
"roles": [
"editor",
"manage_categories"
]
}
],
"headData": {
"title": "Alan Montecillo | KQED",
"description": "KQED Contributor",
"ogImgSrc": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/268f53a2066899ea9efdd8a5900218b17c822d9862cbc9326cccec53ef41d349?s=600&d=blank&r=g",
"twImgSrc": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/268f53a2066899ea9efdd8a5900218b17c822d9862cbc9326cccec53ef41d349?s=600&d=blank&r=g"
},
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/author/amontecillo"
},
"jessicakariisa": {
"type": "authors",
"id": "11831",
"meta": {
"index": "authors_1716337520",
"id": "11831",
"found": true
},
"name": "Jessica Kariisa",
"firstName": "Jessica",
"lastName": "Kariisa",
"slug": "jessicakariisa",
"email": "jkariisa@kqed.org",
"display_author_email": false,
"staff_mastheads": [],
"title": "Producer, The Bay",
"bio": "Jessica Kariisa is the producer of The Bay. She first joined KQED as an intern for The California Report Magazine, after which she became an on-call producer. She reported a Bay Curious episode on the use of rap lyrics in criminal trials which won a Society of Professional Journalists award in 2023 for Excellence in Features Journalism and the 2023 Signal Award for Best Conversation Starter. She’s worked on podcasts for Snap Judgment and American Public Media. Before embarking on her audio career, she was a music journalist.\r\n\r\nJessica Kariisa is represented by SAG-AFTRA.",
"avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/522e97b28ac0b3d411621c0fde8f3419c7b71ea2c5c262c57c4bb600963f328c?s=600&d=blank&r=g",
"twitter": null,
"bluesky": null,
"facebook": null,
"instagram": null,
"linkedin": null,
"sites": [
{
"site": "arts",
"roles": [
"author"
]
},
{
"site": "news",
"roles": [
"editor",
"manage_categories"
]
}
],
"headData": {
"title": "Jessica Kariisa | KQED",
"description": "Producer, The Bay",
"ogImgSrc": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/522e97b28ac0b3d411621c0fde8f3419c7b71ea2c5c262c57c4bb600963f328c?s=600&d=blank&r=g",
"twImgSrc": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/522e97b28ac0b3d411621c0fde8f3419c7b71ea2c5c262c57c4bb600963f328c?s=600&d=blank&r=g"
},
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/author/jessicakariisa"
},
"kdebenedetti": {
"type": "authors",
"id": "11913",
"meta": {
"index": "authors_1716337520",
"id": "11913",
"found": true
},
"name": "Katie DeBenedetti",
"firstName": "Katie",
"lastName": "DeBenedetti",
"slug": "kdebenedetti",
"email": "kdebenedetti@kqed.org",
"display_author_email": false,
"staff_mastheads": [
"news",
"science"
],
"title": "KQED Contributor",
"bio": "Katie DeBenedetti is a digital reporter covering daily news for the Express Desk. Prior to joining KQED as a culture reporting intern in January 2024, she covered education and city government for the Napa Valley Register.",
"avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/6e31073cb8f7e4214ab03f42771d0f45?s=600&d=blank&r=g",
"twitter": null,
"facebook": null,
"instagram": null,
"linkedin": null,
"sites": [
{
"site": "news",
"roles": [
"author"
]
},
{
"site": "science",
"roles": [
"author"
]
},
{
"site": "liveblog",
"roles": [
"author"
]
}
],
"headData": {
"title": "Katie DeBenedetti | KQED",
"description": "KQED Contributor",
"ogImgSrc": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/6e31073cb8f7e4214ab03f42771d0f45?s=600&d=blank&r=g",
"twImgSrc": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/6e31073cb8f7e4214ab03f42771d0f45?s=600&d=blank&r=g"
},
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/author/kdebenedetti"
}
},
"pagesReducer": {
"author_jlara": {
"type": "pages",
"id": "11761",
"meta": {
"index": "authors_1716337520",
"id": "11761",
"score": 6.8060913,
"site": "authors"
},
"name": "Juan Carlos Lara",
"firstName": "Juan Carlos",
"lastName": "Lara",
"slug": "jlara",
"email": "jlara@kqed.org",
"display_author_email": false,
"staff_mastheads": [],
"title": "KQED Contributor",
"bio": null,
"avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/19e2052b9b05657c5ff2af2121846e9c?s=600&d=blank&r=g",
"twitter": null,
"facebook": null,
"instagram": null,
"linkedin": null,
"sites": [
{
"site": "arts",
"roles": [
"editor"
]
},
{
"site": "news",
"roles": [
"editor"
]
},
{
"site": "forum",
"roles": [
"editor"
]
},
{
"site": "liveblog",
"roles": [
"contributor"
]
}
],
"headData": {
"title": "Juan Carlos Lara | KQED",
"description": "KQED Contributor",
"ogImgSrc": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/19e2052b9b05657c5ff2af2121846e9c?s=600&d=blank&r=g",
"twImgSrc": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/19e2052b9b05657c5ff2af2121846e9c?s=600&d=blank&r=g"
},
"isLoading": false,
"hasAllInfo": true,
"blocks": [
{
"blockName": "kqed/staff-member",
"attrs": {
"author": {
"type": "authors",
"id": "11761",
"meta": {
"index": "authors_1716337520",
"id": "11761",
"score": 6.8060913
},
"name": "Juan Carlos Lara",
"firstName": "Juan Carlos",
"lastName": "Lara",
"slug": "jlara",
"email": "jlara@kqed.org",
"display_author_email": false,
"staff_mastheads": [],
"title": "KQED Contributor",
"bio": null,
"avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/19e2052b9b05657c5ff2af2121846e9c?s=600&d=blank&r=g",
"twitter": null,
"facebook": null,
"instagram": null,
"linkedin": null,
"sites": [
{
"site": "arts",
"roles": [
"editor"
]
},
{
"site": "news",
"roles": [
"editor"
]
},
{
"site": "forum",
"roles": [
"editor"
]
},
{
"site": "liveblog",
"roles": [
"contributor"
]
}
],
"headData": {
"title": "Juan Carlos Lara | KQED",
"description": "KQED Contributor",
"ogImgSrc": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/19e2052b9b05657c5ff2af2121846e9c?s=600&d=blank&r=g",
"twImgSrc": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/19e2052b9b05657c5ff2af2121846e9c?s=600&d=blank&r=g"
},
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/author/jlara",
"hasAllInfo": true
}
}
},
{
"blockName": "kqed/post-list",
"attrs": {
"query": "posts?author=11761&authorName=Juan Carlos Lara",
"title": "By Juan Carlos Lara",
"layout": "cardArticle2",
"className": "wp-block--nomargintop",
"seeMore": true
}
}
]
}
},
"pfsSessionReducer": {},
"postsReducer": {
"stream_live": {
"type": "live",
"id": "stream_live",
"audioUrl": "https://streams.kqed.org/kqedradio",
"title": "Live Stream",
"excerpt": "Live Stream information currently unavailable.",
"link": "/radio",
"featImg": "",
"label": {
"name": "KQED Live",
"link": "/"
}
},
"stream_kqedNewscast": {
"type": "posts",
"id": "stream_kqedNewscast",
"audioUrl": "https://www.kqed.org/.stream/anon/radio/RDnews/newscast.mp3?_=1",
"title": "KQED Newscast",
"featImg": "",
"label": {
"name": "88.5 FM",
"link": "/"
}
},
"news_12102644": {
"type": "posts",
"id": "news_12102644",
"meta": {
"index": "posts_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "12102644",
"score": null,
"sort": [
1791111600000
]
},
"guestAuthors": [],
"slug": "newsom-signs-coal-terminal-law-as-oakland-wins-key-court-fight",
"title": "Newsom Signs Coal Terminal Law as Oakland Wins Key Court Fight",
"publishDate": 1791111600,
"format": "standard",
"headTitle": "Newsom Signs Coal Terminal Law as Oakland Wins Key Court Fight | KQED",
"labelTerm": {
"site": "news"
},
"content": "\n\u003cp>A controversial \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/forum/2010101914067/trump-administration-shovels-75-million-into-controversial-oakland-coal-terminal\">proposed coal terminal\u003c/a> in West Oakland was dealt two major blows this week, presenting new obstacles for the Trump administration-backed project.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>On Wednesday, a Kentucky federal court threw out a $1 billion lawsuit against Oakland from one of the developers behind the proposed export facility. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The company in that case, Insight Terminal Solutions, argued that the city interfered with its plans to build a facility that would process millions of tons of coal, leading to the company’s bankruptcy.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>That same day, Gov. Gavin Newsom signed Assembly Bill 40 into law, which requires that developers prepare an environmental impact report before building a large-volume bulk coal facility. The law applies to any such new facility in the state but its author, Oakland Assemblymember Mia Bonta, designed the bill to apply to the so-called West Gateway Terminal project. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/GavinNewsomAP.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12084670\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/GavinNewsomAP.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/GavinNewsomAP-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/GavinNewsomAP-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">California Gov. Gavin Newsom speaks about his state budget proposal on Thursday, May 14, 2026, in Sacramento, California. Newsom signed AB 40 into law this week, which requires developers prepare an environmental impact report before building a large-volume bulk coal facility. (Jeff Chiu/AP)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>If approved, more than 13 million tons of coal per year would be shipped overseas from the facility and stored in the open, according to a recent \u003ca href=\"https://ruic.utah.gov/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/Port-Study-RUIC-Bulk-Commodity-Ocean-Terminals-Study.pdf\">report\u003c/a> prepared for investors. After lawsuits from the city of Oakland bogged the project down for decades, the Trump administration announced a $75 million investment into the project in June. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The project, which would be built on part of the former Oakland Army Base, is being pushed by developer Oakland Bulk Oversized Terminal, and formerly by Kentucky-based ITS, which was contracted to ship the coal out of the terminal. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>After a years-long legal battle with the city, OBOT succeeded through appeals last year and is still moving forward with the project. But the court drama didn’t end there. In 2025, a Kentucky bankruptcy judge found that Oakland \u003ca href=\"https://www.nytimes.com/2025/11/24/us/oakland-coal-port-budget-bankruptcy.html#commentsContainer\">burdened\u003c/a> ITS, and could owe the company between $230 and $654 million. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Kicked from Kentucky court \u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>In a higher court, however, ITS’s case ran into challenges. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>In his decision Wednesday, U.S. District Judge Benjamin Beaton said he chose to abstain from the case because it likely belonged in a California court instead, and vacated the 2025 bankruptcy ruling. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“ITS’s decision to file an adversary proceeding in bankruptcy court in Kentucky, rather than to sue in the California courts, carries at least a whiff of forum shopping,” Beaton wrote. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1306\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/CoalOaklandGetty.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12087608\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/CoalOaklandGetty.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/CoalOaklandGetty-160x104.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/CoalOaklandGetty-1536x1003.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A train loaded with coal approaches the Levin-Richmond Terminal in Richmond, California, on July 23, 2015. (Carlos Avila Gonzalez/The San Francisco Chronicle via Getty Images)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“The City of Oakland maintained from the start that this case was improper and should be dismissed,” the Oakland city attorney’s office said in a statement. “The district court agreed, and we’re pleased with the result.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Had Oakland been forced to pay ITS, it also could have also pushed the city to bankruptcy. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“This is wonderful news for Oakland, and I think it takes the sword off of their neck,” said Ben Eichenberg, a senior staff attorney for pollution watchdog group San Francisco Baykeeper. “It’s my hope that what this means is that the city feels it can once again take a stand representing the majority of people in Oakland who do not want this terminal.” \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">New roadblocks and concerns \u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Though the coal would not be burned in Oakland, residents and environmental justice advocates worry that coal dust from uncovered trains blowing through the city could \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11749299/asthma-rates-higher-in-californias-historically-redlined-communities-new-study-finds\">add to existing health burdens\u003c/a>. Parts of West and East Oakland already suffer from some of the highest asthma-related emergency room visits and hospitalization \u003ca href=\"https://www.baaqmd.gov/~/media/files/ab617-community-health/air-pollution-and-health-risks_oakland-060418-pdf.pdf?la=en\">rates\u003c/a> in the country due to pollution from highways and industrial operations.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Bonta’s Community First Coal Review Act specifically addresses West Oakland’s environmental justice concerns. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“West Oakland residents are predominantly people of color, and the life expectancy for an African American child born and raised in West Oakland is at least 15 years fewer than for a white child born and raised in wealthier Oakland neighborhoods,” reads part of the legislation. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Local advocates who have been opposing the development for years applauded the governor’s signing of AB 40. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“This clears the way for a very comprehensive examination of the environmental impacts and requirements for mitigating all of those impacts,” Ted Franklin, an organizer with No Coal in Oakland said. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>A 2023 \u003ca href=\"https://www.ucdavis.edu/climate/news/coal-trains-increase-air-pollution-san-francisco-bay-area\">study\u003c/a> by UC Davis researchers looked at trains carrying coal on the way to a terminal in Richmond and found that the transportation, handling and storage of coal all significantly increase community exposure to PM 2.5, or fine particulate matter. Exposure to fine particulate matter can \u003ca href=\"https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4740125/\">cause\u003c/a> asthma and respiratory inflammation, jeopardize lung functions and even promote cancers.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“The adverse effects are borne disproportionately by the most vulnerable, including infants, children and the elderly, people of color, those with low incomes, and those with underlying health conditions,” the study’s authors wrote.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Advocates have repeatedly raised those concerns despite assurances from developers that they would make a state-of-the-art facility to minimize health impacts.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>At least some of the concerns were validated by the \u003ca href=\"https://ruic.utah.gov/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/Port-Study-RUIC-Bulk-Commodity-Ocean-Terminals-Study.pdf\">recent\u003c/a> investor report, which contained a surprising revelation: that the coal would be stored in “open-air bunkers.” That appeared to contradict previous assurances from developers that they would store the coal in covered silos to minimize the spread of toxic dust. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“In this incredibly windy area we live in, all that coal is gonna get blown all around and really impact the community,” Eichenberg said “And the developer had promised to have a state-of-the-art facility with everything covered. So we’re deeply disappointed that these kinds of impacts are being imposed on the community.”\u003c/p>\n",
"blocks": [
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": {
"dropCap": false
},
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>A controversial \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/forum/2010101914067/trump-administration-shovels-75-million-into-controversial-oakland-coal-terminal\">proposed coal terminal\u003c/a> in West Oakland was dealt two major blows this week, presenting new obstacles for the Trump administration-backed project.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>A controversial \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/forum/2010101914067/trump-administration-shovels-75-million-into-controversial-oakland-coal-terminal\">proposed coal terminal\u003c/a> in West Oakland was dealt two major blows this week, presenting new obstacles for the Trump administration-backed project.\u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": {
"dropCap": false
},
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>On Wednesday, a Kentucky federal court threw out a $1 billion lawsuit against Oakland from one of the developers behind the proposed export facility. \u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>On Wednesday, a Kentucky federal court threw out a $1 billion lawsuit against Oakland from one of the developers behind the proposed export facility. \u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": {
"dropCap": false
},
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The company in that case, Insight Terminal Solutions, argued that the city interfered with its plans to build a facility that would process millions of tons of coal, leading to the company’s bankruptcy.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>The company in that case, Insight Terminal Solutions, argued that the city interfered with its plans to build a facility that would process millions of tons of coal, leading to the company’s bankruptcy.\u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": {
"dropCap": false
},
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>That same day, Gov. Gavin Newsom signed Assembly Bill 40 into law, which requires that developers prepare an environmental impact report before building a large-volume bulk coal facility. The law applies to any such new facility in the state but its author, Oakland Assemblymember Mia Bonta, designed the bill to apply to the so-called West Gateway Terminal project. \u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>That same day, Gov. Gavin Newsom signed Assembly Bill 40 into law, which requires that developers prepare an environmental impact report before building a large-volume bulk coal facility. The law applies to any such new facility in the state but its author, Oakland Assemblymember Mia Bonta, designed the bill to apply to the so-called West Gateway Terminal project. \u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/image",
"attrs": {
"id": 12084670,
"sizeSlug": "full",
"linkDestination": "none",
"alt": "",
"srcset": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/GavinNewsomAP.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/GavinNewsomAP-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/GavinNewsomAP-1536x1024.jpg 1536w",
"sizes": "(min-width: 992px) min(100vw, 1536px), (min-width: 768px) min(100vw, 1280px), min(100vw, 1020px)"
},
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/GavinNewsomAP.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12084670\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/GavinNewsomAP.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/GavinNewsomAP-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/GavinNewsomAP-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 992px) min(100vw, 1536px), (min-width: 768px) min(100vw, 1280px), min(100vw, 1020px)\"/>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">California Gov. Gavin Newsom speaks about his state budget proposal on Thursday, May 14, 2026, in Sacramento, California. Newsom signed AB 40 into law this week, which requires developers prepare an environmental impact report before building a large-volume bulk coal facility.\u003ccite class=\"wp-inline-image-credit\"> (Jeff Chiu/AP)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/GavinNewsomAP.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12084670\"/>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">California Gov. Gavin Newsom speaks about his state budget proposal on Thursday, May 14, 2026, in Sacramento, California. Newsom signed AB 40 into law this week, which requires developers prepare an environmental impact report before building a large-volume bulk coal facility.\u003ccite class=\"wp-inline-image-credit\"> (Jeff Chiu/AP)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": {
"dropCap": false
},
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>If approved, more than 13 million tons of coal per year would be shipped overseas from the facility and stored in the open, according to a recent \u003ca href=\"https://ruic.utah.gov/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/Port-Study-RUIC-Bulk-Commodity-Ocean-Terminals-Study.pdf\">report\u003c/a> prepared for investors. After lawsuits from the city of Oakland bogged the project down for decades, the Trump administration announced a $75 million investment into the project in June. \u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>If approved, more than 13 million tons of coal per year would be shipped overseas from the facility and stored in the open, according to a recent \u003ca href=\"https://ruic.utah.gov/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/Port-Study-RUIC-Bulk-Commodity-Ocean-Terminals-Study.pdf\">report\u003c/a> prepared for investors. After lawsuits from the city of Oakland bogged the project down for decades, the Trump administration announced a $75 million investment into the project in June. \u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": {
"dropCap": false
},
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The project, which would be built on part of the former Oakland Army Base, is being pushed by developer Oakland Bulk Oversized Terminal, and formerly by Kentucky-based ITS, which was contracted to ship the coal out of the terminal. \u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>The project, which would be built on part of the former Oakland Army Base, is being pushed by developer Oakland Bulk Oversized Terminal, and formerly by Kentucky-based ITS, which was contracted to ship the coal out of the terminal. \u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": {
"dropCap": false
},
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>After a years-long legal battle with the city, OBOT succeeded through appeals last year and is still moving forward with the project. But the court drama didn’t end there. In 2025, a Kentucky bankruptcy judge found that Oakland \u003ca href=\"https://www.nytimes.com/2025/11/24/us/oakland-coal-port-budget-bankruptcy.html#commentsContainer\">burdened\u003c/a> ITS, and could owe the company between $230 and $654 million. \u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>After a years-long legal battle with the city, OBOT succeeded through appeals last year and is still moving forward with the project. But the court drama didn’t end there. In 2025, a Kentucky bankruptcy judge found that Oakland \u003ca href=\"https://www.nytimes.com/2025/11/24/us/oakland-coal-port-budget-bankruptcy.html#commentsContainer\">burdened\u003c/a> ITS, and could owe the company between $230 and $654 million. \u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/heading",
"attrs": {
"text": "Kicked from Kentucky court ",
"level": 2
},
"innerHTML": "\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Kicked from Kentucky court \u003c/h2>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Kicked from Kentucky court \u003c/h2>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": {
"dropCap": false
},
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>In a higher court, however, ITS’s case ran into challenges. \u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>In a higher court, however, ITS’s case ran into challenges. \u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": {
"dropCap": false
},
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>In his decision Wednesday, U.S. District Judge Benjamin Beaton said he chose to abstain from the case because it likely belonged in a California court instead, and vacated the 2025 bankruptcy ruling. \u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>In his decision Wednesday, U.S. District Judge Benjamin Beaton said he chose to abstain from the case because it likely belonged in a California court instead, and vacated the 2025 bankruptcy ruling. \u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": {
"dropCap": false
},
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“ITS’s decision to file an adversary proceeding in bankruptcy court in Kentucky, rather than to sue in the California courts, carries at least a whiff of forum shopping,” Beaton wrote. \u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>“ITS’s decision to file an adversary proceeding in bankruptcy court in Kentucky, rather than to sue in the California courts, carries at least a whiff of forum shopping,” Beaton wrote. \u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/image",
"attrs": {
"id": 12087608,
"sizeSlug": "full",
"linkDestination": "none",
"alt": "",
"srcset": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/CoalOaklandGetty.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/CoalOaklandGetty-160x104.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/CoalOaklandGetty-1536x1003.jpg 1536w",
"sizes": "(min-width: 992px) min(100vw, 1536px), (min-width: 768px) min(100vw, 1280px), min(100vw, 1020px)"
},
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/CoalOaklandGetty.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12087608\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/CoalOaklandGetty.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/CoalOaklandGetty-160x104.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/CoalOaklandGetty-1536x1003.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 992px) min(100vw, 1536px), (min-width: 768px) min(100vw, 1280px), min(100vw, 1020px)\"/>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A train loaded with coal approaches the Levin-Richmond Terminal in Richmond, California, on July 23, 2015. \u003ccite class=\"wp-inline-image-credit\"> (Carlos Avila Gonzalez/The San Francisco Chronicle via Getty Images)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/CoalOaklandGetty.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12087608\"/>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A train loaded with coal approaches the Levin-Richmond Terminal in Richmond, California, on July 23, 2015. \u003ccite class=\"wp-inline-image-credit\"> (Carlos Avila Gonzalez/The San Francisco Chronicle via Getty Images)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": {
"dropCap": false
},
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“The City of Oakland maintained from the start that this case was improper and should be dismissed,” the Oakland city attorney’s office said in a statement. “The district court agreed, and we’re pleased with the result.”\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>“The City of Oakland maintained from the start that this case was improper and should be dismissed,” the Oakland city attorney’s office said in a statement. “The district court agreed, and we’re pleased with the result.”\u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": {
"dropCap": false
},
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Had Oakland been forced to pay ITS, it also could have also pushed the city to bankruptcy. \u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>Had Oakland been forced to pay ITS, it also could have also pushed the city to bankruptcy. \u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": {
"dropCap": false
},
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“This is wonderful news for Oakland, and I think it takes the sword off of their neck,” said Ben Eichenberg, a senior staff attorney for pollution watchdog group San Francisco Baykeeper. “It’s my hope that what this means is that the city feels it can once again take a stand representing the majority of people in Oakland who do not want this terminal.” \u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>“This is wonderful news for Oakland, and I think it takes the sword off of their neck,” said Ben Eichenberg, a senior staff attorney for pollution watchdog group San Francisco Baykeeper. “It’s my hope that what this means is that the city feels it can once again take a stand representing the majority of people in Oakland who do not want this terminal.” \u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/heading",
"attrs": {
"text": "New roadblocks and concerns ",
"level": 2
},
"innerHTML": "\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">New roadblocks and concerns \u003c/h2>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">New roadblocks and concerns \u003c/h2>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": {
"dropCap": false
},
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Though the coal would not be burned in Oakland, residents and environmental justice advocates worry that coal dust from uncovered trains blowing through the city could \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11749299/asthma-rates-higher-in-californias-historically-redlined-communities-new-study-finds\">add to existing health burdens\u003c/a>. Parts of West and East Oakland already suffer from some of the highest asthma-related emergency room visits and hospitalization \u003ca href=\"https://www.baaqmd.gov/~/media/files/ab617-community-health/air-pollution-and-health-risks_oakland-060418-pdf.pdf?la=en\">rates\u003c/a> in the country due to pollution from highways and industrial operations.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>Though the coal would not be burned in Oakland, residents and environmental justice advocates worry that coal dust from uncovered trains blowing through the city could \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11749299/asthma-rates-higher-in-californias-historically-redlined-communities-new-study-finds\">add to existing health burdens\u003c/a>. Parts of West and East Oakland already suffer from some of the highest asthma-related emergency room visits and hospitalization \u003ca href=\"https://www.baaqmd.gov/~/media/files/ab617-community-health/air-pollution-and-health-risks_oakland-060418-pdf.pdf?la=en\">rates\u003c/a> in the country due to pollution from highways and industrial operations.\u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": {
"dropCap": false
},
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Bonta’s Community First Coal Review Act specifically addresses West Oakland’s environmental justice concerns. \u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>Bonta’s Community First Coal Review Act specifically addresses West Oakland’s environmental justice concerns. \u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": {
"dropCap": false
},
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“West Oakland residents are predominantly people of color, and the life expectancy for an African American child born and raised in West Oakland is at least 15 years fewer than for a white child born and raised in wealthier Oakland neighborhoods,” reads part of the legislation. \u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>“West Oakland residents are predominantly people of color, and the life expectancy for an African American child born and raised in West Oakland is at least 15 years fewer than for a white child born and raised in wealthier Oakland neighborhoods,” reads part of the legislation. \u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": {
"dropCap": false
},
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Local advocates who have been opposing the development for years applauded the governor’s signing of AB 40. \u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>Local advocates who have been opposing the development for years applauded the governor’s signing of AB 40. \u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "kqed-v2/related-articles",
"attrs": {
"postIds": [
"news_12086295"
],
"label": "Related Articles",
"query": "",
"labelWasCleared": false,
"maxPosts": 3,
"showImages": true,
"heroImage": "",
"heroImageAlt": "",
"heroImageLink": "",
"labelLink": "",
"alignment": "right",
"target": "_self",
"manualLinks": [],
"posts": []
},
"innerHTML": "",
"innerContent": [],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": {
"dropCap": false
},
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“This clears the way for a very comprehensive examination of the environmental impacts and requirements for mitigating all of those impacts,” Ted Franklin, an organizer with No Coal in Oakland said. \u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>“This clears the way for a very comprehensive examination of the environmental impacts and requirements for mitigating all of those impacts,” Ted Franklin, an organizer with No Coal in Oakland said. \u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": {
"dropCap": false
},
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>A 2023 \u003ca href=\"https://www.ucdavis.edu/climate/news/coal-trains-increase-air-pollution-san-francisco-bay-area\">study\u003c/a> by UC Davis researchers looked at trains carrying coal on the way to a terminal in Richmond and found that the transportation, handling and storage of coal all significantly increase community exposure to PM 2.5, or fine particulate matter. Exposure to fine particulate matter can \u003ca href=\"https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4740125/\">cause\u003c/a> asthma and respiratory inflammation, jeopardize lung functions and even promote cancers.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>A 2023 \u003ca href=\"https://www.ucdavis.edu/climate/news/coal-trains-increase-air-pollution-san-francisco-bay-area\">study\u003c/a> by UC Davis researchers looked at trains carrying coal on the way to a terminal in Richmond and found that the transportation, handling and storage of coal all significantly increase community exposure to PM 2.5, or fine particulate matter. Exposure to fine particulate matter can \u003ca href=\"https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4740125/\">cause\u003c/a> asthma and respiratory inflammation, jeopardize lung functions and even promote cancers.\u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": {
"dropCap": false
},
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“The adverse effects are borne disproportionately by the most vulnerable, including infants, children and the elderly, people of color, those with low incomes, and those with underlying health conditions,” the study’s authors wrote.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>“The adverse effects are borne disproportionately by the most vulnerable, including infants, children and the elderly, people of color, those with low incomes, and those with underlying health conditions,” the study’s authors wrote.\u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": {
"dropCap": false
},
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Advocates have repeatedly raised those concerns despite assurances from developers that they would make a state-of-the-art facility to minimize health impacts.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>Advocates have repeatedly raised those concerns despite assurances from developers that they would make a state-of-the-art facility to minimize health impacts.\u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": {
"dropCap": false
},
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>At least some of the concerns were validated by the \u003ca href=\"https://ruic.utah.gov/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/Port-Study-RUIC-Bulk-Commodity-Ocean-Terminals-Study.pdf\">recent\u003c/a> investor report, which contained a surprising revelation: that the coal would be stored in “open-air bunkers.” That appeared to contradict previous assurances from developers that they would store the coal in covered silos to minimize the spread of toxic dust. \u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>At least some of the concerns were validated by the \u003ca href=\"https://ruic.utah.gov/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/Port-Study-RUIC-Bulk-Commodity-Ocean-Terminals-Study.pdf\">recent\u003c/a> investor report, which contained a surprising revelation: that the coal would be stored in “open-air bunkers.” That appeared to contradict previous assurances from developers that they would store the coal in covered silos to minimize the spread of toxic dust. \u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": {
"dropCap": false
},
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“In this incredibly windy area we live in, all that coal is gonna get blown all around and really impact the community,” Eichenberg said “And the developer had promised to have a state-of-the-art facility with everything covered. So we’re deeply disappointed that these kinds of impacts are being imposed on the community.”\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>“In this incredibly windy area we live in, all that coal is gonna get blown all around and really impact the community,” Eichenberg said “And the developer had promised to have a state-of-the-art facility with everything covered. So we’re deeply disappointed that these kinds of impacts are being imposed on the community.”\u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
}
],
"excerpt": "The developer must now contend with environmental review red tape, as concerns grow over coal dust and health risks.",
"status": "publish",
"parent": 0,
"modified": 1791067254,
"stats": {
"hasAudio": false,
"hasVideo": false,
"hasChartOrMap": false,
"iframeSrcs": [],
"hasGoogleForm": false,
"hasGallery": false,
"hasHearkenModule": false,
"hasPolis": false,
"paragraphCount": 23,
"wordCount": 990
},
"headData": {
"title": "Newsom Signs Coal Terminal Law as Oakland Wins Key Court Fight | KQED",
"description": "The developer must now contend with environmental review red tape, as concerns grow over coal dust and health risks.",
"ogTitle": "",
"ogDescription": "",
"ogImgId": "",
"twTitle": "",
"twDescription": "",
"twImgId": "",
"schema": {
"@context": "https://schema.org",
"@type": "NewsArticle",
"headline": "Newsom Signs Coal Terminal Law as Oakland Wins Key Court Fight",
"datePublished": "2026-10-04T04:00:00-07:00",
"dateModified": "2026-10-03T15:40:54-07:00",
"image": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/KQED-OG-Image@1x.png",
"isAccessibleForFree": "True",
"publisher": {
"@type": "NewsMediaOrganization",
"@id": "https://www.kqed.org/#organization",
"name": "KQED",
"logo": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/KQED-OG-Image@1x.png",
"url": "https://www.kqed.org",
"sameAs": [
"https://www.facebook.com/KQED",
"https://twitter.com/KQED",
"https://www.instagram.com/kqed/",
"https://www.tiktok.com/@kqedofficial",
"https://www.linkedin.com/company/kqed",
"https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCeC0IOo7i1P_61zVUWbJ4nw"
]
}
}
},
"primaryCategory": {
"termId": 19906,
"slug": "environment",
"name": "Environment"
},
"sticky": false,
"templateType": "standard",
"featuredImageType": "standard",
"excludeFromSiteSearch": "Include",
"articleAge": "0",
"path": "/news/12102644/newsom-signs-coal-terminal-law-as-oakland-wins-key-court-fight",
"audioTrackLength": null,
"parsedContent": [
{
"type": "contentString",
"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\n\u003cp>A controversial \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/forum/2010101914067/trump-administration-shovels-75-million-into-controversial-oakland-coal-terminal\">proposed coal terminal\u003c/a> in West Oakland was dealt two major blows this week, presenting new obstacles for the Trump administration-backed project.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>On Wednesday, a Kentucky federal court threw out a $1 billion lawsuit against Oakland from one of the developers behind the proposed export facility. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The company in that case, Insight Terminal Solutions, argued that the city interfered with its plans to build a facility that would process millions of tons of coal, leading to the company’s bankruptcy.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>That same day, Gov. Gavin Newsom signed Assembly Bill 40 into law, which requires that developers prepare an environmental impact report before building a large-volume bulk coal facility. The law applies to any such new facility in the state but its author, Oakland Assemblymember Mia Bonta, designed the bill to apply to the so-called West Gateway Terminal project. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/GavinNewsomAP.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12084670\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/GavinNewsomAP.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/GavinNewsomAP-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/GavinNewsomAP-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">California Gov. Gavin Newsom speaks about his state budget proposal on Thursday, May 14, 2026, in Sacramento, California. Newsom signed AB 40 into law this week, which requires developers prepare an environmental impact report before building a large-volume bulk coal facility. (Jeff Chiu/AP)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>If approved, more than 13 million tons of coal per year would be shipped overseas from the facility and stored in the open, according to a recent \u003ca href=\"https://ruic.utah.gov/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/Port-Study-RUIC-Bulk-Commodity-Ocean-Terminals-Study.pdf\">report\u003c/a> prepared for investors. After lawsuits from the city of Oakland bogged the project down for decades, the Trump administration announced a $75 million investment into the project in June. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The project, which would be built on part of the former Oakland Army Base, is being pushed by developer Oakland Bulk Oversized Terminal, and formerly by Kentucky-based ITS, which was contracted to ship the coal out of the terminal. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>After a years-long legal battle with the city, OBOT succeeded through appeals last year and is still moving forward with the project. But the court drama didn’t end there. In 2025, a Kentucky bankruptcy judge found that Oakland \u003ca href=\"https://www.nytimes.com/2025/11/24/us/oakland-coal-port-budget-bankruptcy.html#commentsContainer\">burdened\u003c/a> ITS, and could owe the company between $230 and $654 million. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Kicked from Kentucky court \u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>In a higher court, however, ITS’s case ran into challenges. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>In his decision Wednesday, U.S. District Judge Benjamin Beaton said he chose to abstain from the case because it likely belonged in a California court instead, and vacated the 2025 bankruptcy ruling. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“ITS’s decision to file an adversary proceeding in bankruptcy court in Kentucky, rather than to sue in the California courts, carries at least a whiff of forum shopping,” Beaton wrote. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1306\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/CoalOaklandGetty.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12087608\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/CoalOaklandGetty.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/CoalOaklandGetty-160x104.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/CoalOaklandGetty-1536x1003.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A train loaded with coal approaches the Levin-Richmond Terminal in Richmond, California, on July 23, 2015. (Carlos Avila Gonzalez/The San Francisco Chronicle via Getty Images)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“The City of Oakland maintained from the start that this case was improper and should be dismissed,” the Oakland city attorney’s office said in a statement. “The district court agreed, and we’re pleased with the result.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Had Oakland been forced to pay ITS, it also could have also pushed the city to bankruptcy. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“This is wonderful news for Oakland, and I think it takes the sword off of their neck,” said Ben Eichenberg, a senior staff attorney for pollution watchdog group San Francisco Baykeeper. “It’s my hope that what this means is that the city feels it can once again take a stand representing the majority of people in Oakland who do not want this terminal.” \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">New roadblocks and concerns \u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Though the coal would not be burned in Oakland, residents and environmental justice advocates worry that coal dust from uncovered trains blowing through the city could \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11749299/asthma-rates-higher-in-californias-historically-redlined-communities-new-study-finds\">add to existing health burdens\u003c/a>. Parts of West and East Oakland already suffer from some of the highest asthma-related emergency room visits and hospitalization \u003ca href=\"https://www.baaqmd.gov/~/media/files/ab617-community-health/air-pollution-and-health-risks_oakland-060418-pdf.pdf?la=en\">rates\u003c/a> in the country due to pollution from highways and industrial operations.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Bonta’s Community First Coal Review Act specifically addresses West Oakland’s environmental justice concerns. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“West Oakland residents are predominantly people of color, and the life expectancy for an African American child born and raised in West Oakland is at least 15 years fewer than for a white child born and raised in wealthier Oakland neighborhoods,” reads part of the legislation. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Local advocates who have been opposing the development for years applauded the governor’s signing of AB 40. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“This clears the way for a very comprehensive examination of the environmental impacts and requirements for mitigating all of those impacts,” Ted Franklin, an organizer with No Coal in Oakland said. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>A 2023 \u003ca href=\"https://www.ucdavis.edu/climate/news/coal-trains-increase-air-pollution-san-francisco-bay-area\">study\u003c/a> by UC Davis researchers looked at trains carrying coal on the way to a terminal in Richmond and found that the transportation, handling and storage of coal all significantly increase community exposure to PM 2.5, or fine particulate matter. Exposure to fine particulate matter can \u003ca href=\"https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4740125/\">cause\u003c/a> asthma and respiratory inflammation, jeopardize lung functions and even promote cancers.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“The adverse effects are borne disproportionately by the most vulnerable, including infants, children and the elderly, people of color, those with low incomes, and those with underlying health conditions,” the study’s authors wrote.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Advocates have repeatedly raised those concerns despite assurances from developers that they would make a state-of-the-art facility to minimize health impacts.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>At least some of the concerns were validated by the \u003ca href=\"https://ruic.utah.gov/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/Port-Study-RUIC-Bulk-Commodity-Ocean-Terminals-Study.pdf\">recent\u003c/a> investor report, which contained a surprising revelation: that the coal would be stored in “open-air bunkers.” That appeared to contradict previous assurances from developers that they would store the coal in covered silos to minimize the spread of toxic dust. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“In this incredibly windy area we live in, all that coal is gonna get blown all around and really impact the community,” Eichenberg said “And the developer had promised to have a state-of-the-art facility with everything covered. So we’re deeply disappointed that these kinds of impacts are being imposed on the community.”\u003c/p>\n\u003c/div>\u003c/p>",
"attributes": {
"named": {},
"numeric": []
}
}
],
"link": "/news/12102644/newsom-signs-coal-terminal-law-as-oakland-wins-key-court-fight",
"authors": [
"11761"
],
"categories": [
"news_31795",
"news_19906",
"news_457",
"news_28250",
"news_8"
],
"tags": [
"news_18538",
"news_19204",
"news_6253",
"news_1323",
"news_20023",
"news_27626",
"news_36059",
"news_29347",
"news_34054",
"news_35256"
],
"featImg": "news_12087686",
"label": "news"
},
"news_12102161": {
"type": "posts",
"id": "news_12102161",
"meta": {
"index": "posts_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "12102161",
"score": null,
"sort": [
1790974636000
]
},
"guestAuthors": [],
"slug": "3-california-residents-sue-ice-officers-under-new-no-kings-law",
"title": "3 California Residents Sue ICE Officers Under New ‘No Kings’ Law",
"publishDate": 1790974636,
"format": "standard",
"headTitle": "3 California Residents Sue ICE Officers Under New ‘No Kings’ Law | KQED",
"labelTerm": {
"site": "news"
},
"content": "\n\u003cp>Three citizens have sued federal \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/immigration\">immigration \u003c/a>agents for violating their constitutional rights through wrongful arrests and detentions, in the first tests of California’s new No Kings Act.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The law — which Gov. Gavin Newsom signed Tuesday as part of a package of bills meant to push back on the Trump administration’s aggressive immigration enforcement — aims to create a pathway for residents to seek accountability from the officers carrying out that agenda. Legal experts warn, however, that the law and the lawsuits relying on it face unlikely odds in federal court.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>All three plaintiffs had preexisting lawsuits against the government and amended those complaints this week after the law’s signing. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>That includes Javier Ramirez, who was arrested on June 12, 2025, amid roving immigration raids in the Los Angeles area and less than a week after President Donald Trump sent more than 2,000 National Guardsmen and U.S. Marines into the region. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\">\u003cdiv class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\nhttps://youtu.be/KXHFkYjpoeg\n\u003c/div>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Ramirez, who exports cars to Mexico and splits his time between Los Angeles and Tijuana, was at his family’s car lot in Montebello when agents drove up and walked in through a gate, left slightly open, according to security footage of the incident. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Ramirez told KQED the agents ignored posted signs saying “No Trespassing” and “Private Property.” \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“One of them points me out and yells, ‘Hey, just get him, he’s Mexican,’” Ramirez said, recounting the arrest. “That’s when they threw me down to the ground. I yelled at them, I’m telling them, ‘You know what, I have my passport. I was born here.’ They didn’t care. They didn’t care. They didn’t even check out my wallet or anything like that.” \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>In the video, shared by his lawyer, agents can be seen wrestling Ramirez to the ground and kneeling on his back while an agent stands with another detained man nearby. Ramirez can be heard in the recordings telling agents he’s a citizen. His brother offered to give the officers Ramirez’ diabetes medication, according to his lawsuit, but they declined to take it.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>He spent four days in a federal detention facility. There, he fainted due to lack of medical care before he was released, he said. The case against him was later dropped. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>He’s now suing the U.S. and 20 agents who were involved in his arrest and detention for various rights violations, including unlawful detention, denial of due process and excessive use of force. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“I want justice,” Ramirez said. “I have kids as well, and as a proud Latino I also teach my kids to speak Spanish, and I don’t want them to, in the near future, just by looking Hispanic or them talking Spanish, have this happen to them.” \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Maria Garcia Baldizzone, an attorney representing Ramirez and the two other cases amended after the No Kings Act was signed, said all three cases involve U.S. citizens being wrongfully and violently detained, seemingly just for “looking Latino.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“Our clients have been beaten by ICE agents or Border Patrol agents, they’ve been thrown to the ground,” Garcia Baldizzone said. “One of the other ones we filed [Tuesday] was Cary Lopez. She was nine months pregnant, and they had twisted her arm and pressed her body and her pregnant belly against their cars.” \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\">\u003cdiv class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\nhttps://youtu.be/cqGkGxKNSHQ\n\u003c/div>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The third case involved a man named Angel Piña who said he was with his wife when he witnessed federal agents harassing three minors. Piña’s wife called 911, and soon after, an agent tackled him to the ground and two others piled on top. He was arrested and taken by ambulance to the hospital after suffering injuries to his head, ankle and shoulder. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\">\u003cdiv class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\nhttps://youtu.be/lV77pDgNLlM\n\u003c/div>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Garcia Baldizzone said all three cases are seeking compensatory damages for the suffering that the plaintiffs endured and punitive damages from the individual agents for these violations of rights. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“I’m hoping to hold these agents accountable for what they’ve done to our clients, what they have done to other people and to show them that it’s not right, that what they’re doing is not right,” she said. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Whether the cases will succeed, however, remains to be seen. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Although Congress has passed laws establishing a right to sue local and state officials for violating constitutional rights, the Legislature has never done the same for federal officials, said Kevin Johnson, a distinguished professor of law emeritus at the UC Davis School of Law.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The Supreme Court ruled in favor of a man named Webster Bivens in 1971 who sued six agents for violating his constitutional rights. Cases in later years seeking accountability from federal officials cited the Bivens ruling, but Johnson said two rulings in the past decade have significantly limited the ability to bring such suits, called Bivens actions. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The No Kings Act, introduced by San Francisco state Sen. Scott Wiener, aims to establish that right in state law, where none exists in federal legislation. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“ICE and Border Patrol have escaped that accountability for far too long due to a loophole in the law,” Wiener said in a statement following Newsom’s signing. “The No Kings Act provides long overdue accountability to end the impunity powering ICE and Border Patrol’s terror campaign, and put Cary, Javier, Angel, and thousands of others on the pathway to justice.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Regulating the federal government with state law, however, is not that simple, Johnson said. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“Here you have a complicated situation where you have the state passing a law that seeks to restrict or at least provide the possibility of an action against a federal officer conducting a federal business,” Johnson said. “And so the question will be, can a state regulate a federal law enforcement officer?”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Johnson answered his own question in no uncertain terms. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“I think the suits will probably be dismissed for conflicting with federal law … so I don’t see these actions going anywhere. They could end up on appeal, perhaps,” Johnson said. “I’m sympathetic with the concept of providing a right to relief, but I don’t see how the state government can regulate the federal law enforcement functions.” \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>California follows New York, Vermont, Connecticut and Massachusetts, which passed similar laws earlier this year meant to create a cause of action in their respective states for suing federal officials, according to \u003ca href=\"https://protectdemocracy.org/work/protect-democracy-applauds-california-legislatures-passage-of-the-no-kings-act/\">Protecting Democracy\u003c/a>, a co-sponsor of the No Kings Act. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Time will tell whether the ensuing lawsuits are able to withstand legal scrutiny and secure the compensation plaintiffs are seeking. But Johnson said that regardless of their ultimate success, the No Kings Act and other recently signed laws send a message. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“All these laws — there’s 21 signed in one day by the governor — they’re sending a strong message to the federal government that California is not just going to roll over and play dead when it comes to the immigration enforcement operations,” Johnson said.\u003c/p>\n",
"blocks": [
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": {
"dropCap": false
},
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Three citizens have sued federal \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/immigration\">immigration \u003c/a>agents for violating their constitutional rights through wrongful arrests and detentions, in the first tests of California’s new No Kings Act.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>Three citizens have sued federal \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/immigration\">immigration \u003c/a>agents for violating their constitutional rights through wrongful arrests and detentions, in the first tests of California’s new No Kings Act.\u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": {
"dropCap": false
},
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The law — which Gov. Gavin Newsom signed Tuesday as part of a package of bills meant to push back on the Trump administration’s aggressive immigration enforcement — aims to create a pathway for residents to seek accountability from the officers carrying out that agenda. Legal experts warn, however, that the law and the lawsuits relying on it face unlikely odds in federal court.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>The law — which Gov. Gavin Newsom signed Tuesday as part of a package of bills meant to push back on the Trump administration’s aggressive immigration enforcement — aims to create a pathway for residents to seek accountability from the officers carrying out that agenda. Legal experts warn, however, that the law and the lawsuits relying on it face unlikely odds in federal court.\u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": {
"dropCap": false
},
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>All three plaintiffs had preexisting lawsuits against the government and amended those complaints this week after the law’s signing. \u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>All three plaintiffs had preexisting lawsuits against the government and amended those complaints this week after the law’s signing. \u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": {
"dropCap": false
},
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>That includes Javier Ramirez, who was arrested on June 12, 2025, amid roving immigration raids in the Los Angeles area and less than a week after President Donald Trump sent more than 2,000 National Guardsmen and U.S. Marines into the region. \u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>That includes Javier Ramirez, who was arrested on June 12, 2025, amid roving immigration raids in the Los Angeles area and less than a week after President Donald Trump sent more than 2,000 National Guardsmen and U.S. Marines into the region. \u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/embed",
"attrs": {
"url": "https://youtu.be/KXHFkYjpoeg",
"type": "video",
"providerNameSlug": "youtube",
"responsive": true,
"className": "wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio",
"allowResponsive": true,
"previewable": true
},
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\">\u003cdiv class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\nhttps://youtu.be/KXHFkYjpoeg\n\u003c/div>\u003c/figure>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\">\u003cdiv class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\nhttps://youtu.be/KXHFkYjpoeg\n\u003c/div>\u003c/figure>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": {
"dropCap": false
},
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Ramirez, who exports cars to Mexico and splits his time between Los Angeles and Tijuana, was at his family’s car lot in Montebello when agents drove up and walked in through a gate, left slightly open, according to security footage of the incident. \u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>Ramirez, who exports cars to Mexico and splits his time between Los Angeles and Tijuana, was at his family’s car lot in Montebello when agents drove up and walked in through a gate, left slightly open, according to security footage of the incident. \u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": {
"dropCap": false
},
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Ramirez told KQED the agents ignored posted signs saying “No Trespassing” and “Private Property.” \u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>Ramirez told KQED the agents ignored posted signs saying “No Trespassing” and “Private Property.” \u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": {
"dropCap": false
},
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“One of them points me out and yells, ‘Hey, just get him, he’s Mexican,’” Ramirez said, recounting the arrest. “That’s when they threw me down to the ground. I yelled at them, I’m telling them, ‘You know what, I have my passport. I was born here.’ They didn’t care. They didn’t care. They didn’t even check out my wallet or anything like that.” \u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>“One of them points me out and yells, ‘Hey, just get him, he’s Mexican,’” Ramirez said, recounting the arrest. “That’s when they threw me down to the ground. I yelled at them, I’m telling them, ‘You know what, I have my passport. I was born here.’ They didn’t care. They didn’t care. They didn’t even check out my wallet or anything like that.” \u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": {
"dropCap": false
},
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>In the video, shared by his lawyer, agents can be seen wrestling Ramirez to the ground and kneeling on his back while an agent stands with another detained man nearby. Ramirez can be heard in the recordings telling agents he’s a citizen. His brother offered to give the officers Ramirez’ diabetes medication, according to his lawsuit, but they declined to take it.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>In the video, shared by his lawyer, agents can be seen wrestling Ramirez to the ground and kneeling on his back while an agent stands with another detained man nearby. Ramirez can be heard in the recordings telling agents he’s a citizen. His brother offered to give the officers Ramirez’ diabetes medication, according to his lawsuit, but they declined to take it.\u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": {
"dropCap": false
},
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>He spent four days in a federal detention facility. There, he fainted due to lack of medical care before he was released, he said. The case against him was later dropped. \u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>He spent four days in a federal detention facility. There, he fainted due to lack of medical care before he was released, he said. The case against him was later dropped. \u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": {
"dropCap": false
},
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>He’s now suing the U.S. and 20 agents who were involved in his arrest and detention for various rights violations, including unlawful detention, denial of due process and excessive use of force. \u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>He’s now suing the U.S. and 20 agents who were involved in his arrest and detention for various rights violations, including unlawful detention, denial of due process and excessive use of force. \u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": {
"dropCap": false
},
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“I want justice,” Ramirez said. “I have kids as well, and as a proud Latino I also teach my kids to speak Spanish, and I don’t want them to, in the near future, just by looking Hispanic or them talking Spanish, have this happen to them.” \u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>“I want justice,” Ramirez said. “I have kids as well, and as a proud Latino I also teach my kids to speak Spanish, and I don’t want them to, in the near future, just by looking Hispanic or them talking Spanish, have this happen to them.” \u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": {
"dropCap": false
},
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Maria Garcia Baldizzone, an attorney representing Ramirez and the two other cases amended after the No Kings Act was signed, said all three cases involve U.S. citizens being wrongfully and violently detained, seemingly just for “looking Latino.”\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>Maria Garcia Baldizzone, an attorney representing Ramirez and the two other cases amended after the No Kings Act was signed, said all three cases involve U.S. citizens being wrongfully and violently detained, seemingly just for “looking Latino.”\u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": {
"dropCap": false
},
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“Our clients have been beaten by ICE agents or Border Patrol agents, they’ve been thrown to the ground,” Garcia Baldizzone said. “One of the other ones we filed [Tuesday] was Cary Lopez. She was nine months pregnant, and they had twisted her arm and pressed her body and her pregnant belly against their cars.” \u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>“Our clients have been beaten by ICE agents or Border Patrol agents, they’ve been thrown to the ground,” Garcia Baldizzone said. “One of the other ones we filed [Tuesday] was Cary Lopez. She was nine months pregnant, and they had twisted her arm and pressed her body and her pregnant belly against their cars.” \u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/embed",
"attrs": {
"url": "https://youtu.be/cqGkGxKNSHQ",
"type": "video",
"providerNameSlug": "youtube",
"responsive": true,
"className": "wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio",
"allowResponsive": true,
"previewable": true
},
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\">\u003cdiv class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\nhttps://youtu.be/cqGkGxKNSHQ\n\u003c/div>\u003c/figure>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\">\u003cdiv class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\nhttps://youtu.be/cqGkGxKNSHQ\n\u003c/div>\u003c/figure>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": {
"dropCap": false
},
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The third case involved a man named Angel Piña who said he was with his wife when he witnessed federal agents harassing three minors. Piña’s wife called 911, and soon after, an agent tackled him to the ground and two others piled on top. He was arrested and taken by ambulance to the hospital after suffering injuries to his head, ankle and shoulder. \u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>The third case involved a man named Angel Piña who said he was with his wife when he witnessed federal agents harassing three minors. Piña’s wife called 911, and soon after, an agent tackled him to the ground and two others piled on top. He was arrested and taken by ambulance to the hospital after suffering injuries to his head, ankle and shoulder. \u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/embed",
"attrs": {
"url": "https://youtu.be/lV77pDgNLlM",
"type": "video",
"providerNameSlug": "youtube",
"responsive": true,
"className": "wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio",
"allowResponsive": true,
"previewable": true
},
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\">\u003cdiv class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\nhttps://youtu.be/lV77pDgNLlM\n\u003c/div>\u003c/figure>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\">\u003cdiv class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\nhttps://youtu.be/lV77pDgNLlM\n\u003c/div>\u003c/figure>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": {
"dropCap": false
},
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Garcia Baldizzone said all three cases are seeking compensatory damages for the suffering that the plaintiffs endured and punitive damages from the individual agents for these violations of rights. \u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>Garcia Baldizzone said all three cases are seeking compensatory damages for the suffering that the plaintiffs endured and punitive damages from the individual agents for these violations of rights. \u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": {
"dropCap": false
},
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“I’m hoping to hold these agents accountable for what they’ve done to our clients, what they have done to other people and to show them that it’s not right, that what they’re doing is not right,” she said. \u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>“I’m hoping to hold these agents accountable for what they’ve done to our clients, what they have done to other people and to show them that it’s not right, that what they’re doing is not right,” she said. \u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": {
"dropCap": false
},
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Whether the cases will succeed, however, remains to be seen. \u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>Whether the cases will succeed, however, remains to be seen. \u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": {
"dropCap": false
},
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Although Congress has passed laws establishing a right to sue local and state officials for violating constitutional rights, the Legislature has never done the same for federal officials, said Kevin Johnson, a distinguished professor of law emeritus at the UC Davis School of Law.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>Although Congress has passed laws establishing a right to sue local and state officials for violating constitutional rights, the Legislature has never done the same for federal officials, said Kevin Johnson, a distinguished professor of law emeritus at the UC Davis School of Law.\u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": {
"dropCap": false
},
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The Supreme Court ruled in favor of a man named Webster Bivens in 1971 who sued six agents for violating his constitutional rights. Cases in later years seeking accountability from federal officials cited the Bivens ruling, but Johnson said two rulings in the past decade have significantly limited the ability to bring such suits, called Bivens actions. \u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>The Supreme Court ruled in favor of a man named Webster Bivens in 1971 who sued six agents for violating his constitutional rights. Cases in later years seeking accountability from federal officials cited the Bivens ruling, but Johnson said two rulings in the past decade have significantly limited the ability to bring such suits, called Bivens actions. \u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": {
"dropCap": false
},
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The No Kings Act, introduced by San Francisco state Sen. Scott Wiener, aims to establish that right in state law, where none exists in federal legislation. \u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>The No Kings Act, introduced by San Francisco state Sen. Scott Wiener, aims to establish that right in state law, where none exists in federal legislation. \u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "kqed-v2/related-articles",
"attrs": {
"postIds": [
"news_12101807"
],
"label": "Related Articles",
"maxPosts": 1,
"showImages": false,
"heroImage": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/GavinNewsomAP.jpg",
"query": "",
"labelWasCleared": false,
"heroImageAlt": "",
"heroImageLink": "",
"labelLink": "",
"alignment": "right",
"target": "_self",
"manualLinks": [],
"posts": []
},
"innerHTML": "",
"innerContent": [],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": {
"dropCap": false
},
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“ICE and Border Patrol have escaped that accountability for far too long due to a loophole in the law,” Wiener said in a statement following Newsom’s signing. “The No Kings Act provides long overdue accountability to end the impunity powering ICE and Border Patrol’s terror campaign, and put Cary, Javier, Angel, and thousands of others on the pathway to justice.”\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>“ICE and Border Patrol have escaped that accountability for far too long due to a loophole in the law,” Wiener said in a statement following Newsom’s signing. “The No Kings Act provides long overdue accountability to end the impunity powering ICE and Border Patrol’s terror campaign, and put Cary, Javier, Angel, and thousands of others on the pathway to justice.”\u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": {
"dropCap": false
},
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Regulating the federal government with state law, however, is not that simple, Johnson said. \u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>Regulating the federal government with state law, however, is not that simple, Johnson said. \u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": {
"dropCap": false
},
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“Here you have a complicated situation where you have the state passing a law that seeks to restrict or at least provide the possibility of an action against a federal officer conducting a federal business,” Johnson said. “And so the question will be, can a state regulate a federal law enforcement officer?”\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>“Here you have a complicated situation where you have the state passing a law that seeks to restrict or at least provide the possibility of an action against a federal officer conducting a federal business,” Johnson said. “And so the question will be, can a state regulate a federal law enforcement officer?”\u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": {
"dropCap": false
},
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Johnson answered his own question in no uncertain terms. \u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>Johnson answered his own question in no uncertain terms. \u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": {
"dropCap": false
},
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“I think the suits will probably be dismissed for conflicting with federal law … so I don’t see these actions going anywhere. They could end up on appeal, perhaps,” Johnson said. “I’m sympathetic with the concept of providing a right to relief, but I don’t see how the state government can regulate the federal law enforcement functions.” \u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>“I think the suits will probably be dismissed for conflicting with federal law … so I don’t see these actions going anywhere. They could end up on appeal, perhaps,” Johnson said. “I’m sympathetic with the concept of providing a right to relief, but I don’t see how the state government can regulate the federal law enforcement functions.” \u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": {
"dropCap": false
},
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>California follows New York, Vermont, Connecticut and Massachusetts, which passed similar laws earlier this year meant to create a cause of action in their respective states for suing federal officials, according to \u003ca href=\"https://protectdemocracy.org/work/protect-democracy-applauds-california-legislatures-passage-of-the-no-kings-act/\">Protecting Democracy\u003c/a>, a co-sponsor of the No Kings Act. \u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>California follows New York, Vermont, Connecticut and Massachusetts, which passed similar laws earlier this year meant to create a cause of action in their respective states for suing federal officials, according to \u003ca href=\"https://protectdemocracy.org/work/protect-democracy-applauds-california-legislatures-passage-of-the-no-kings-act/\">Protecting Democracy\u003c/a>, a co-sponsor of the No Kings Act. \u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": {
"dropCap": false
},
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Time will tell whether the ensuing lawsuits are able to withstand legal scrutiny and secure the compensation plaintiffs are seeking. But Johnson said that regardless of their ultimate success, the No Kings Act and other recently signed laws send a message. \u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>Time will tell whether the ensuing lawsuits are able to withstand legal scrutiny and secure the compensation plaintiffs are seeking. But Johnson said that regardless of their ultimate success, the No Kings Act and other recently signed laws send a message. \u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": {
"dropCap": false
},
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“All these laws — there’s 21 signed in one day by the governor — they’re sending a strong message to the federal government that California is not just going to roll over and play dead when it comes to the immigration enforcement operations,” Johnson said.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>“All these laws — there’s 21 signed in one day by the governor — they’re sending a strong message to the federal government that California is not just going to roll over and play dead when it comes to the immigration enforcement operations,” Johnson said.\u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
}
],
"excerpt": "The suits were amended after Gov. Gavin Newsom passed a new law creating legal mechanisms to sue federal immigration officers.",
"status": "publish",
"parent": 0,
"modified": 1790980182,
"stats": {
"hasAudio": false,
"hasVideo": false,
"hasChartOrMap": false,
"iframeSrcs": [],
"hasGoogleForm": false,
"hasGallery": false,
"hasHearkenModule": false,
"hasPolis": false,
"paragraphCount": 28,
"wordCount": 1186
},
"headData": {
"title": "3 California Residents Sue ICE Officers Under New ‘No Kings’ Law | KQED",
"description": "The suits were amended after Gov. Gavin Newsom passed a new law creating legal mechanisms to sue federal immigration officers.",
"ogTitle": "",
"ogDescription": "",
"ogImgId": "",
"twTitle": "",
"twDescription": "",
"twImgId": "",
"schema": {
"@context": "https://schema.org",
"@type": "NewsArticle",
"headline": "3 California Residents Sue ICE Officers Under New ‘No Kings’ Law",
"datePublished": "2026-10-02T13:57:16-07:00",
"dateModified": "2026-10-02T15:29:42-07:00",
"image": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/KQED-OG-Image@1x.png",
"isAccessibleForFree": "True",
"publisher": {
"@type": "NewsMediaOrganization",
"@id": "https://www.kqed.org/#organization",
"name": "KQED",
"logo": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/KQED-OG-Image@1x.png",
"url": "https://www.kqed.org",
"sameAs": [
"https://www.facebook.com/KQED",
"https://twitter.com/KQED",
"https://www.instagram.com/kqed/",
"https://www.tiktok.com/@kqedofficial",
"https://www.linkedin.com/company/kqed",
"https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCeC0IOo7i1P_61zVUWbJ4nw"
]
}
}
},
"primaryCategory": {
"termId": 1169,
"slug": "immigration",
"name": "Immigration"
},
"sticky": false,
"nprStoryId": "kqed-12102161",
"templateType": "standard",
"featuredImageType": "standard",
"excludeFromSiteSearch": "Include",
"articleAge": "0",
"path": "/news/12102161/3-california-residents-sue-ice-officers-under-new-no-kings-law",
"audioTrackLength": null,
"parsedContent": [
{
"type": "contentString",
"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\n\u003cp>Three citizens have sued federal \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/immigration\">immigration \u003c/a>agents for violating their constitutional rights through wrongful arrests and detentions, in the first tests of California’s new No Kings Act.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The law — which Gov. Gavin Newsom signed Tuesday as part of a package of bills meant to push back on the Trump administration’s aggressive immigration enforcement — aims to create a pathway for residents to seek accountability from the officers carrying out that agenda. Legal experts warn, however, that the law and the lawsuits relying on it face unlikely odds in federal court.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>All three plaintiffs had preexisting lawsuits against the government and amended those complaints this week after the law’s signing. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>That includes Javier Ramirez, who was arrested on June 12, 2025, amid roving immigration raids in the Los Angeles area and less than a week after President Donald Trump sent more than 2,000 National Guardsmen and U.S. Marines into the region. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\">\u003cdiv class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\u003c/p>\u003cp>\u003cspan class='utils-parseShortcode-shortcodes-__youtubeShortcode__embedYoutube'>\n \u003cspan class='utils-parseShortcode-shortcodes-__youtubeShortcode__embedYoutubeInside'>\n \u003ciframe\n loading='lazy'\n class='utils-parseShortcode-shortcodes-__youtubeShortcode__youtubePlayer'\n type='text/html'\n src='//www.youtube.com/embed/KXHFkYjpoeg'\n title='//www.youtube.com/embed/KXHFkYjpoeg'\n allowfullscreen='true'\n style='border:0;'>\u003c/iframe>\n \u003c/span>\n \u003c/span>\u003c/p>\u003cp>\u003c/div>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Ramirez, who exports cars to Mexico and splits his time between Los Angeles and Tijuana, was at his family’s car lot in Montebello when agents drove up and walked in through a gate, left slightly open, according to security footage of the incident. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Ramirez told KQED the agents ignored posted signs saying “No Trespassing” and “Private Property.” \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“One of them points me out and yells, ‘Hey, just get him, he’s Mexican,’” Ramirez said, recounting the arrest. “That’s when they threw me down to the ground. I yelled at them, I’m telling them, ‘You know what, I have my passport. I was born here.’ They didn’t care. They didn’t care. They didn’t even check out my wallet or anything like that.” \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>In the video, shared by his lawyer, agents can be seen wrestling Ramirez to the ground and kneeling on his back while an agent stands with another detained man nearby. Ramirez can be heard in the recordings telling agents he’s a citizen. His brother offered to give the officers Ramirez’ diabetes medication, according to his lawsuit, but they declined to take it.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>He spent four days in a federal detention facility. There, he fainted due to lack of medical care before he was released, he said. The case against him was later dropped. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>He’s now suing the U.S. and 20 agents who were involved in his arrest and detention for various rights violations, including unlawful detention, denial of due process and excessive use of force. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“I want justice,” Ramirez said. “I have kids as well, and as a proud Latino I also teach my kids to speak Spanish, and I don’t want them to, in the near future, just by looking Hispanic or them talking Spanish, have this happen to them.” \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Maria Garcia Baldizzone, an attorney representing Ramirez and the two other cases amended after the No Kings Act was signed, said all three cases involve U.S. citizens being wrongfully and violently detained, seemingly just for “looking Latino.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“Our clients have been beaten by ICE agents or Border Patrol agents, they’ve been thrown to the ground,” Garcia Baldizzone said. “One of the other ones we filed [Tuesday] was Cary Lopez. She was nine months pregnant, and they had twisted her arm and pressed her body and her pregnant belly against their cars.” \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\">\u003cdiv class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\u003c/p>\u003cp>\u003cspan class='utils-parseShortcode-shortcodes-__youtubeShortcode__embedYoutube'>\n \u003cspan class='utils-parseShortcode-shortcodes-__youtubeShortcode__embedYoutubeInside'>\n \u003ciframe\n loading='lazy'\n class='utils-parseShortcode-shortcodes-__youtubeShortcode__youtubePlayer'\n type='text/html'\n src='//www.youtube.com/embed/cqGkGxKNSHQ'\n title='//www.youtube.com/embed/cqGkGxKNSHQ'\n allowfullscreen='true'\n style='border:0;'>\u003c/iframe>\n \u003c/span>\n \u003c/span>\u003c/p>\u003cp>\u003c/div>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The third case involved a man named Angel Piña who said he was with his wife when he witnessed federal agents harassing three minors. Piña’s wife called 911, and soon after, an agent tackled him to the ground and two others piled on top. He was arrested and taken by ambulance to the hospital after suffering injuries to his head, ankle and shoulder. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\">\u003cdiv class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\u003c/p>\u003cp>\u003cspan class='utils-parseShortcode-shortcodes-__youtubeShortcode__embedYoutube'>\n \u003cspan class='utils-parseShortcode-shortcodes-__youtubeShortcode__embedYoutubeInside'>\n \u003ciframe\n loading='lazy'\n class='utils-parseShortcode-shortcodes-__youtubeShortcode__youtubePlayer'\n type='text/html'\n src='//www.youtube.com/embed/lV77pDgNLlM'\n title='//www.youtube.com/embed/lV77pDgNLlM'\n allowfullscreen='true'\n style='border:0;'>\u003c/iframe>\n \u003c/span>\n \u003c/span>\u003c/p>\u003cp>\u003c/div>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Garcia Baldizzone said all three cases are seeking compensatory damages for the suffering that the plaintiffs endured and punitive damages from the individual agents for these violations of rights. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“I’m hoping to hold these agents accountable for what they’ve done to our clients, what they have done to other people and to show them that it’s not right, that what they’re doing is not right,” she said. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Whether the cases will succeed, however, remains to be seen. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Although Congress has passed laws establishing a right to sue local and state officials for violating constitutional rights, the Legislature has never done the same for federal officials, said Kevin Johnson, a distinguished professor of law emeritus at the UC Davis School of Law.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The Supreme Court ruled in favor of a man named Webster Bivens in 1971 who sued six agents for violating his constitutional rights. Cases in later years seeking accountability from federal officials cited the Bivens ruling, but Johnson said two rulings in the past decade have significantly limited the ability to bring such suits, called Bivens actions. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The No Kings Act, introduced by San Francisco state Sen. Scott Wiener, aims to establish that right in state law, where none exists in federal legislation. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“ICE and Border Patrol have escaped that accountability for far too long due to a loophole in the law,” Wiener said in a statement following Newsom’s signing. “The No Kings Act provides long overdue accountability to end the impunity powering ICE and Border Patrol’s terror campaign, and put Cary, Javier, Angel, and thousands of others on the pathway to justice.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Regulating the federal government with state law, however, is not that simple, Johnson said. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“Here you have a complicated situation where you have the state passing a law that seeks to restrict or at least provide the possibility of an action against a federal officer conducting a federal business,” Johnson said. “And so the question will be, can a state regulate a federal law enforcement officer?”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Johnson answered his own question in no uncertain terms. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“I think the suits will probably be dismissed for conflicting with federal law … so I don’t see these actions going anywhere. They could end up on appeal, perhaps,” Johnson said. “I’m sympathetic with the concept of providing a right to relief, but I don’t see how the state government can regulate the federal law enforcement functions.” \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>California follows New York, Vermont, Connecticut and Massachusetts, which passed similar laws earlier this year meant to create a cause of action in their respective states for suing federal officials, according to \u003ca href=\"https://protectdemocracy.org/work/protect-democracy-applauds-california-legislatures-passage-of-the-no-kings-act/\">Protecting Democracy\u003c/a>, a co-sponsor of the No Kings Act. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Time will tell whether the ensuing lawsuits are able to withstand legal scrutiny and secure the compensation plaintiffs are seeking. But Johnson said that regardless of their ultimate success, the No Kings Act and other recently signed laws send a message. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“All these laws — there’s 21 signed in one day by the governor — they’re sending a strong message to the federal government that California is not just going to roll over and play dead when it comes to the immigration enforcement operations,” Johnson said.\u003c/p>\n\u003c/div>\u003c/p>",
"attributes": {
"named": {},
"numeric": []
}
}
],
"link": "/news/12102161/3-california-residents-sue-ice-officers-under-new-no-kings-law",
"authors": [
"11761"
],
"categories": [
"news_31795",
"news_1169",
"news_6188",
"news_8",
"news_13"
],
"tags": [
"news_37276",
"news_18538",
"news_1323",
"news_16",
"news_36298",
"news_6884",
"news_20202",
"news_19954",
"news_20529"
],
"featImg": "news_12060605",
"label": "news"
},
"news_12098255": {
"type": "posts",
"id": "news_12098255",
"meta": {
"index": "posts_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "12098255",
"score": null,
"sort": [
1788951600000
]
},
"guestAuthors": [],
"slug": "alameda-county-prosecutors-drop-murder-charges-against-man-jailed-for-nearly-2-years",
"title": "Alameda County Prosecutors Drop Murder Charges Against Man Jailed for Nearly 2 Years",
"publishDate": 1788951600,
"format": "standard",
"headTitle": "Alameda County Prosecutors Drop Murder Charges Against Man Jailed for Nearly 2 Years | KQED",
"labelTerm": {
"site": "news"
},
"content": "\n\u003cp>Michael Perillo spent nearly two years insisting he was in jail for a murder he didn’t commit before \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/alameda-county\">Alameda County\u003c/a> prosecutors dropped the charges and released him last week. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Now, Perillo’s family and supporters say investigators charged and prosecuted him for the brutal 2024 death of Edson Perez on the streets of Oakland’s Chinatown based on faulty and insufficient evidence. In a press release the family says they are considering legal action. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Perillo’s mother, Christy White, said the period of incarceration traumatized her 47-year-old son, who was unhoused and struggling with mental illness at the time of his arrest. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“I cannot tell you the relief that I had,” White said. “All the trauma that my son has gone through, and that he stuck with it, and I always knew he was innocent.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Oakland police arrested Perillo in September 2024, alleging that he was one of two people who chased Perez and then beat him to death with a bike and a mallet. Police told \u003ca href=\"https://www.eastbaytimes.com/2024/09/11/oakland-man-charged-in-fatal-beating-where-bicycle-was-used-as-a-weapon/\">local news outlets\u003c/a> at the time that surveillance footage and eyewitnesses helped them identify Perillo.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/260905-insufficientevidence-TV01516-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12098638\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/260905-insufficientevidence-TV01516-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/260905-insufficientevidence-TV01516-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/260905-insufficientevidence-TV01516-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Christy White shows a photo of her son Michael Perillo, at Castle Oaks Club House in Ione, California, on Sept. 5, 2026. Perillo was released from jail last week, two years after he was charged with a murder in Oakland’s Chinatown. (Tâm Vũ/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Perillo’s lawyer, Tamani Taylor, said the prosecution’s case rested largely on the testimony of one man, Earl Pratt. Pratt, who was a part of the same unhoused community as Perillo, identified him to police using stills from the surveillance video. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>During a February preliminary hearing, Superior Court Judge Thomas E. Stevens noted Pratt was “all over the map,” as the witness went off on tangents and gave confusing answers on the stand, records show. Pratt also provided conflicting information when asked to identify photos from the crime. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“To me, he made absolutely no sense at all, and he lacked all credibility,” Taylor said.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Taylor suggested that the same footage could have cleared Perillo: A man in completely different clothes from the attackers could be seen on a yellow bike, which Perillo was known to ride, minutes before and after the attack on nearby streets. Clothes found with Perillo at the time of his arrest also matched the outfit of the person on the yellow bike, Taylor said. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Having joined the case in July after a previous lawyer declared a conflict of interest, Taylor said she pointed out these issues in a meeting with Alameda County Deputy District Attorney Edward Vieira-Ducey. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Prosecutors in return offered Perillo a plea deal of felony assault and credit for time served, Taylor said, meaning his incarceration could end if he pleaded guilty to a less severe charge. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“It would only make sense for them to make that kind of offer if they had a clue that they could not prove the case beyond a reasonable doubt,” Taylor said. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The district attorney’s office repeated their offer numerous times, Taylor said, including on Aug. 31 — the day that both sides were in court to begin scheduling the trial. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Taylor declined, and they dismissed the case the same day, she said. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“Sometimes, district attorney’s offices are like a dog with a bone,” Taylor said. “Even if the bone is rotten and poisonous, they hang onto the bone because they don’t know anything else. … They’re still banking on getting something from an innocent person to wrap up a case.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The district attorney’s office declined to comment, citing the ongoing investigation.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>White said her son was released from Santa Rita Jail that same night, two years and a day after Perez’s death. He went home with his parents to their home in Ione, in Amador County.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“The first night he slept out on our patio; he just felt like he couldn’t be in a bedroom,” White said. “It made me really sad because he’s been traumatized. He wanted to be out and breathe fresh air.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/260905-insufficientevidence-TV01498-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12098637\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/260905-insufficientevidence-TV01498-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/260905-insufficientevidence-TV01498-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/260905-insufficientevidence-TV01498-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Christy White (left), Michael Perillo’s mother, and Brandon Owen (right), a friend of the family, pose for a portrait together at Castle Oaks Club House in Ione, California, on Sept. 5, 2026. (Tâm Vũ/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>White spoke to KQED on Perillo’s behalf, citing his mental illness challenges and recent hardships. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>White said her son was assaulted numerous times while in jail. She recalled visiting him and seeing bruises and cuts around his face or blood coming out of his ear. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“In June of 2025, he asked me to no longer come to visit him because I would sit there and cry the entire time because I saw what was happening to him physically,” White said.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Desperate for help, White reached out to Brandon Owen, a friend and Republican candidate for state Assembly with a law enforcement background as a game warden for the state’s Department of Fish and Wildlife. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>As part of an independent investigation, Owen and two others traveled to Oakland in June 2026 to talk to people near the encampment where Perillo stayed. Within three hours, they met and spoke with several residents, including Pratt, the key witness for the prosecution who had identified Perillo in the footage. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/20250319_AlamedaCourthouse_GC-15_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12098299\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/20250319_AlamedaCourthouse_GC-15_qed.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/20250319_AlamedaCourthouse_GC-15_qed-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/20250319_AlamedaCourthouse_GC-15_qed-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">The René C. Davidson Courthouse in Oakland, California, on March 19, 2025. (Gina Castro/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>In a recorded interview reviewed by KQED, Owen showed Pratt pictures of people from security footage and asked him to identify them. Pratt complained that he couldn’t because of the quality of the images. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“You can’t identify none of them,” Pratt says in the interview. “You can’t even see none of them.” \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>One picture included Pratt himself, who was present on the night of the killing. When asked, Pratt denied that it was him in the photo. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“I know this much: That man right there who was in court, right? Innocent,” Pratt said in the interview. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Owen said he and his fellow investigators brought the results of their search to the Oakland police officer who originally investigated Perez’s slaying. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“Sgt. Kevin Godchaux was highly offended that we were present,” Owen said. “He was, in my opinion, disturbed that we were doing the investigation. … At one point he almost refused to take the information from us.” \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Oakland police did not respond to a request for comment. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Police records shared in court show that police had another suspect in the killing: a man named Anthony Otenbriet, who was identified based on similarities between his motorcycle and one in security footage showing it being ridden by the person who attacked and chased Perez. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>But Otenbriet died in a motorcycle accident just five days after Perez died, according to police records. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>It’s unclear whether police have any other active suspects, or whether they plan to make any more arrests for the killing of Edson Perez. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Both White and Taylor said they felt like Perillo was being prosecuted to bring closure to an otherwise unsolved murder. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“I think that they may have viewed him as an easy brownie point. ‘We’ll score, he’ll be convicted and go to prison,’” White said. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>White said her family’s experience has changed her “whole sense” of the criminal justice system. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“I don’t think any of us should be discarded,” she said. “And I was treated that way by the district attorney in the homicide unit in Oakland … They didn’t care. They made up their mind without all of the evidence.”\u003c/p>\n",
"blocks": [
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": {
"dropCap": false
},
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Michael Perillo spent nearly two years insisting he was in jail for a murder he didn’t commit before \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/alameda-county\">Alameda County\u003c/a> prosecutors dropped the charges and released him last week. \u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>Michael Perillo spent nearly two years insisting he was in jail for a murder he didn’t commit before \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/alameda-county\">Alameda County\u003c/a> prosecutors dropped the charges and released him last week. \u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": {
"dropCap": false
},
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Now, Perillo’s family and supporters say investigators charged and prosecuted him for the brutal 2024 death of Edson Perez on the streets of Oakland’s Chinatown based on faulty and insufficient evidence. In a press release the family says they are considering legal action. \u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>Now, Perillo’s family and supporters say investigators charged and prosecuted him for the brutal 2024 death of Edson Perez on the streets of Oakland’s Chinatown based on faulty and insufficient evidence. In a press release the family says they are considering legal action. \u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": {
"dropCap": false
},
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Perillo’s mother, Christy White, said the period of incarceration traumatized her 47-year-old son, who was unhoused and struggling with mental illness at the time of his arrest. \u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>Perillo’s mother, Christy White, said the period of incarceration traumatized her 47-year-old son, who was unhoused and struggling with mental illness at the time of his arrest. \u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": {
"dropCap": false
},
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“I cannot tell you the relief that I had,” White said. “All the trauma that my son has gone through, and that he stuck with it, and I always knew he was innocent.”\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>“I cannot tell you the relief that I had,” White said. “All the trauma that my son has gone through, and that he stuck with it, and I always knew he was innocent.”\u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": {
"dropCap": false
},
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Oakland police arrested Perillo in September 2024, alleging that he was one of two people who chased Perez and then beat him to death with a bike and a mallet. Police told \u003ca href=\"https://www.eastbaytimes.com/2024/09/11/oakland-man-charged-in-fatal-beating-where-bicycle-was-used-as-a-weapon/\">local news outlets\u003c/a> at the time that surveillance footage and eyewitnesses helped them identify Perillo.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>Oakland police arrested Perillo in September 2024, alleging that he was one of two people who chased Perez and then beat him to death with a bike and a mallet. Police told \u003ca href=\"https://www.eastbaytimes.com/2024/09/11/oakland-man-charged-in-fatal-beating-where-bicycle-was-used-as-a-weapon/\">local news outlets\u003c/a> at the time that surveillance footage and eyewitnesses helped them identify Perillo.\u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/image",
"attrs": {
"id": 12098638,
"sizeSlug": "full",
"linkDestination": "none",
"alt": "",
"srcset": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/260905-insufficientevidence-TV01516-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/260905-insufficientevidence-TV01516-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/260905-insufficientevidence-TV01516-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w",
"sizes": "(min-width: 992px) min(100vw, 1536px), (min-width: 768px) min(100vw, 1280px), min(100vw, 1020px)"
},
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/260905-insufficientevidence-TV01516-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12098638\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/260905-insufficientevidence-TV01516-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/260905-insufficientevidence-TV01516-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/260905-insufficientevidence-TV01516-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 992px) min(100vw, 1536px), (min-width: 768px) min(100vw, 1280px), min(100vw, 1020px)\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Christy White shows a photo of her son Michael Perillo, at Castle Oaks Club House in Ione, California, on Sept. 5, 2026. Perillo was released from jail last week, two years after he was charged with a murder in Oakland’s Chinatown.\u003ccite class=\"wp-inline-image-credit\"> (Tâm Vũ/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/260905-insufficientevidence-TV01516-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12098638\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Christy White shows a photo of her son Michael Perillo, at Castle Oaks Club House in Ione, California, on Sept. 5, 2026. Perillo was released from jail last week, two years after he was charged with a murder in Oakland’s Chinatown.\u003ccite class=\"wp-inline-image-credit\"> (Tâm Vũ/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": {
"dropCap": false
},
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Perillo’s lawyer, Tamani Taylor, said the prosecution’s case rested largely on the testimony of one man, Earl Pratt. Pratt, who was a part of the same unhoused community as Perillo, identified him to police using stills from the surveillance video. \u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>Perillo’s lawyer, Tamani Taylor, said the prosecution’s case rested largely on the testimony of one man, Earl Pratt. Pratt, who was a part of the same unhoused community as Perillo, identified him to police using stills from the surveillance video. \u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": {
"dropCap": false
},
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>During a February preliminary hearing, Superior Court Judge Thomas E. Stevens noted Pratt was “all over the map,” as the witness went off on tangents and gave confusing answers on the stand, records show. Pratt also provided conflicting information when asked to identify photos from the crime. \u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>During a February preliminary hearing, Superior Court Judge Thomas E. Stevens noted Pratt was “all over the map,” as the witness went off on tangents and gave confusing answers on the stand, records show. Pratt also provided conflicting information when asked to identify photos from the crime. \u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": {
"dropCap": false
},
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“To me, he made absolutely no sense at all, and he lacked all credibility,” Taylor said.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>“To me, he made absolutely no sense at all, and he lacked all credibility,” Taylor said.\u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": {
"dropCap": false
},
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Taylor suggested that the same footage could have cleared Perillo: A man in completely different clothes from the attackers could be seen on a yellow bike, which Perillo was known to ride, minutes before and after the attack on nearby streets. Clothes found with Perillo at the time of his arrest also matched the outfit of the person on the yellow bike, Taylor said. \u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>Taylor suggested that the same footage could have cleared Perillo: A man in completely different clothes from the attackers could be seen on a yellow bike, which Perillo was known to ride, minutes before and after the attack on nearby streets. Clothes found with Perillo at the time of his arrest also matched the outfit of the person on the yellow bike, Taylor said. \u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": {
"dropCap": false
},
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Having joined the case in July after a previous lawyer declared a conflict of interest, Taylor said she pointed out these issues in a meeting with Alameda County Deputy District Attorney Edward Vieira-Ducey. \u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>Having joined the case in July after a previous lawyer declared a conflict of interest, Taylor said she pointed out these issues in a meeting with Alameda County Deputy District Attorney Edward Vieira-Ducey. \u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "kqed-v2/related-articles",
"attrs": {
"postIds": [
"news_12097788"
],
"label": "Related Articles",
"maxPosts": 1,
"showImages": false,
"heroImage": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/06/CHP-Getty-1536x1024.jpg",
"query": "",
"labelWasCleared": false,
"heroImageAlt": "",
"heroImageLink": "",
"labelLink": "",
"alignment": "right",
"target": "_self",
"manualLinks": [],
"posts": []
},
"innerHTML": "",
"innerContent": [],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": {
"dropCap": false
},
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Prosecutors in return offered Perillo a plea deal of felony assault and credit for time served, Taylor said, meaning his incarceration could end if he pleaded guilty to a less severe charge. \u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>Prosecutors in return offered Perillo a plea deal of felony assault and credit for time served, Taylor said, meaning his incarceration could end if he pleaded guilty to a less severe charge. \u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": {
"dropCap": false
},
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“It would only make sense for them to make that kind of offer if they had a clue that they could not prove the case beyond a reasonable doubt,” Taylor said. \u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>“It would only make sense for them to make that kind of offer if they had a clue that they could not prove the case beyond a reasonable doubt,” Taylor said. \u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": {
"dropCap": false
},
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The district attorney’s office repeated their offer numerous times, Taylor said, including on Aug. 31 — the day that both sides were in court to begin scheduling the trial. \u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>The district attorney’s office repeated their offer numerous times, Taylor said, including on Aug. 31 — the day that both sides were in court to begin scheduling the trial. \u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": {
"dropCap": false
},
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Taylor declined, and they dismissed the case the same day, she said. \u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>Taylor declined, and they dismissed the case the same day, she said. \u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": {
"dropCap": false
},
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“Sometimes, district attorney’s offices are like a dog with a bone,” Taylor said. “Even if the bone is rotten and poisonous, they hang onto the bone because they don’t know anything else. … They’re still banking on getting something from an innocent person to wrap up a case.”\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>“Sometimes, district attorney’s offices are like a dog with a bone,” Taylor said. “Even if the bone is rotten and poisonous, they hang onto the bone because they don’t know anything else. … They’re still banking on getting something from an innocent person to wrap up a case.”\u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": {
"dropCap": false
},
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The district attorney’s office declined to comment, citing the ongoing investigation.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>The district attorney’s office declined to comment, citing the ongoing investigation.\u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": {
"dropCap": false
},
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>White said her son was released from Santa Rita Jail that same night, two years and a day after Perez’s death. He went home with his parents to their home in Ione, in Amador County.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>White said her son was released from Santa Rita Jail that same night, two years and a day after Perez’s death. He went home with his parents to their home in Ione, in Amador County.\u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": {
"dropCap": false
},
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“The first night he slept out on our patio; he just felt like he couldn’t be in a bedroom,” White said. “It made me really sad because he’s been traumatized. He wanted to be out and breathe fresh air.”\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>“The first night he slept out on our patio; he just felt like he couldn’t be in a bedroom,” White said. “It made me really sad because he’s been traumatized. He wanted to be out and breathe fresh air.”\u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/image",
"attrs": {
"id": 12098637,
"sizeSlug": "full",
"linkDestination": "none",
"alt": "",
"srcset": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/260905-insufficientevidence-TV01498-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/260905-insufficientevidence-TV01498-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/260905-insufficientevidence-TV01498-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w",
"sizes": "(min-width: 992px) min(100vw, 1536px), (min-width: 768px) min(100vw, 1280px), min(100vw, 1020px)"
},
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/260905-insufficientevidence-TV01498-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12098637\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/260905-insufficientevidence-TV01498-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/260905-insufficientevidence-TV01498-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/260905-insufficientevidence-TV01498-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 992px) min(100vw, 1536px), (min-width: 768px) min(100vw, 1280px), min(100vw, 1020px)\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Christy White (left), Michael Perillo’s mother, and Brandon Owen (right), a friend of the family, pose for a portrait together at Castle Oaks Club House in Ione, California, on Sept. 5, 2026.\u003ccite class=\"wp-inline-image-credit\"> (Tâm Vũ/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/260905-insufficientevidence-TV01498-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12098637\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Christy White (left), Michael Perillo’s mother, and Brandon Owen (right), a friend of the family, pose for a portrait together at Castle Oaks Club House in Ione, California, on Sept. 5, 2026.\u003ccite class=\"wp-inline-image-credit\"> (Tâm Vũ/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": {
"dropCap": false
},
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>White spoke to KQED on Perillo’s behalf, citing his mental illness challenges and recent hardships. \u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>White spoke to KQED on Perillo’s behalf, citing his mental illness challenges and recent hardships. \u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": {
"dropCap": false
},
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>White said her son was assaulted numerous times while in jail. She recalled visiting him and seeing bruises and cuts around his face or blood coming out of his ear. \u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>White said her son was assaulted numerous times while in jail. She recalled visiting him and seeing bruises and cuts around his face or blood coming out of his ear. \u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": {
"dropCap": false
},
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“In June of 2025, he asked me to no longer come to visit him because I would sit there and cry the entire time because I saw what was happening to him physically,” White said.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>“In June of 2025, he asked me to no longer come to visit him because I would sit there and cry the entire time because I saw what was happening to him physically,” White said.\u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": {
"dropCap": false
},
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Desperate for help, White reached out to Brandon Owen, a friend and Republican candidate for state Assembly with a law enforcement background as a game warden for the state’s Department of Fish and Wildlife. \u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>Desperate for help, White reached out to Brandon Owen, a friend and Republican candidate for state Assembly with a law enforcement background as a game warden for the state’s Department of Fish and Wildlife. \u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": {
"dropCap": false
},
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>As part of an independent investigation, Owen and two others traveled to Oakland in June 2026 to talk to people near the encampment where Perillo stayed. Within three hours, they met and spoke with several residents, including Pratt, the key witness for the prosecution who had identified Perillo in the footage. \u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>As part of an independent investigation, Owen and two others traveled to Oakland in June 2026 to talk to people near the encampment where Perillo stayed. Within three hours, they met and spoke with several residents, including Pratt, the key witness for the prosecution who had identified Perillo in the footage. \u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/image",
"attrs": {
"id": 12098299,
"sizeSlug": "full",
"linkDestination": "none",
"alt": "",
"srcset": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/20250319_AlamedaCourthouse_GC-15_qed.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/20250319_AlamedaCourthouse_GC-15_qed-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/20250319_AlamedaCourthouse_GC-15_qed-1536x1024.jpg 1536w",
"sizes": "(min-width: 992px) min(100vw, 1536px), (min-width: 768px) min(100vw, 1280px), min(100vw, 1020px)"
},
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/20250319_AlamedaCourthouse_GC-15_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12098299\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/20250319_AlamedaCourthouse_GC-15_qed.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/20250319_AlamedaCourthouse_GC-15_qed-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/20250319_AlamedaCourthouse_GC-15_qed-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 992px) min(100vw, 1536px), (min-width: 768px) min(100vw, 1280px), min(100vw, 1020px)\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">The René C. Davidson Courthouse in Oakland, California, on March 19, 2025.\u003ccite class=\"wp-inline-image-credit\"> (Gina Castro/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/20250319_AlamedaCourthouse_GC-15_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12098299\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">The René C. Davidson Courthouse in Oakland, California, on March 19, 2025.\u003ccite class=\"wp-inline-image-credit\"> (Gina Castro/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": {
"dropCap": false
},
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>In a recorded interview reviewed by KQED, Owen showed Pratt pictures of people from security footage and asked him to identify them. Pratt complained that he couldn’t because of the quality of the images. \u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>In a recorded interview reviewed by KQED, Owen showed Pratt pictures of people from security footage and asked him to identify them. Pratt complained that he couldn’t because of the quality of the images. \u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": {
"dropCap": false
},
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“You can’t identify none of them,” Pratt says in the interview. “You can’t even see none of them.” \u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>“You can’t identify none of them,” Pratt says in the interview. “You can’t even see none of them.” \u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": {
"dropCap": false
},
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>One picture included Pratt himself, who was present on the night of the killing. When asked, Pratt denied that it was him in the photo. \u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>One picture included Pratt himself, who was present on the night of the killing. When asked, Pratt denied that it was him in the photo. \u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": {
"dropCap": false
},
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“I know this much: That man right there who was in court, right? Innocent,” Pratt said in the interview. \u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>“I know this much: That man right there who was in court, right? Innocent,” Pratt said in the interview. \u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": {
"dropCap": false
},
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Owen said he and his fellow investigators brought the results of their search to the Oakland police officer who originally investigated Perez’s slaying. \u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>Owen said he and his fellow investigators brought the results of their search to the Oakland police officer who originally investigated Perez’s slaying. \u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "kqed-v2/related-articles",
"attrs": {
"postIds": [
"news_12098395"
],
"label": "Related Articles",
"maxPosts": 1,
"showImages": false,
"heroImage": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/251030-atiochpittsburgfile_01057_TV_qed.jpg",
"query": "",
"labelWasCleared": false,
"heroImageAlt": "",
"heroImageLink": "",
"labelLink": "",
"alignment": "right",
"target": "_self",
"manualLinks": [],
"posts": []
},
"innerHTML": "",
"innerContent": [],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": {
"dropCap": false
},
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“Sgt. Kevin Godchaux was highly offended that we were present,” Owen said. “He was, in my opinion, disturbed that we were doing the investigation. … At one point he almost refused to take the information from us.” \u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>“Sgt. Kevin Godchaux was highly offended that we were present,” Owen said. “He was, in my opinion, disturbed that we were doing the investigation. … At one point he almost refused to take the information from us.” \u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": {
"dropCap": false
},
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Oakland police did not respond to a request for comment. \u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>Oakland police did not respond to a request for comment. \u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": {
"dropCap": false
},
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Police records shared in court show that police had another suspect in the killing: a man named Anthony Otenbriet, who was identified based on similarities between his motorcycle and one in security footage showing it being ridden by the person who attacked and chased Perez. \u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>Police records shared in court show that police had another suspect in the killing: a man named Anthony Otenbriet, who was identified based on similarities between his motorcycle and one in security footage showing it being ridden by the person who attacked and chased Perez. \u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": {
"dropCap": false
},
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>But Otenbriet died in a motorcycle accident just five days after Perez died, according to police records. \u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>But Otenbriet died in a motorcycle accident just five days after Perez died, according to police records. \u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": {
"dropCap": false
},
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>It’s unclear whether police have any other active suspects, or whether they plan to make any more arrests for the killing of Edson Perez. \u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>It’s unclear whether police have any other active suspects, or whether they plan to make any more arrests for the killing of Edson Perez. \u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": {
"dropCap": false
},
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Both White and Taylor said they felt like Perillo was being prosecuted to bring closure to an otherwise unsolved murder. \u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>Both White and Taylor said they felt like Perillo was being prosecuted to bring closure to an otherwise unsolved murder. \u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": {
"dropCap": false
},
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“I think that they may have viewed him as an easy brownie point. ‘We’ll score, he’ll be convicted and go to prison,’” White said. \u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>“I think that they may have viewed him as an easy brownie point. ‘We’ll score, he’ll be convicted and go to prison,’” White said. \u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": {
"dropCap": false
},
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>White said her family’s experience has changed her “whole sense” of the criminal justice system. \u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>White said her family’s experience has changed her “whole sense” of the criminal justice system. \u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": {
"dropCap": false
},
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“I don’t think any of us should be discarded,” she said. “And I was treated that way by the district attorney in the homicide unit in Oakland … They didn’t care. They made up their mind without all of the evidence.”\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>“I don’t think any of us should be discarded,” she said. “And I was treated that way by the district attorney in the homicide unit in Oakland … They didn’t care. They made up their mind without all of the evidence.”\u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
}
],
"excerpt": "Michael Perillo, 47, was arrested in September 2024 after a brutal killing in Oakland, California. His family says they want accountability and answers.",
"status": "publish",
"parent": 0,
"modified": 1788977337,
"stats": {
"hasAudio": false,
"hasVideo": false,
"hasChartOrMap": false,
"iframeSrcs": [],
"hasGoogleForm": false,
"hasGallery": false,
"hasHearkenModule": false,
"hasPolis": false,
"paragraphCount": 37,
"wordCount": 1296
},
"headData": {
"title": "Alameda County Prosecutors Drop Murder Charges Against Man Jailed for Nearly 2 Years | KQED",
"description": "Michael Perillo, 47, was arrested in September 2024 after a brutal killing in Oakland, California. His family says they want accountability and answers.",
"ogTitle": "",
"ogDescription": "",
"ogImgId": "",
"twTitle": "",
"twDescription": "",
"twImgId": "",
"schema": {
"@context": "https://schema.org",
"@type": "NewsArticle",
"headline": "Alameda County Prosecutors Drop Murder Charges Against Man Jailed for Nearly 2 Years",
"datePublished": "2026-09-09T04:00:00-07:00",
"dateModified": "2026-09-09T11:08:57-07:00",
"image": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/KQED-OG-Image@1x.png",
"isAccessibleForFree": "True",
"publisher": {
"@type": "NewsMediaOrganization",
"@id": "https://www.kqed.org/#organization",
"name": "KQED",
"logo": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/KQED-OG-Image@1x.png",
"url": "https://www.kqed.org",
"sameAs": [
"https://www.facebook.com/KQED",
"https://twitter.com/KQED",
"https://www.instagram.com/kqed/",
"https://www.tiktok.com/@kqedofficial",
"https://www.linkedin.com/company/kqed",
"https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCeC0IOo7i1P_61zVUWbJ4nw"
]
}
}
},
"primaryCategory": {
"termId": 28250,
"slug": "local",
"name": "Local"
},
"sticky": false,
"nprStoryId": "kqed-12098255",
"templateType": "standard",
"featuredImageType": "standard",
"excludeFromSiteSearch": "Include",
"articleAge": "0",
"path": "/news/12098255/alameda-county-prosecutors-drop-murder-charges-against-man-jailed-for-nearly-2-years",
"audioTrackLength": null,
"parsedContent": [
{
"type": "contentString",
"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\n\u003cp>Michael Perillo spent nearly two years insisting he was in jail for a murder he didn’t commit before \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/alameda-county\">Alameda County\u003c/a> prosecutors dropped the charges and released him last week. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Now, Perillo’s family and supporters say investigators charged and prosecuted him for the brutal 2024 death of Edson Perez on the streets of Oakland’s Chinatown based on faulty and insufficient evidence. In a press release the family says they are considering legal action. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Perillo’s mother, Christy White, said the period of incarceration traumatized her 47-year-old son, who was unhoused and struggling with mental illness at the time of his arrest. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“I cannot tell you the relief that I had,” White said. “All the trauma that my son has gone through, and that he stuck with it, and I always knew he was innocent.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Oakland police arrested Perillo in September 2024, alleging that he was one of two people who chased Perez and then beat him to death with a bike and a mallet. Police told \u003ca href=\"https://www.eastbaytimes.com/2024/09/11/oakland-man-charged-in-fatal-beating-where-bicycle-was-used-as-a-weapon/\">local news outlets\u003c/a> at the time that surveillance footage and eyewitnesses helped them identify Perillo.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/260905-insufficientevidence-TV01516-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12098638\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/260905-insufficientevidence-TV01516-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/260905-insufficientevidence-TV01516-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/260905-insufficientevidence-TV01516-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Christy White shows a photo of her son Michael Perillo, at Castle Oaks Club House in Ione, California, on Sept. 5, 2026. Perillo was released from jail last week, two years after he was charged with a murder in Oakland’s Chinatown. (Tâm Vũ/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Perillo’s lawyer, Tamani Taylor, said the prosecution’s case rested largely on the testimony of one man, Earl Pratt. Pratt, who was a part of the same unhoused community as Perillo, identified him to police using stills from the surveillance video. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>During a February preliminary hearing, Superior Court Judge Thomas E. Stevens noted Pratt was “all over the map,” as the witness went off on tangents and gave confusing answers on the stand, records show. Pratt also provided conflicting information when asked to identify photos from the crime. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“To me, he made absolutely no sense at all, and he lacked all credibility,” Taylor said.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Taylor suggested that the same footage could have cleared Perillo: A man in completely different clothes from the attackers could be seen on a yellow bike, which Perillo was known to ride, minutes before and after the attack on nearby streets. Clothes found with Perillo at the time of his arrest also matched the outfit of the person on the yellow bike, Taylor said. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Having joined the case in July after a previous lawyer declared a conflict of interest, Taylor said she pointed out these issues in a meeting with Alameda County Deputy District Attorney Edward Vieira-Ducey. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Prosecutors in return offered Perillo a plea deal of felony assault and credit for time served, Taylor said, meaning his incarceration could end if he pleaded guilty to a less severe charge. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“It would only make sense for them to make that kind of offer if they had a clue that they could not prove the case beyond a reasonable doubt,” Taylor said. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The district attorney’s office repeated their offer numerous times, Taylor said, including on Aug. 31 — the day that both sides were in court to begin scheduling the trial. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Taylor declined, and they dismissed the case the same day, she said. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“Sometimes, district attorney’s offices are like a dog with a bone,” Taylor said. “Even if the bone is rotten and poisonous, they hang onto the bone because they don’t know anything else. … They’re still banking on getting something from an innocent person to wrap up a case.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The district attorney’s office declined to comment, citing the ongoing investigation.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>White said her son was released from Santa Rita Jail that same night, two years and a day after Perez’s death. He went home with his parents to their home in Ione, in Amador County.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“The first night he slept out on our patio; he just felt like he couldn’t be in a bedroom,” White said. “It made me really sad because he’s been traumatized. He wanted to be out and breathe fresh air.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/260905-insufficientevidence-TV01498-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12098637\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/260905-insufficientevidence-TV01498-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/260905-insufficientevidence-TV01498-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/260905-insufficientevidence-TV01498-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Christy White (left), Michael Perillo’s mother, and Brandon Owen (right), a friend of the family, pose for a portrait together at Castle Oaks Club House in Ione, California, on Sept. 5, 2026. (Tâm Vũ/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>White spoke to KQED on Perillo’s behalf, citing his mental illness challenges and recent hardships. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>White said her son was assaulted numerous times while in jail. She recalled visiting him and seeing bruises and cuts around his face or blood coming out of his ear. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“In June of 2025, he asked me to no longer come to visit him because I would sit there and cry the entire time because I saw what was happening to him physically,” White said.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Desperate for help, White reached out to Brandon Owen, a friend and Republican candidate for state Assembly with a law enforcement background as a game warden for the state’s Department of Fish and Wildlife. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>As part of an independent investigation, Owen and two others traveled to Oakland in June 2026 to talk to people near the encampment where Perillo stayed. Within three hours, they met and spoke with several residents, including Pratt, the key witness for the prosecution who had identified Perillo in the footage. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/20250319_AlamedaCourthouse_GC-15_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12098299\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/20250319_AlamedaCourthouse_GC-15_qed.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/20250319_AlamedaCourthouse_GC-15_qed-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/20250319_AlamedaCourthouse_GC-15_qed-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">The René C. Davidson Courthouse in Oakland, California, on March 19, 2025. (Gina Castro/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>In a recorded interview reviewed by KQED, Owen showed Pratt pictures of people from security footage and asked him to identify them. Pratt complained that he couldn’t because of the quality of the images. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“You can’t identify none of them,” Pratt says in the interview. “You can’t even see none of them.” \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>One picture included Pratt himself, who was present on the night of the killing. When asked, Pratt denied that it was him in the photo. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“I know this much: That man right there who was in court, right? Innocent,” Pratt said in the interview. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Owen said he and his fellow investigators brought the results of their search to the Oakland police officer who originally investigated Perez’s slaying. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“Sgt. Kevin Godchaux was highly offended that we were present,” Owen said. “He was, in my opinion, disturbed that we were doing the investigation. … At one point he almost refused to take the information from us.” \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Oakland police did not respond to a request for comment. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Police records shared in court show that police had another suspect in the killing: a man named Anthony Otenbriet, who was identified based on similarities between his motorcycle and one in security footage showing it being ridden by the person who attacked and chased Perez. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>But Otenbriet died in a motorcycle accident just five days after Perez died, according to police records. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>It’s unclear whether police have any other active suspects, or whether they plan to make any more arrests for the killing of Edson Perez. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Both White and Taylor said they felt like Perillo was being prosecuted to bring closure to an otherwise unsolved murder. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“I think that they may have viewed him as an easy brownie point. ‘We’ll score, he’ll be convicted and go to prison,’” White said. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>White said her family’s experience has changed her “whole sense” of the criminal justice system. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“I don’t think any of us should be discarded,” she said. “And I was treated that way by the district attorney in the homicide unit in Oakland … They didn’t care. They made up their mind without all of the evidence.”\u003c/p>\n\u003c/div>\u003c/p>",
"attributes": {
"named": {},
"numeric": []
}
}
],
"link": "/news/12098255/alameda-county-prosecutors-drop-murder-charges-against-man-jailed-for-nearly-2-years",
"authors": [
"11761"
],
"categories": [
"news_6188",
"news_28250",
"news_8"
],
"tags": [
"news_260",
"news_17725",
"news_22434",
"news_27626",
"news_19954",
"news_34054",
"news_29160",
"news_416",
"news_28780"
],
"featImg": "news_12098639",
"label": "news"
},
"news_12096244": {
"type": "posts",
"id": "news_12096244",
"meta": {
"index": "posts_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "12096244",
"score": null,
"sort": [
1787349668000
]
},
"guestAuthors": [],
"slug": "pro-palestinian-protesters-get-jail-time-for-golden-gate-bridge-shutdown",
"title": "Pro-Palestinian Protesters Get Jail Time for Golden Gate Bridge Shutdown",
"publishDate": 1787349668,
"format": "standard",
"headTitle": "Pro-Palestinian Protesters Get Jail Time for Golden Gate Bridge Shutdown | KQED",
"labelTerm": {
"site": "news"
},
"content": "\u003cp>A \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/san-francisco\">San Francisco\u003c/a> judge sentenced seven pro-Palestinian activists to 30 days in county jail and six months of probation on Friday for their roles in a 2024 protest that \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12085224/these-protesters-could-go-to-prison-for-blocking-the-golden-gate-bridge\">stopped traffic on the Golden Gate Bridge\u003c/a> for roughly four hours. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The San Francisco District Attorney’s Office also dismissed multiple outstanding charges, including the most serious for felony conspiracy, that the jury failed to reach a consensus on in July.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“Throughout history, civil disobedience has mostly involved accepting legal consequences,” Superior Court Judge Teresa Caffese said before handing down the sentences. “In that spirit, those who blocked the bridge and disrupted the lives of hundreds of commuters should be treated respectfully, but should also be prepared to accept the consequences of their actions.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260821-GGBS-NG-23_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12096383\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260821-GGBS-NG-23_qed.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260821-GGBS-NG-23_qed-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260821-GGBS-NG-23_qed-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Defendant Rocky Chau (right) celebrates with Raye Kahn, a spokesperson for the activists, after the sentencing hearing at the Hall of Justice in San Francisco on Aug. 21, 2026. (Nina Glick/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Law enforcement had originally arrested more than two dozen people for the Tax Day demonstration, which was organized in opposition to U.S. support for Israel amid ongoing military strikes on Gaza. The seven who went to trial included six who used lockboxes to chain themselves to cars blocking southbound lanes on the bridge, complicating removal efforts. The seventh had served as a liaison between activists and law enforcement. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The sentences are significantly lighter than the 14-to-15-year maximum terms that the seven Bay Area residents — Bhavika Anandpura, River Allen, Sara Cantor, Rocky Chau, Conrad de Jesus, Sarah Ferrell and Em Tillotson — faced at the start of the trial. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>A jury last month convicted all seven defendants of several misdemeanors, including unlawful assembly, obstructing a thoroughfare and multiple counts of false imprisonment. But they failed to reach a consensus on felony conspiracy, which carried the most significant maximum sentence.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Following Friday’s sentencing, the DA’s office moved to dismiss the conspiracy and outstanding trespassing charge, saying the protesters had been held accountable, and that they were cognizant of the public resources a retrial would require. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The decision was met with loud cheers outside the courtroom from the protesters’ supporters. The activists and their lawyers have argued for over two years that \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12004860/golden-gate-bridge-protesters-plead-not-guilty-to-felony-and-misdemeanor-charges\">the felony charges were politically motivated\u003c/a> and \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12011165/felony-charges-against-golden-gate-bridge-protesters-can-go-to-trial-judge-rules\">a disproportionate response\u003c/a> to a protest on the Golden Gate Bridge, a historically common site for acts of civil disobedience.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“Ultimately, the government has overcharged this case,” defense attorney Shaffy Moeel told KQED in an April interview before the start of trial.\u003cbr>\u003cbr>“Felony charges should be reserved for the most serious and egregious charges that we can commit against one another, and blocking a bridge in order to prevent mass atrocities happening with our money doesn’t seem like the kind of felonious charge that any legislature intended,” Moeel said.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260821-GGBS-NG-19_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12096381\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260821-GGBS-NG-19_qed.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260821-GGBS-NG-19_qed-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260821-GGBS-NG-19_qed-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Supporters of the seven defendants hug outside of the courtroom after the sentencing hearing at the Hall of Justice in San Francisco on Aug. 21, 2026. (Nina Glick/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“We have never seen a felony conspiracy charge for a protest,” Deputy Public Defender Anthony Gedeon said. “There is no rationale besides a political motivation.”\u003cbr>\u003cbr>Defense attorneys believe their clients’ sentences, which require 15 days in county jail, while the other 15 can be served through the city’s Sheriff’s Work Alternative Program, will ultimately amount to just five days in jail and six in the work program. The jail sentence will be stayed pending appeal, Caffese said Friday.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Each defendant was also given six months of probation and multiple fines and restitution amounting to over $1,300.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The courtroom was quiet as Caffese delivered the sentences, but defense attorneys pushed back on the jail time, requesting an explanation and home detention for their clients, citing various personal reasons. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Caffese denied most of those requests, but she granted Cantor, who has a disability that requires her to use a cane, home detention for half of her sentence. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>After the hearing, the protesters’ supporters rallied outside the court. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260821-GGBS-NG-21_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12096382\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260821-GGBS-NG-21_qed.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260821-GGBS-NG-21_qed-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260821-GGBS-NG-21_qed-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Defendant Em Tillotson celebrates after the sentencing hearing at the Hall of Justice in San Francisco on Aug. 21, 2026. (Nina Glick/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>De Jesus thanked his co-defendants.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“In them, I have found love and support and a community that I care deeply for,” he said.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“Two years of fighting the DA has taken a toll on us mentally and physically,” de Jesus continued. “However, it only takes a moment to reflect on what Palestinians in Gaza are going through to make us fight even harder for a free Palestine.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Prosecutors argued in court that the action was a premeditated effort to break the law and \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12084403/golden-gate-bridge-protest-trial-opens-in-san-francisco\">trap commuters on the Golden Gate Bridge\u003c/a>, both inconveniencing and risking the safety of residents driving into the city. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“People missed doctors’ appointments, nurses were missing from their jobs, children were forced to defecate in bags, people had little to no water,” Assistant District Attorney Angela Roze said \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12084403/golden-gate-bridge-protest-trial-opens-in-san-francisco\">during the trial’s opening statements in May.\u003c/a> “Because these seven individuals decided that their cause, their message, was more important.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Defense attorneys argued during the trial that the defendants sincerely believed that by engaging in the April 15 protest, they could prevent the loss of Palestinian lives. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The bridge shutdown was just one of a number of actions across the country meant to disrupt economic activity and pressure the U.S. government to end its material support for Israel. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260821-GGBS-NG-26_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12096384\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260821-GGBS-NG-26_qed.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260821-GGBS-NG-26_qed-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260821-GGBS-NG-26_qed-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A supporter places their hand on defendant River Allen’s back outside a courtroom at the Hall of Justice in San Francisco on Aug. 21 2026, during a recess at the sentencing hearing for seven defendants who were found guilty of blocking traffic on the Golden Gate Bridge in 2024. (Nina Glick/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The Golden Gate Bridge, Highway and Transportation District filed but ultimately \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12063531/golden-gate-bridge-agency-drops-163k-restitution-claim-against-pro-palestinian-protesters\">dropped\u003c/a> a restitution claim against the protesters, arguing that the protest cost it $163,000 in lost bridge tolls. The defendants did pay $5,300 to a group of residents who said they suffered economic losses due to the shutdown, mostly through lost wages for the day. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Caffese addressed the defendants individually, saying that letters of support submitted on their behalf showed that they had backgrounds in community activism and service, and care about laudable causes. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“You are not being sentenced for your beliefs,” Caffese told the group.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>[ad floatright]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“You, the defendants, are not new to civil disobedience,” she said. “Each of you knew you were violating the law.”\u003c/p>\n\n",
"blocks": [
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": {
"dropCap": false
},
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>A \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/san-francisco\">San Francisco\u003c/a> judge sentenced seven pro-Palestinian activists to 30 days in county jail and six months of probation on Friday for their roles in a 2024 protest that \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12085224/these-protesters-could-go-to-prison-for-blocking-the-golden-gate-bridge\">stopped traffic on the Golden Gate Bridge\u003c/a> for roughly four hours. \u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>A \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/san-francisco\">San Francisco\u003c/a> judge sentenced seven pro-Palestinian activists to 30 days in county jail and six months of probation on Friday for their roles in a 2024 protest that \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12085224/these-protesters-could-go-to-prison-for-blocking-the-golden-gate-bridge\">stopped traffic on the Golden Gate Bridge\u003c/a> for roughly four hours. \u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": {
"dropCap": false
},
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The San Francisco District Attorney’s Office also dismissed multiple outstanding charges, including the most serious for felony conspiracy, that the jury failed to reach a consensus on in July.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>The San Francisco District Attorney’s Office also dismissed multiple outstanding charges, including the most serious for felony conspiracy, that the jury failed to reach a consensus on in July.\u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": {
"dropCap": false
},
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“Throughout history, civil disobedience has mostly involved accepting legal consequences,” Superior Court Judge Teresa Caffese said before handing down the sentences. “In that spirit, those who blocked the bridge and disrupted the lives of hundreds of commuters should be treated respectfully, but should also be prepared to accept the consequences of their actions.”\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>“Throughout history, civil disobedience has mostly involved accepting legal consequences,” Superior Court Judge Teresa Caffese said before handing down the sentences. “In that spirit, those who blocked the bridge and disrupted the lives of hundreds of commuters should be treated respectfully, but should also be prepared to accept the consequences of their actions.”\u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/image",
"attrs": {
"id": 12096383,
"sizeSlug": "full",
"linkDestination": "none",
"imageCredit": "Nina Glick/KQED",
"srcset": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260821-GGBS-NG-23_qed.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260821-GGBS-NG-23_qed-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260821-GGBS-NG-23_qed-1536x1024.jpg 1536w",
"sizes": "(min-width: 992px) min(100vw, 1536px), (min-width: 768px) min(100vw, 1280px), min(100vw, 1020px)",
"alt": ""
},
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260821-GGBS-NG-23_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12096383\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260821-GGBS-NG-23_qed.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260821-GGBS-NG-23_qed-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260821-GGBS-NG-23_qed-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 992px) min(100vw, 1536px), (min-width: 768px) min(100vw, 1280px), min(100vw, 1020px)\"/>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Defendant Rocky Chau (right) celebrates with Raye Kahn, a spokesperson for the activists, after the sentencing hearing at the Hall of Justice in San Francisco on Aug. 21, 2026.\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260821-GGBS-NG-23_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12096383\"/>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Defendant Rocky Chau (right) celebrates with Raye Kahn, a spokesperson for the activists, after the sentencing hearing at the Hall of Justice in San Francisco on Aug. 21, 2026.\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": {
"dropCap": false
},
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Law enforcement had originally arrested more than two dozen people for the Tax Day demonstration, which was organized in opposition to U.S. support for Israel amid ongoing military strikes on Gaza. The seven who went to trial included six who used lockboxes to chain themselves to cars blocking southbound lanes on the bridge, complicating removal efforts. The seventh had served as a liaison between activists and law enforcement. \u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>Law enforcement had originally arrested more than two dozen people for the Tax Day demonstration, which was organized in opposition to U.S. support for Israel amid ongoing military strikes on Gaza. The seven who went to trial included six who used lockboxes to chain themselves to cars blocking southbound lanes on the bridge, complicating removal efforts. The seventh had served as a liaison between activists and law enforcement. \u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": {
"dropCap": false
},
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The sentences are significantly lighter than the 14-to-15-year maximum terms that the seven Bay Area residents — Bhavika Anandpura, River Allen, Sara Cantor, Rocky Chau, Conrad de Jesus, Sarah Ferrell and Em Tillotson — faced at the start of the trial. \u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>The sentences are significantly lighter than the 14-to-15-year maximum terms that the seven Bay Area residents — Bhavika Anandpura, River Allen, Sara Cantor, Rocky Chau, Conrad de Jesus, Sarah Ferrell and Em Tillotson — faced at the start of the trial. \u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "kqed-v2/related-articles",
"attrs": {
"postIds": [
"news_12096141"
],
"label": "Related Articles",
"maxPosts": 1,
"showImages": false,
"heroImage": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/AishaWahabAP.jpg",
"query": "",
"labelWasCleared": false,
"heroImageAlt": "",
"heroImageLink": "",
"labelLink": "",
"alignment": "right",
"target": "_self",
"manualLinks": [],
"posts": []
},
"innerHTML": "",
"innerContent": [],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": {
"dropCap": false
},
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>A jury last month convicted all seven defendants of several misdemeanors, including unlawful assembly, obstructing a thoroughfare and multiple counts of false imprisonment. But they failed to reach a consensus on felony conspiracy, which carried the most significant maximum sentence.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>A jury last month convicted all seven defendants of several misdemeanors, including unlawful assembly, obstructing a thoroughfare and multiple counts of false imprisonment. But they failed to reach a consensus on felony conspiracy, which carried the most significant maximum sentence.\u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "kqed/ad",
"attrs": {
"format": "fullwidth"
},
"innerBlocks": [],
"innerHTML": "",
"innerContent": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": {
"dropCap": false
},
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Following Friday’s sentencing, the DA’s office moved to dismiss the conspiracy and outstanding trespassing charge, saying the protesters had been held accountable, and that they were cognizant of the public resources a retrial would require. \u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>Following Friday’s sentencing, the DA’s office moved to dismiss the conspiracy and outstanding trespassing charge, saying the protesters had been held accountable, and that they were cognizant of the public resources a retrial would require. \u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": {
"dropCap": false
},
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The decision was met with loud cheers outside the courtroom from the protesters’ supporters. The activists and their lawyers have argued for over two years that \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12004860/golden-gate-bridge-protesters-plead-not-guilty-to-felony-and-misdemeanor-charges\">the felony charges were politically motivated\u003c/a> and \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12011165/felony-charges-against-golden-gate-bridge-protesters-can-go-to-trial-judge-rules\">a disproportionate response\u003c/a> to a protest on the Golden Gate Bridge, a historically common site for acts of civil disobedience.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>The decision was met with loud cheers outside the courtroom from the protesters’ supporters. The activists and their lawyers have argued for over two years that \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12004860/golden-gate-bridge-protesters-plead-not-guilty-to-felony-and-misdemeanor-charges\">the felony charges were politically motivated\u003c/a> and \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12011165/felony-charges-against-golden-gate-bridge-protesters-can-go-to-trial-judge-rules\">a disproportionate response\u003c/a> to a protest on the Golden Gate Bridge, a historically common site for acts of civil disobedience.\u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": {
"dropCap": false
},
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“Ultimately, the government has overcharged this case,” defense attorney Shaffy Moeel told KQED in an April interview before the start of trial.\u003cbr>\u003cbr>“Felony charges should be reserved for the most serious and egregious charges that we can commit against one another, and blocking a bridge in order to prevent mass atrocities happening with our money doesn’t seem like the kind of felonious charge that any legislature intended,” Moeel said.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>“Ultimately, the government has overcharged this case,” defense attorney Shaffy Moeel told KQED in an April interview before the start of trial.\u003cbr>\u003cbr>“Felony charges should be reserved for the most serious and egregious charges that we can commit against one another, and blocking a bridge in order to prevent mass atrocities happening with our money doesn’t seem like the kind of felonious charge that any legislature intended,” Moeel said.\u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/image",
"attrs": {
"id": 12096381,
"sizeSlug": "full",
"linkDestination": "none",
"imageCredit": "Nina Glick/KQED",
"srcset": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260821-GGBS-NG-19_qed.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260821-GGBS-NG-19_qed-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260821-GGBS-NG-19_qed-1536x1024.jpg 1536w",
"sizes": "(min-width: 992px) min(100vw, 1536px), (min-width: 768px) min(100vw, 1280px), min(100vw, 1020px)",
"alt": ""
},
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260821-GGBS-NG-19_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12096381\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260821-GGBS-NG-19_qed.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260821-GGBS-NG-19_qed-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260821-GGBS-NG-19_qed-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 992px) min(100vw, 1536px), (min-width: 768px) min(100vw, 1280px), min(100vw, 1020px)\"/>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Supporters of the seven defendants hug outside of the courtroom after the sentencing hearing at the Hall of Justice in San Francisco on Aug. 21, 2026.\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260821-GGBS-NG-19_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12096381\"/>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Supporters of the seven defendants hug outside of the courtroom after the sentencing hearing at the Hall of Justice in San Francisco on Aug. 21, 2026.\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": {
"dropCap": false
},
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“We have never seen a felony conspiracy charge for a protest,” Deputy Public Defender Anthony Gedeon said. “There is no rationale besides a political motivation.”\u003cbr>\u003cbr>Defense attorneys believe their clients’ sentences, which require 15 days in county jail, while the other 15 can be served through the city’s Sheriff’s Work Alternative Program, will ultimately amount to just five days in jail and six in the work program. The jail sentence will be stayed pending appeal, Caffese said Friday.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>“We have never seen a felony conspiracy charge for a protest,” Deputy Public Defender Anthony Gedeon said. “There is no rationale besides a political motivation.”\u003cbr>\u003cbr>Defense attorneys believe their clients’ sentences, which require 15 days in county jail, while the other 15 can be served through the city’s Sheriff’s Work Alternative Program, will ultimately amount to just five days in jail and six in the work program. The jail sentence will be stayed pending appeal, Caffese said Friday.\u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": {
"dropCap": false
},
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Each defendant was also given six months of probation and multiple fines and restitution amounting to over $1,300.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>Each defendant was also given six months of probation and multiple fines and restitution amounting to over $1,300.\u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": {
"dropCap": false
},
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The courtroom was quiet as Caffese delivered the sentences, but defense attorneys pushed back on the jail time, requesting an explanation and home detention for their clients, citing various personal reasons. \u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>The courtroom was quiet as Caffese delivered the sentences, but defense attorneys pushed back on the jail time, requesting an explanation and home detention for their clients, citing various personal reasons. \u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": {
"dropCap": false
},
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Caffese denied most of those requests, but she granted Cantor, who has a disability that requires her to use a cane, home detention for half of her sentence. \u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>Caffese denied most of those requests, but she granted Cantor, who has a disability that requires her to use a cane, home detention for half of her sentence. \u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": {
"dropCap": false
},
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>After the hearing, the protesters’ supporters rallied outside the court. \u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>After the hearing, the protesters’ supporters rallied outside the court. \u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/image",
"attrs": {
"id": 12096382,
"sizeSlug": "full",
"linkDestination": "none",
"imageCredit": "Nina Glick/KQED",
"srcset": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260821-GGBS-NG-21_qed.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260821-GGBS-NG-21_qed-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260821-GGBS-NG-21_qed-1536x1024.jpg 1536w",
"sizes": "(min-width: 992px) min(100vw, 1536px), (min-width: 768px) min(100vw, 1280px), min(100vw, 1020px)",
"alt": ""
},
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260821-GGBS-NG-21_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12096382\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260821-GGBS-NG-21_qed.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260821-GGBS-NG-21_qed-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260821-GGBS-NG-21_qed-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 992px) min(100vw, 1536px), (min-width: 768px) min(100vw, 1280px), min(100vw, 1020px)\"/>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Defendant Em Tillotson celebrates after the sentencing hearing at the Hall of Justice in San Francisco on Aug. 21, 2026.\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260821-GGBS-NG-21_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12096382\"/>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Defendant Em Tillotson celebrates after the sentencing hearing at the Hall of Justice in San Francisco on Aug. 21, 2026.\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": {
"dropCap": false
},
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>De Jesus thanked his co-defendants.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>De Jesus thanked his co-defendants.\u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": {
"dropCap": false
},
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“In them, I have found love and support and a community that I care deeply for,” he said.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>“In them, I have found love and support and a community that I care deeply for,” he said.\u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": {
"dropCap": false
},
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“Two years of fighting the DA has taken a toll on us mentally and physically,” de Jesus continued. “However, it only takes a moment to reflect on what Palestinians in Gaza are going through to make us fight even harder for a free Palestine.”\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>“Two years of fighting the DA has taken a toll on us mentally and physically,” de Jesus continued. “However, it only takes a moment to reflect on what Palestinians in Gaza are going through to make us fight even harder for a free Palestine.”\u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": {
"dropCap": false
},
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Prosecutors argued in court that the action was a premeditated effort to break the law and \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12084403/golden-gate-bridge-protest-trial-opens-in-san-francisco\">trap commuters on the Golden Gate Bridge\u003c/a>, both inconveniencing and risking the safety of residents driving into the city. \u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>Prosecutors argued in court that the action was a premeditated effort to break the law and \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12084403/golden-gate-bridge-protest-trial-opens-in-san-francisco\">trap commuters on the Golden Gate Bridge\u003c/a>, both inconveniencing and risking the safety of residents driving into the city. \u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": {
"dropCap": false
},
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“People missed doctors’ appointments, nurses were missing from their jobs, children were forced to defecate in bags, people had little to no water,” Assistant District Attorney Angela Roze said \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12084403/golden-gate-bridge-protest-trial-opens-in-san-francisco\">during the trial’s opening statements in May.\u003c/a> “Because these seven individuals decided that their cause, their message, was more important.”\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>“People missed doctors’ appointments, nurses were missing from their jobs, children were forced to defecate in bags, people had little to no water,” Assistant District Attorney Angela Roze said \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12084403/golden-gate-bridge-protest-trial-opens-in-san-francisco\">during the trial’s opening statements in May.\u003c/a> “Because these seven individuals decided that their cause, their message, was more important.”\u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": {
"dropCap": false
},
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Defense attorneys argued during the trial that the defendants sincerely believed that by engaging in the April 15 protest, they could prevent the loss of Palestinian lives. \u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>Defense attorneys argued during the trial that the defendants sincerely believed that by engaging in the April 15 protest, they could prevent the loss of Palestinian lives. \u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": {
"dropCap": false
},
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The bridge shutdown was just one of a number of actions across the country meant to disrupt economic activity and pressure the U.S. government to end its material support for Israel. \u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>The bridge shutdown was just one of a number of actions across the country meant to disrupt economic activity and pressure the U.S. government to end its material support for Israel. \u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/image",
"attrs": {
"id": 12096384,
"sizeSlug": "full",
"linkDestination": "none",
"imageCredit": "Nina Glick/KQED",
"srcset": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260821-GGBS-NG-26_qed.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260821-GGBS-NG-26_qed-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260821-GGBS-NG-26_qed-1536x1024.jpg 1536w",
"sizes": "(min-width: 992px) min(100vw, 1536px), (min-width: 768px) min(100vw, 1280px), min(100vw, 1020px)",
"alt": ""
},
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260821-GGBS-NG-26_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12096384\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260821-GGBS-NG-26_qed.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260821-GGBS-NG-26_qed-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260821-GGBS-NG-26_qed-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 992px) min(100vw, 1536px), (min-width: 768px) min(100vw, 1280px), min(100vw, 1020px)\"/>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A supporter places their hand on defendant River Allen’s back outside a courtroom at the Hall of Justice in San Francisco on Aug. 21 2026, during a recess at the sentencing hearing for seven defendants who were found guilty of blocking traffic on the Golden Gate Bridge in 2024.\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260821-GGBS-NG-26_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12096384\"/>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A supporter places their hand on defendant River Allen’s back outside a courtroom at the Hall of Justice in San Francisco on Aug. 21 2026, during a recess at the sentencing hearing for seven defendants who were found guilty of blocking traffic on the Golden Gate Bridge in 2024.\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": {
"dropCap": false
},
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The Golden Gate Bridge, Highway and Transportation District filed but ultimately \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12063531/golden-gate-bridge-agency-drops-163k-restitution-claim-against-pro-palestinian-protesters\">dropped\u003c/a> a restitution claim against the protesters, arguing that the protest cost it $163,000 in lost bridge tolls. The defendants did pay $5,300 to a group of residents who said they suffered economic losses due to the shutdown, mostly through lost wages for the day. \u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>The Golden Gate Bridge, Highway and Transportation District filed but ultimately \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12063531/golden-gate-bridge-agency-drops-163k-restitution-claim-against-pro-palestinian-protesters\">dropped\u003c/a> a restitution claim against the protesters, arguing that the protest cost it $163,000 in lost bridge tolls. The defendants did pay $5,300 to a group of residents who said they suffered economic losses due to the shutdown, mostly through lost wages for the day. \u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": {
"dropCap": false
},
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Caffese addressed the defendants individually, saying that letters of support submitted on their behalf showed that they had backgrounds in community activism and service, and care about laudable causes. \u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>Caffese addressed the defendants individually, saying that letters of support submitted on their behalf showed that they had backgrounds in community activism and service, and care about laudable causes. \u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": {
"dropCap": false
},
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“You are not being sentenced for your beliefs,” Caffese told the group.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>“You are not being sentenced for your beliefs,” Caffese told the group.\u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "kqed/ad",
"attrs": {
"format": "floatright"
},
"innerBlocks": [],
"innerHTML": "",
"innerContent": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": {
"dropCap": false
},
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“You, the defendants, are not new to civil disobedience,” she said. “Each of you knew you were violating the law.”\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>“You, the defendants, are not new to civil disobedience,” she said. “Each of you knew you were violating the law.”\u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
}
],
"excerpt": "The group of seven pro-Palestine activists faced a maximum of five-year sentences, a fraction of what was promised if jurors had not deadlocked last month on the top conspiracy charge. Prosecutors announced they will not retry the charges that divided jurors Friday.",
"status": "publish",
"parent": 0,
"modified": 1787356883,
"stats": {
"hasAudio": false,
"hasVideo": false,
"hasChartOrMap": false,
"iframeSrcs": [],
"hasGoogleForm": false,
"hasGallery": false,
"hasHearkenModule": false,
"hasPolis": false,
"paragraphCount": 27,
"wordCount": 1128
},
"headData": {
"title": "Pro-Palestinian Protesters Get Jail Time for Golden Gate Bridge Shutdown | KQED",
"description": "The group of seven pro-Palestine activists faced a maximum of five-year sentences, a fraction of what was promised if jurors had not deadlocked last month on the top conspiracy charge. Prosecutors announced they will not retry the charges that divided jurors Friday.",
"ogTitle": "",
"ogDescription": "",
"ogImgId": "",
"twTitle": "",
"twDescription": "",
"twImgId": "",
"schema": {
"@context": "https://schema.org",
"@type": "NewsArticle",
"headline": "Pro-Palestinian Protesters Get Jail Time for Golden Gate Bridge Shutdown",
"datePublished": "2026-08-21T15:01:08-07:00",
"dateModified": "2026-08-21T17:01:23-07:00",
"image": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/KQED-OG-Image@1x.png",
"isAccessibleForFree": "True",
"publisher": {
"@type": "NewsMediaOrganization",
"@id": "https://www.kqed.org/#organization",
"name": "KQED",
"logo": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/KQED-OG-Image@1x.png",
"url": "https://www.kqed.org",
"sameAs": [
"https://www.facebook.com/KQED",
"https://twitter.com/KQED",
"https://www.instagram.com/kqed/",
"https://www.tiktok.com/@kqedofficial",
"https://www.linkedin.com/company/kqed",
"https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCeC0IOo7i1P_61zVUWbJ4nw"
]
}
}
},
"primaryCategory": {
"termId": 8,
"slug": "news",
"name": "News"
},
"sticky": false,
"nprStoryId": "kqed-12096244",
"templateType": "standard",
"featuredImageType": "standard",
"excludeFromSiteSearch": "Include",
"articleAge": "0",
"path": "/news/12096244/pro-palestinian-protesters-get-jail-time-for-golden-gate-bridge-shutdown",
"audioTrackLength": null,
"parsedContent": [
{
"type": "contentString",
"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>A \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/san-francisco\">San Francisco\u003c/a> judge sentenced seven pro-Palestinian activists to 30 days in county jail and six months of probation on Friday for their roles in a 2024 protest that \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12085224/these-protesters-could-go-to-prison-for-blocking-the-golden-gate-bridge\">stopped traffic on the Golden Gate Bridge\u003c/a> for roughly four hours. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The San Francisco District Attorney’s Office also dismissed multiple outstanding charges, including the most serious for felony conspiracy, that the jury failed to reach a consensus on in July.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“Throughout history, civil disobedience has mostly involved accepting legal consequences,” Superior Court Judge Teresa Caffese said before handing down the sentences. “In that spirit, those who blocked the bridge and disrupted the lives of hundreds of commuters should be treated respectfully, but should also be prepared to accept the consequences of their actions.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260821-GGBS-NG-23_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12096383\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260821-GGBS-NG-23_qed.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260821-GGBS-NG-23_qed-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260821-GGBS-NG-23_qed-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Defendant Rocky Chau (right) celebrates with Raye Kahn, a spokesperson for the activists, after the sentencing hearing at the Hall of Justice in San Francisco on Aug. 21, 2026. (Nina Glick/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Law enforcement had originally arrested more than two dozen people for the Tax Day demonstration, which was organized in opposition to U.S. support for Israel amid ongoing military strikes on Gaza. The seven who went to trial included six who used lockboxes to chain themselves to cars blocking southbound lanes on the bridge, complicating removal efforts. The seventh had served as a liaison between activists and law enforcement. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The sentences are significantly lighter than the 14-to-15-year maximum terms that the seven Bay Area residents — Bhavika Anandpura, River Allen, Sara Cantor, Rocky Chau, Conrad de Jesus, Sarah Ferrell and Em Tillotson — faced at the start of the trial. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
"attributes": {
"named": {},
"numeric": []
}
},
{
"type": "component",
"content": "",
"name": "ad",
"attributes": {
"named": {
"label": "fullwidth"
},
"numeric": [
"fullwidth"
]
}
},
{
"type": "contentString",
"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>A jury last month convicted all seven defendants of several misdemeanors, including unlawful assembly, obstructing a thoroughfare and multiple counts of false imprisonment. But they failed to reach a consensus on felony conspiracy, which carried the most significant maximum sentence.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Following Friday’s sentencing, the DA’s office moved to dismiss the conspiracy and outstanding trespassing charge, saying the protesters had been held accountable, and that they were cognizant of the public resources a retrial would require. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The decision was met with loud cheers outside the courtroom from the protesters’ supporters. The activists and their lawyers have argued for over two years that \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12004860/golden-gate-bridge-protesters-plead-not-guilty-to-felony-and-misdemeanor-charges\">the felony charges were politically motivated\u003c/a> and \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12011165/felony-charges-against-golden-gate-bridge-protesters-can-go-to-trial-judge-rules\">a disproportionate response\u003c/a> to a protest on the Golden Gate Bridge, a historically common site for acts of civil disobedience.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“Ultimately, the government has overcharged this case,” defense attorney Shaffy Moeel told KQED in an April interview before the start of trial.\u003cbr>\u003cbr>“Felony charges should be reserved for the most serious and egregious charges that we can commit against one another, and blocking a bridge in order to prevent mass atrocities happening with our money doesn’t seem like the kind of felonious charge that any legislature intended,” Moeel said.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260821-GGBS-NG-19_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12096381\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260821-GGBS-NG-19_qed.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260821-GGBS-NG-19_qed-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260821-GGBS-NG-19_qed-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Supporters of the seven defendants hug outside of the courtroom after the sentencing hearing at the Hall of Justice in San Francisco on Aug. 21, 2026. (Nina Glick/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“We have never seen a felony conspiracy charge for a protest,” Deputy Public Defender Anthony Gedeon said. “There is no rationale besides a political motivation.”\u003cbr>\u003cbr>Defense attorneys believe their clients’ sentences, which require 15 days in county jail, while the other 15 can be served through the city’s Sheriff’s Work Alternative Program, will ultimately amount to just five days in jail and six in the work program. The jail sentence will be stayed pending appeal, Caffese said Friday.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Each defendant was also given six months of probation and multiple fines and restitution amounting to over $1,300.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The courtroom was quiet as Caffese delivered the sentences, but defense attorneys pushed back on the jail time, requesting an explanation and home detention for their clients, citing various personal reasons. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Caffese denied most of those requests, but she granted Cantor, who has a disability that requires her to use a cane, home detention for half of her sentence. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>After the hearing, the protesters’ supporters rallied outside the court. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260821-GGBS-NG-21_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12096382\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260821-GGBS-NG-21_qed.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260821-GGBS-NG-21_qed-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260821-GGBS-NG-21_qed-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Defendant Em Tillotson celebrates after the sentencing hearing at the Hall of Justice in San Francisco on Aug. 21, 2026. (Nina Glick/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>De Jesus thanked his co-defendants.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“In them, I have found love and support and a community that I care deeply for,” he said.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“Two years of fighting the DA has taken a toll on us mentally and physically,” de Jesus continued. “However, it only takes a moment to reflect on what Palestinians in Gaza are going through to make us fight even harder for a free Palestine.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Prosecutors argued in court that the action was a premeditated effort to break the law and \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12084403/golden-gate-bridge-protest-trial-opens-in-san-francisco\">trap commuters on the Golden Gate Bridge\u003c/a>, both inconveniencing and risking the safety of residents driving into the city. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“People missed doctors’ appointments, nurses were missing from their jobs, children were forced to defecate in bags, people had little to no water,” Assistant District Attorney Angela Roze said \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12084403/golden-gate-bridge-protest-trial-opens-in-san-francisco\">during the trial’s opening statements in May.\u003c/a> “Because these seven individuals decided that their cause, their message, was more important.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Defense attorneys argued during the trial that the defendants sincerely believed that by engaging in the April 15 protest, they could prevent the loss of Palestinian lives. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The bridge shutdown was just one of a number of actions across the country meant to disrupt economic activity and pressure the U.S. government to end its material support for Israel. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260821-GGBS-NG-26_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12096384\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260821-GGBS-NG-26_qed.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260821-GGBS-NG-26_qed-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260821-GGBS-NG-26_qed-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A supporter places their hand on defendant River Allen’s back outside a courtroom at the Hall of Justice in San Francisco on Aug. 21 2026, during a recess at the sentencing hearing for seven defendants who were found guilty of blocking traffic on the Golden Gate Bridge in 2024. (Nina Glick/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The Golden Gate Bridge, Highway and Transportation District filed but ultimately \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12063531/golden-gate-bridge-agency-drops-163k-restitution-claim-against-pro-palestinian-protesters\">dropped\u003c/a> a restitution claim against the protesters, arguing that the protest cost it $163,000 in lost bridge tolls. The defendants did pay $5,300 to a group of residents who said they suffered economic losses due to the shutdown, mostly through lost wages for the day. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Caffese addressed the defendants individually, saying that letters of support submitted on their behalf showed that they had backgrounds in community activism and service, and care about laudable causes. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“You are not being sentenced for your beliefs,” Caffese told the group.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
"attributes": {
"named": {},
"numeric": []
}
},
{
"type": "component",
"content": "",
"name": "ad",
"attributes": {
"named": {
"label": "floatright"
},
"numeric": [
"floatright"
]
}
},
{
"type": "contentString",
"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“You, the defendants, are not new to civil disobedience,” she said. “Each of you knew you were violating the law.”\u003c/p>\n\n\u003c/div>\u003c/p>",
"attributes": {
"named": {},
"numeric": []
}
}
],
"link": "/news/12096244/pro-palestinian-protesters-get-jail-time-for-golden-gate-bridge-shutdown",
"authors": [
"11761",
"11913"
],
"categories": [
"news_6188",
"news_28250",
"news_8"
],
"tags": [
"news_27626",
"news_6631",
"news_1276",
"news_1741",
"news_33333",
"news_29475",
"news_33647",
"news_38",
"news_2688"
],
"featImg": "news_12096326",
"label": "news"
},
"news_12094957": {
"type": "posts",
"id": "news_12094957",
"meta": {
"index": "posts_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "12094957",
"score": null,
"sort": [
1786744265000
]
},
"guestAuthors": [],
"slug": "oakland-sues-la-peralta-apartment-owners-over-elevator-outages-livability-issues",
"title": "Oakland Sues La Peralta Apartment Owners Over Elevator Outages, Livability Issues",
"publishDate": 1786744265,
"format": "standard",
"headTitle": "Oakland Sues La Peralta Apartment Owners Over Elevator Outages, Livability Issues | KQED",
"labelTerm": {
"site": "news"
},
"content": "\n\u003cp>Unable to assist because of her own mobility issues, Kathy Vaquilar called 911 last summer when her husband fell in their \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/housing\">Oakland apartment\u003c/a>. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Because there was no working elevator in their building, however, paramedics had to strap the 80-year-old Richard Johnson into something like a tarp to bring him down four flights of stairs.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>That elevator outage at La Peralta in downtown Oakland lasted 52 days, from June 28 to Aug. 18, 2025. In a complaint filed Aug. 11 against the building’s owners and operators, City Attorney Ryan Richardson notes that variations of Vaquilar and Johnson’s ordeal were experienced by many of the 93 residential units.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1334\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260813-OAK-LANDLORD-SUIT-MD-06-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12095132\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260813-OAK-LANDLORD-SUIT-MD-06-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260813-OAK-LANDLORD-SUIT-MD-06-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260813-OAK-LANDLORD-SUIT-MD-06-KQED-1536x1025.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Kathy Vaquilar holds a photo of her deceased husband, Rich Johnson, at the La Peralta building where the couple lived, in Oakland on Aug. 13, 2026. (Martin do Nascimento/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“You have the situation where there are people with mobility issues that are on the fourth, fifth, and sixth floors of this building, and they didn’t have easy ways to take care of their basic needs, to go outside, to do their laundry, to take their trash out,” Richardson said. “And if there was an emergency, they were at the mercy of folks getting to them, as opposed to them being able to evacuate easily.” \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Filed in Alameda County Superior Court, the suit by the city attorney notes that La Peralta’s elevator problems were so pervasive that the Oakland Fire Department had to free tenants trapped in elevators 14 times between 2024 and 2025. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\u003cp>A spokesperson for the fire department called such frequency very uncommon. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“The Summer 2025 elevator outage was not an isolated incident at La Peralta; it is part of Defendants’ dangerous pattern of refusing to conduct regular maintenance of their elevators, causing repeated emergency rescue events,” the complaint states.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Richardson’s suit names as defendants 184 13th Street Associates, which owns La Peralta; the Mosser Companies, which runs it; and CEO Neveo Mosser. The Mosser Companies is one of Northern California’s largest housing providers. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The lawsuit alleges that Neveo Mosser runs both of the named companies and used the corporate ownership structure to “insulate himself from the liabilities connected to his failure to provide habitable living conditions.” \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Mosser representatives did not return a request for comment. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Residents said Mosser did not fix La Peralta’s broken passenger and freight elevators until it faced media attention and a city inquiry. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1334\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260813-OAK-LANDLORD-SUIT-MD-02-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12095130\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260813-OAK-LANDLORD-SUIT-MD-02-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260813-OAK-LANDLORD-SUIT-MD-02-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260813-OAK-LANDLORD-SUIT-MD-02-KQED-1536x1025.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">The La Peralta building in Oakland on Aug. 13, 2026. (Martin do Nascimento/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Vaquilar, 68, noted in an interview that the elevator outage occurred while she was taking care of her gravely ill husband in what would be the last summer of his life. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“I was under a lot of stress, too,” Vaquilar said. “Because I had to work full-time and take care of him, as well. And I would come home at lunchtime and check on him.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Because of her own mobility issues, Vaquilar said every trip home meant an exhausting and sometimes painful climb up to her four flights of stairs. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“If you’re carrying groceries or garbage or laundry, it’s just extra hard. I’d have to take breaks at each of the levels,” Vaquilar said, adding that she’d sometimes have to make multiple trips. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Johnson \u003ca href=\"https://abc7news.com/post/elevator-not-working-5-weeks-oakland-apartment-building-tenants-turn-team/17444876/\">told ABC7\u003c/a> at the time that he felt trapped in his apartment. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>He died this past April.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“I think he would have gone out a lot more… and he needed to go out and get some sunshine,” Vaquilar said. “It definitely impacted his health.” \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Counting other habitability issues, the lawsuit alleges that Mosser failed to fix fire damage, structural damage and pest infestations. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1334\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260813-OAK-LANDLORD-SUIT-MD-10-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12095306\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260813-OAK-LANDLORD-SUIT-MD-10-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260813-OAK-LANDLORD-SUIT-MD-10-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260813-OAK-LANDLORD-SUIT-MD-10-KQED-1536x1025.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Kathy Vaquilar waits for the elevator at the La Peralta building, where she lives, in Oakland on Aug. 13, 2026. The City of Oakland and tenants are suing La Peralta’s landlord, Mosser Living, over the unusable elevators. (Martin do Nascimento/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Oakland’s Elevator Maintenance Ordinance requires landlords to post a notice any time elevators are out of service and to estimate when they’ll be working again. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Repairs must be completed as soon as reasonably possible. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>If elevators are out of service for more than 24 hours, landlords are required to pay to temporarily relocate any tenants who are severely impacted, including those with disabilities.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Richardson said his office is seeking assurances that the elevators will be regularly maintained, that the other habitability issues will be addressed, and that Mosser will offer compensation for the tenants, including any who may have moved out because of the elevator problems.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“We also want to make sure the tenants who were … fulfilling their side of the bargain and paying their rent this entire time, but didn’t receive a habitable, dignified place to live, that they get some restitution,” Richardson said. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Vaquilar is among a group of La Peralta residents who are also pursuing their own lawsuit against Mosser. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1334\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260813-OAK-LANDLORD-SUIT-MD-09-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12095164\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260813-OAK-LANDLORD-SUIT-MD-09-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260813-OAK-LANDLORD-SUIT-MD-09-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260813-OAK-LANDLORD-SUIT-MD-09-KQED-1536x1025.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Panels that once displayed elevator-safety and maintenance credentials are now empty inside the elevator at the La Peralta building in Oakland on Aug. 13, 2026. (Martin do Nascimento/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“I know that people want compensation,” Vaquilar said. “The compensation would definitely help a lot because they keep raising the rent here … and that’s ridiculous because we’re not getting the kind of service that we should if we’re paying rent on a regular basis.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The Mosser lawsuit comes a month after Oakland \u003ca href=\"https://oaklandside.org/2026/07/17/oakland-lawsuit-mann-dodg-landlords-extended/\">extended its oversight\u003c/a> of landlords Baljit Singh Mann and Surinder Mann, members of a family known for owning dozens of properties across the city. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Oakland first sued the Manns and their companies in 2021 for poor living conditions and illegal unit conversions. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>That oversight was meant to end this fall, but Richardson’s office accused the Manns of not keeping up with their agreement, and the two sides agreed to extend the arrangement for three years.\u003c/p>\n",
"blocks": [
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": {
"dropCap": false
},
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Unable to assist because of her own mobility issues, Kathy Vaquilar called 911 last summer when her husband fell in their \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/housing\">Oakland apartment\u003c/a>. \u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>Unable to assist because of her own mobility issues, Kathy Vaquilar called 911 last summer when her husband fell in their \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/housing\">Oakland apartment\u003c/a>. \u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": {
"dropCap": false
},
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Because there was no working elevator in their building, however, paramedics had to strap the 80-year-old Richard Johnson into something like a tarp to bring him down four flights of stairs.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>Because there was no working elevator in their building, however, paramedics had to strap the 80-year-old Richard Johnson into something like a tarp to bring him down four flights of stairs.\u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": {
"dropCap": false
},
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>That elevator outage at La Peralta in downtown Oakland lasted 52 days, from June 28 to Aug. 18, 2025. In a complaint filed Aug. 11 against the building’s owners and operators, City Attorney Ryan Richardson notes that variations of Vaquilar and Johnson’s ordeal were experienced by many of the 93 residential units.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>That elevator outage at La Peralta in downtown Oakland lasted 52 days, from June 28 to Aug. 18, 2025. In a complaint filed Aug. 11 against the building’s owners and operators, City Attorney Ryan Richardson notes that variations of Vaquilar and Johnson’s ordeal were experienced by many of the 93 residential units.\u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/image",
"attrs": {
"id": 12095132,
"sizeSlug": "full",
"linkDestination": "none",
"alt": "",
"srcset": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260813-OAK-LANDLORD-SUIT-MD-06-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260813-OAK-LANDLORD-SUIT-MD-06-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260813-OAK-LANDLORD-SUIT-MD-06-KQED-1536x1025.jpg 1536w",
"sizes": "(min-width: 992px) min(100vw, 1536px), (min-width: 768px) min(100vw, 1280px), min(100vw, 1020px)"
},
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260813-OAK-LANDLORD-SUIT-MD-06-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12095132\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260813-OAK-LANDLORD-SUIT-MD-06-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260813-OAK-LANDLORD-SUIT-MD-06-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260813-OAK-LANDLORD-SUIT-MD-06-KQED-1536x1025.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 992px) min(100vw, 1536px), (min-width: 768px) min(100vw, 1280px), min(100vw, 1020px)\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Kathy Vaquilar holds a photo of her deceased husband, Rich Johnson, at the La Peralta building where the couple lived, in Oakland on Aug. 13, 2026. \u003ccite class=\"wp-inline-image-credit\"> (Martin do Nascimento/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260813-OAK-LANDLORD-SUIT-MD-06-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12095132\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Kathy Vaquilar holds a photo of her deceased husband, Rich Johnson, at the La Peralta building where the couple lived, in Oakland on Aug. 13, 2026. \u003ccite class=\"wp-inline-image-credit\"> (Martin do Nascimento/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": {
"dropCap": false
},
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“You have the situation where there are people with mobility issues that are on the fourth, fifth, and sixth floors of this building, and they didn’t have easy ways to take care of their basic needs, to go outside, to do their laundry, to take their trash out,” Richardson said. “And if there was an emergency, they were at the mercy of folks getting to them, as opposed to them being able to evacuate easily.” \u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>“You have the situation where there are people with mobility issues that are on the fourth, fifth, and sixth floors of this building, and they didn’t have easy ways to take care of their basic needs, to go outside, to do their laundry, to take their trash out,” Richardson said. “And if there was an emergency, they were at the mercy of folks getting to them, as opposed to them being able to evacuate easily.” \u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": {
"dropCap": false
},
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Filed in Alameda County Superior Court, the suit by the city attorney notes that La Peralta’s elevator problems were so pervasive that the Oakland Fire Department had to free tenants trapped in elevators 14 times between 2024 and 2025. \u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>Filed in Alameda County Superior Court, the suit by the city attorney notes that La Peralta’s elevator problems were so pervasive that the Oakland Fire Department had to free tenants trapped in elevators 14 times between 2024 and 2025. \u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "kqed-v2/related-articles",
"attrs": {
"postIds": [
"news_12094860"
],
"label": "Related Articles",
"maxPosts": 1,
"showImages": false,
"heroImage": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/01/20250123_RebuildingAfterWildfire_GC-4.jpg",
"query": "",
"labelWasCleared": false,
"heroImageAlt": "",
"heroImageLink": "",
"labelLink": "",
"alignment": "right",
"target": "_self",
"manualLinks": [],
"posts": []
},
"innerHTML": "",
"innerContent": [],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": {
"dropCap": false
},
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>A spokesperson for the fire department called such frequency very uncommon. \u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>A spokesperson for the fire department called such frequency very uncommon. \u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": {
"dropCap": false
},
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“The Summer 2025 elevator outage was not an isolated incident at La Peralta; it is part of Defendants’ dangerous pattern of refusing to conduct regular maintenance of their elevators, causing repeated emergency rescue events,” the complaint states.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>“The Summer 2025 elevator outage was not an isolated incident at La Peralta; it is part of Defendants’ dangerous pattern of refusing to conduct regular maintenance of their elevators, causing repeated emergency rescue events,” the complaint states.\u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": {
"dropCap": false
},
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Richardson’s suit names as defendants 184 13th Street Associates, which owns La Peralta; the Mosser Companies, which runs it; and CEO Neveo Mosser. The Mosser Companies is one of Northern California’s largest housing providers. \u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>Richardson’s suit names as defendants 184 13th Street Associates, which owns La Peralta; the Mosser Companies, which runs it; and CEO Neveo Mosser. The Mosser Companies is one of Northern California’s largest housing providers. \u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": {
"dropCap": false
},
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The lawsuit alleges that Neveo Mosser runs both of the named companies and used the corporate ownership structure to “insulate himself from the liabilities connected to his failure to provide habitable living conditions.” \u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>The lawsuit alleges that Neveo Mosser runs both of the named companies and used the corporate ownership structure to “insulate himself from the liabilities connected to his failure to provide habitable living conditions.” \u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": {
"dropCap": false
},
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Mosser representatives did not return a request for comment. \u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>Mosser representatives did not return a request for comment. \u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": {
"dropCap": false
},
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Residents said Mosser did not fix La Peralta’s broken passenger and freight elevators until it faced media attention and a city inquiry. \u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>Residents said Mosser did not fix La Peralta’s broken passenger and freight elevators until it faced media attention and a city inquiry. \u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/image",
"attrs": {
"id": 12095130,
"sizeSlug": "full",
"linkDestination": "none",
"alt": "",
"srcset": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260813-OAK-LANDLORD-SUIT-MD-02-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260813-OAK-LANDLORD-SUIT-MD-02-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260813-OAK-LANDLORD-SUIT-MD-02-KQED-1536x1025.jpg 1536w",
"sizes": "(min-width: 992px) min(100vw, 1536px), (min-width: 768px) min(100vw, 1280px), min(100vw, 1020px)"
},
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260813-OAK-LANDLORD-SUIT-MD-02-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12095130\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260813-OAK-LANDLORD-SUIT-MD-02-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260813-OAK-LANDLORD-SUIT-MD-02-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260813-OAK-LANDLORD-SUIT-MD-02-KQED-1536x1025.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 992px) min(100vw, 1536px), (min-width: 768px) min(100vw, 1280px), min(100vw, 1020px)\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">The La Peralta building in Oakland on Aug. 13, 2026.\u003ccite class=\"wp-inline-image-credit\"> (Martin do Nascimento/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260813-OAK-LANDLORD-SUIT-MD-02-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12095130\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">The La Peralta building in Oakland on Aug. 13, 2026.\u003ccite class=\"wp-inline-image-credit\"> (Martin do Nascimento/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": {
"dropCap": false
},
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Vaquilar, 68, noted in an interview that the elevator outage occurred while she was taking care of her gravely ill husband in what would be the last summer of his life. \u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>Vaquilar, 68, noted in an interview that the elevator outage occurred while she was taking care of her gravely ill husband in what would be the last summer of his life. \u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": {
"dropCap": false
},
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“I was under a lot of stress, too,” Vaquilar said. “Because I had to work full-time and take care of him, as well. And I would come home at lunchtime and check on him.”\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>“I was under a lot of stress, too,” Vaquilar said. “Because I had to work full-time and take care of him, as well. And I would come home at lunchtime and check on him.”\u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": {
"dropCap": false
},
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Because of her own mobility issues, Vaquilar said every trip home meant an exhausting and sometimes painful climb up to her four flights of stairs. \u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>Because of her own mobility issues, Vaquilar said every trip home meant an exhausting and sometimes painful climb up to her four flights of stairs. \u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": {
"dropCap": false
},
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“If you’re carrying groceries or garbage or laundry, it’s just extra hard. I’d have to take breaks at each of the levels,” Vaquilar said, adding that she’d sometimes have to make multiple trips. \u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>“If you’re carrying groceries or garbage or laundry, it’s just extra hard. I’d have to take breaks at each of the levels,” Vaquilar said, adding that she’d sometimes have to make multiple trips. \u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": {
"dropCap": false
},
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Johnson \u003ca href=\"https://abc7news.com/post/elevator-not-working-5-weeks-oakland-apartment-building-tenants-turn-team/17444876/\">told ABC7\u003c/a> at the time that he felt trapped in his apartment. \u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>Johnson \u003ca href=\"https://abc7news.com/post/elevator-not-working-5-weeks-oakland-apartment-building-tenants-turn-team/17444876/\">told ABC7\u003c/a> at the time that he felt trapped in his apartment. \u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": {
"dropCap": false
},
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>He died this past April.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>He died this past April.\u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": {
"dropCap": false
},
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“I think he would have gone out a lot more… and he needed to go out and get some sunshine,” Vaquilar said. “It definitely impacted his health.” \u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>“I think he would have gone out a lot more… and he needed to go out and get some sunshine,” Vaquilar said. “It definitely impacted his health.” \u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": {
"dropCap": false
},
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Counting other habitability issues, the lawsuit alleges that Mosser failed to fix fire damage, structural damage and pest infestations. \u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>Counting other habitability issues, the lawsuit alleges that Mosser failed to fix fire damage, structural damage and pest infestations. \u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/image",
"attrs": {
"id": 12095306,
"sizeSlug": "full",
"linkDestination": "none",
"alt": "",
"srcset": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260813-OAK-LANDLORD-SUIT-MD-10-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260813-OAK-LANDLORD-SUIT-MD-10-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260813-OAK-LANDLORD-SUIT-MD-10-KQED-1536x1025.jpg 1536w",
"sizes": "(min-width: 992px) min(100vw, 1536px), (min-width: 768px) min(100vw, 1280px), min(100vw, 1020px)"
},
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260813-OAK-LANDLORD-SUIT-MD-10-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12095306\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260813-OAK-LANDLORD-SUIT-MD-10-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260813-OAK-LANDLORD-SUIT-MD-10-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260813-OAK-LANDLORD-SUIT-MD-10-KQED-1536x1025.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 992px) min(100vw, 1536px), (min-width: 768px) min(100vw, 1280px), min(100vw, 1020px)\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Kathy Vaquilar waits for the elevator at the La Peralta building, where she lives, in Oakland on Aug. 13, 2026. The City of Oakland and tenants are suing La Peralta’s landlord, Mosser Living, over the unusable elevators.\u003ccite class=\"wp-inline-image-credit\"> (Martin do Nascimento/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260813-OAK-LANDLORD-SUIT-MD-10-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12095306\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Kathy Vaquilar waits for the elevator at the La Peralta building, where she lives, in Oakland on Aug. 13, 2026. The City of Oakland and tenants are suing La Peralta’s landlord, Mosser Living, over the unusable elevators.\u003ccite class=\"wp-inline-image-credit\"> (Martin do Nascimento/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": {
"dropCap": false
},
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Oakland’s Elevator Maintenance Ordinance requires landlords to post a notice any time elevators are out of service and to estimate when they’ll be working again. \u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>Oakland’s Elevator Maintenance Ordinance requires landlords to post a notice any time elevators are out of service and to estimate when they’ll be working again. \u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": {
"dropCap": false
},
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Repairs must be completed as soon as reasonably possible. \u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>Repairs must be completed as soon as reasonably possible. \u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": {
"dropCap": false
},
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>If elevators are out of service for more than 24 hours, landlords are required to pay to temporarily relocate any tenants who are severely impacted, including those with disabilities.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>If elevators are out of service for more than 24 hours, landlords are required to pay to temporarily relocate any tenants who are severely impacted, including those with disabilities.\u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": {
"dropCap": false
},
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Richardson said his office is seeking assurances that the elevators will be regularly maintained, that the other habitability issues will be addressed, and that Mosser will offer compensation for the tenants, including any who may have moved out because of the elevator problems.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>Richardson said his office is seeking assurances that the elevators will be regularly maintained, that the other habitability issues will be addressed, and that Mosser will offer compensation for the tenants, including any who may have moved out because of the elevator problems.\u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": {
"dropCap": false
},
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“We also want to make sure the tenants who were … fulfilling their side of the bargain and paying their rent this entire time, but didn’t receive a habitable, dignified place to live, that they get some restitution,” Richardson said. \u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>“We also want to make sure the tenants who were … fulfilling their side of the bargain and paying their rent this entire time, but didn’t receive a habitable, dignified place to live, that they get some restitution,” Richardson said. \u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": {
"dropCap": false
},
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Vaquilar is among a group of La Peralta residents who are also pursuing their own lawsuit against Mosser. \u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>Vaquilar is among a group of La Peralta residents who are also pursuing their own lawsuit against Mosser. \u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/image",
"attrs": {
"id": 12095164,
"sizeSlug": "full",
"linkDestination": "none",
"alt": "",
"srcset": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260813-OAK-LANDLORD-SUIT-MD-09-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260813-OAK-LANDLORD-SUIT-MD-09-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260813-OAK-LANDLORD-SUIT-MD-09-KQED-1536x1025.jpg 1536w",
"sizes": "(min-width: 992px) min(100vw, 1536px), (min-width: 768px) min(100vw, 1280px), min(100vw, 1020px)"
},
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260813-OAK-LANDLORD-SUIT-MD-09-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12095164\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260813-OAK-LANDLORD-SUIT-MD-09-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260813-OAK-LANDLORD-SUIT-MD-09-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260813-OAK-LANDLORD-SUIT-MD-09-KQED-1536x1025.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 992px) min(100vw, 1536px), (min-width: 768px) min(100vw, 1280px), min(100vw, 1020px)\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Panels that once displayed elevator-safety and maintenance credentials are now empty inside the elevator at the La Peralta building in Oakland on Aug. 13, 2026.\u003ccite class=\"wp-inline-image-credit\"> (Martin do Nascimento/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260813-OAK-LANDLORD-SUIT-MD-09-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12095164\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Panels that once displayed elevator-safety and maintenance credentials are now empty inside the elevator at the La Peralta building in Oakland on Aug. 13, 2026.\u003ccite class=\"wp-inline-image-credit\"> (Martin do Nascimento/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": {
"dropCap": false
},
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“I know that people want compensation,” Vaquilar said. “The compensation would definitely help a lot because they keep raising the rent here … and that’s ridiculous because we’re not getting the kind of service that we should if we’re paying rent on a regular basis.”\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>“I know that people want compensation,” Vaquilar said. “The compensation would definitely help a lot because they keep raising the rent here … and that’s ridiculous because we’re not getting the kind of service that we should if we’re paying rent on a regular basis.”\u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": {
"dropCap": false
},
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The Mosser lawsuit comes a month after Oakland \u003ca href=\"https://oaklandside.org/2026/07/17/oakland-lawsuit-mann-dodg-landlords-extended/\">extended its oversight\u003c/a> of landlords Baljit Singh Mann and Surinder Mann, members of a family known for owning dozens of properties across the city. \u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>The Mosser lawsuit comes a month after Oakland \u003ca href=\"https://oaklandside.org/2026/07/17/oakland-lawsuit-mann-dodg-landlords-extended/\">extended its oversight\u003c/a> of landlords Baljit Singh Mann and Surinder Mann, members of a family known for owning dozens of properties across the city. \u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": {
"dropCap": false
},
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Oakland first sued the Manns and their companies in 2021 for poor living conditions and illegal unit conversions. \u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>Oakland first sued the Manns and their companies in 2021 for poor living conditions and illegal unit conversions. \u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": {
"dropCap": false
},
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>That oversight was meant to end this fall, but Richardson’s office accused the Manns of not keeping up with their agreement, and the two sides agreed to extend the arrangement for three years.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>That oversight was meant to end this fall, but Richardson’s office accused the Manns of not keeping up with their agreement, and the two sides agreed to extend the arrangement for three years.\u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
}
],
"excerpt": "The Oakland city attorney alleges repeated elevator failures, fire and structural damage and pests at the six-story building.",
"status": "publish",
"parent": 0,
"modified": 1788284050,
"stats": {
"hasAudio": false,
"hasVideo": false,
"hasChartOrMap": false,
"iframeSrcs": [],
"hasGoogleForm": false,
"hasGallery": false,
"hasHearkenModule": false,
"hasPolis": false,
"paragraphCount": 29,
"wordCount": 1004
},
"headData": {
"title": "Oakland Sues La Peralta Apartment Owners Over Elevator Outages, Livability Issues | KQED",
"description": "The Oakland city attorney alleges repeated elevator failures, fire and structural damage and pests at the six-story building.",
"ogTitle": "",
"ogDescription": "",
"ogImgId": "",
"twTitle": "",
"twDescription": "",
"twImgId": "",
"schema": {
"@context": "https://schema.org",
"@type": "NewsArticle",
"headline": "Oakland Sues La Peralta Apartment Owners Over Elevator Outages, Livability Issues",
"datePublished": "2026-08-14T14:51:05-07:00",
"dateModified": "2026-09-01T10:34:10-07:00",
"image": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/KQED-OG-Image@1x.png",
"isAccessibleForFree": "True",
"publisher": {
"@type": "NewsMediaOrganization",
"@id": "https://www.kqed.org/#organization",
"name": "KQED",
"logo": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/KQED-OG-Image@1x.png",
"url": "https://www.kqed.org",
"sameAs": [
"https://www.facebook.com/KQED",
"https://twitter.com/KQED",
"https://www.instagram.com/kqed/",
"https://www.tiktok.com/@kqedofficial",
"https://www.linkedin.com/company/kqed",
"https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCeC0IOo7i1P_61zVUWbJ4nw"
]
}
}
},
"primaryCategory": {
"termId": 6266,
"slug": "housing",
"name": "Housing"
},
"audioUrl": "https://traffic.omny.fm/d/clips/0af137ef-751e-4b19-a055-aaef00d2d578/ffca7e9f-6831-41c5-bcaf-aaef00f5a073/81172cc9-05bd-486d-bfbf-b4b8011786b9/audio.mp3",
"sticky": false,
"nprStoryId": "kqed-12094957",
"templateType": "standard",
"featuredImageType": "standard",
"excludeFromSiteSearch": "Include",
"articleAge": "0",
"path": "/news/12094957/oakland-sues-la-peralta-apartment-owners-over-elevator-outages-livability-issues",
"audioTrackLength": null,
"parsedContent": [
{
"type": "contentString",
"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\n\u003cp>Unable to assist because of her own mobility issues, Kathy Vaquilar called 911 last summer when her husband fell in their \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/housing\">Oakland apartment\u003c/a>. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Because there was no working elevator in their building, however, paramedics had to strap the 80-year-old Richard Johnson into something like a tarp to bring him down four flights of stairs.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>That elevator outage at La Peralta in downtown Oakland lasted 52 days, from June 28 to Aug. 18, 2025. In a complaint filed Aug. 11 against the building’s owners and operators, City Attorney Ryan Richardson notes that variations of Vaquilar and Johnson’s ordeal were experienced by many of the 93 residential units.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1334\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260813-OAK-LANDLORD-SUIT-MD-06-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12095132\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260813-OAK-LANDLORD-SUIT-MD-06-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260813-OAK-LANDLORD-SUIT-MD-06-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260813-OAK-LANDLORD-SUIT-MD-06-KQED-1536x1025.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Kathy Vaquilar holds a photo of her deceased husband, Rich Johnson, at the La Peralta building where the couple lived, in Oakland on Aug. 13, 2026. (Martin do Nascimento/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“You have the situation where there are people with mobility issues that are on the fourth, fifth, and sixth floors of this building, and they didn’t have easy ways to take care of their basic needs, to go outside, to do their laundry, to take their trash out,” Richardson said. “And if there was an emergency, they were at the mercy of folks getting to them, as opposed to them being able to evacuate easily.” \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Filed in Alameda County Superior Court, the suit by the city attorney notes that La Peralta’s elevator problems were so pervasive that the Oakland Fire Department had to free tenants trapped in elevators 14 times between 2024 and 2025. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\u003cp>A spokesperson for the fire department called such frequency very uncommon. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“The Summer 2025 elevator outage was not an isolated incident at La Peralta; it is part of Defendants’ dangerous pattern of refusing to conduct regular maintenance of their elevators, causing repeated emergency rescue events,” the complaint states.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Richardson’s suit names as defendants 184 13th Street Associates, which owns La Peralta; the Mosser Companies, which runs it; and CEO Neveo Mosser. The Mosser Companies is one of Northern California’s largest housing providers. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The lawsuit alleges that Neveo Mosser runs both of the named companies and used the corporate ownership structure to “insulate himself from the liabilities connected to his failure to provide habitable living conditions.” \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Mosser representatives did not return a request for comment. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Residents said Mosser did not fix La Peralta’s broken passenger and freight elevators until it faced media attention and a city inquiry. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1334\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260813-OAK-LANDLORD-SUIT-MD-02-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12095130\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260813-OAK-LANDLORD-SUIT-MD-02-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260813-OAK-LANDLORD-SUIT-MD-02-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260813-OAK-LANDLORD-SUIT-MD-02-KQED-1536x1025.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">The La Peralta building in Oakland on Aug. 13, 2026. (Martin do Nascimento/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Vaquilar, 68, noted in an interview that the elevator outage occurred while she was taking care of her gravely ill husband in what would be the last summer of his life. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“I was under a lot of stress, too,” Vaquilar said. “Because I had to work full-time and take care of him, as well. And I would come home at lunchtime and check on him.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Because of her own mobility issues, Vaquilar said every trip home meant an exhausting and sometimes painful climb up to her four flights of stairs. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“If you’re carrying groceries or garbage or laundry, it’s just extra hard. I’d have to take breaks at each of the levels,” Vaquilar said, adding that she’d sometimes have to make multiple trips. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Johnson \u003ca href=\"https://abc7news.com/post/elevator-not-working-5-weeks-oakland-apartment-building-tenants-turn-team/17444876/\">told ABC7\u003c/a> at the time that he felt trapped in his apartment. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>He died this past April.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“I think he would have gone out a lot more… and he needed to go out and get some sunshine,” Vaquilar said. “It definitely impacted his health.” \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Counting other habitability issues, the lawsuit alleges that Mosser failed to fix fire damage, structural damage and pest infestations. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1334\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260813-OAK-LANDLORD-SUIT-MD-10-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12095306\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260813-OAK-LANDLORD-SUIT-MD-10-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260813-OAK-LANDLORD-SUIT-MD-10-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260813-OAK-LANDLORD-SUIT-MD-10-KQED-1536x1025.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Kathy Vaquilar waits for the elevator at the La Peralta building, where she lives, in Oakland on Aug. 13, 2026. The City of Oakland and tenants are suing La Peralta’s landlord, Mosser Living, over the unusable elevators. (Martin do Nascimento/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Oakland’s Elevator Maintenance Ordinance requires landlords to post a notice any time elevators are out of service and to estimate when they’ll be working again. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Repairs must be completed as soon as reasonably possible. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>If elevators are out of service for more than 24 hours, landlords are required to pay to temporarily relocate any tenants who are severely impacted, including those with disabilities.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Richardson said his office is seeking assurances that the elevators will be regularly maintained, that the other habitability issues will be addressed, and that Mosser will offer compensation for the tenants, including any who may have moved out because of the elevator problems.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“We also want to make sure the tenants who were … fulfilling their side of the bargain and paying their rent this entire time, but didn’t receive a habitable, dignified place to live, that they get some restitution,” Richardson said. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Vaquilar is among a group of La Peralta residents who are also pursuing their own lawsuit against Mosser. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1334\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260813-OAK-LANDLORD-SUIT-MD-09-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12095164\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260813-OAK-LANDLORD-SUIT-MD-09-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260813-OAK-LANDLORD-SUIT-MD-09-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260813-OAK-LANDLORD-SUIT-MD-09-KQED-1536x1025.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Panels that once displayed elevator-safety and maintenance credentials are now empty inside the elevator at the La Peralta building in Oakland on Aug. 13, 2026. (Martin do Nascimento/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“I know that people want compensation,” Vaquilar said. “The compensation would definitely help a lot because they keep raising the rent here … and that’s ridiculous because we’re not getting the kind of service that we should if we’re paying rent on a regular basis.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The Mosser lawsuit comes a month after Oakland \u003ca href=\"https://oaklandside.org/2026/07/17/oakland-lawsuit-mann-dodg-landlords-extended/\">extended its oversight\u003c/a> of landlords Baljit Singh Mann and Surinder Mann, members of a family known for owning dozens of properties across the city. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Oakland first sued the Manns and their companies in 2021 for poor living conditions and illegal unit conversions. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>That oversight was meant to end this fall, but Richardson’s office accused the Manns of not keeping up with their agreement, and the two sides agreed to extend the arrangement for three years.\u003c/p>\n\u003c/div>\u003c/p>",
"attributes": {
"named": {},
"numeric": []
}
}
],
"link": "/news/12094957/oakland-sues-la-peralta-apartment-owners-over-elevator-outages-livability-issues",
"authors": [
"11761"
],
"categories": [
"news_6266",
"news_6188",
"news_28250",
"news_8"
],
"tags": [
"news_3921",
"news_260",
"news_18352",
"news_1775",
"news_28957",
"news_34054",
"news_36360",
"news_27707"
],
"featImg": "news_12095131",
"label": "news"
},
"news_12089732": {
"type": "posts",
"id": "news_12089732",
"meta": {
"index": "posts_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "12089732",
"score": null,
"sort": [
1783021318000
]
},
"guestAuthors": [],
"slug": "golden-gate-bridge-gaza-protesters-deadlocked-on-felony-conspiracy-charges",
"title": "Golden Gate Bridge Gaza Protesters: Jury Deadlocked on Felony Conspiracy Charges",
"publishDate": 1783021318,
"format": "standard",
"headTitle": "Golden Gate Bridge Gaza Protesters: Jury Deadlocked on Felony Conspiracy Charges | KQED",
"labelTerm": {
"site": "news"
},
"content": "\u003cp>A San Francisco jury \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12086262/san-franciscos-case-against-pro-palestinian-activists-who-blocked-bridge-heads-to-jury\">failed to reach a unanimous decision\u003c/a> on whether protesters who blocked traffic on the \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/golden-gate-bridge\">Golden Gate Bridge\u003c/a> in 2024 are guilty of felony conspiracy, charges that could have resulted in more than a decade-long prison sentence.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The jury found the seven Bay Area activists — Bhavika Anandpura, River Allen, Sara Cantor, Rocky Chau, Conrad de Jesus, Sarah Ferrell and Em Tillotson — guilty of multiple misdemeanors, including four counts of false imprisonment, obstructing a thoroughfare and unlawful assembly.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Cantor, who acted as a liaison between police and protesters on the day of the incident, was also found guilty of refusal to disperse at a riot.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>After the verdict was read, supporters, including some who were crying, flooded out of the packed courthouse, chanting “Free Palestine” and “No justice, no peace.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Attorneys for the protesters had not disputed that their clients brought Golden Gate Bridge traffic to a standstill for hours on Tax Day in 2024, but argued that they believed their actions were legally protected because they were “necessary” to save the lives of Palestinians in Gaza.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Today remains a victory,” public defender Nuha Abusamra said, following the verdict. “We do not fight solely to win. We fight for the resistance.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12089809\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12089809\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260702-GGBVerdict-05-BL.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260702-GGBVerdict-05-BL.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260702-GGBVerdict-05-BL-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260702-GGBVerdict-05-BL-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Manan Kocher gathers with supporters during a rally outside a courtroom at the Superior Court of California in San Francisco on July 2, 2026, after a jury deadlocked on a felony conspiracy charge against seven protesters accused of blocking the Golden Gate Bridge during a 2024 protest against the war in Gaza. \u003ccite>(Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Taking a bridge and blocking traffic for a few hours years ago is the bare minimum that we should be doing as American citizens while our tax dollars continue to fund the mass genocide of Palestinians,” she continued. “We will all go home and sleep safely in our homes. But Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank and the occupied territories, they will not … And that is why we will keep fighting.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The demonstration was part of an international movement protesting the U.S.’s involvement in Israel’s recent military incursion in the region.[aside postID=news_12089634 hero='https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/GlockBanCaliforniaGetty.jpg']Activists also shut down traffic on Interstate-880 in Oakland, and staged similar protests in San Diego, Seattle, Philadelphia, San Antonio, Chicago and across Mexico, Vietnam and Australia.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The group of protesters, part of a larger cohort nicknamed the “Golden Gate 26,” chained themselves to parked cars and each other in the southbound lanes of the bridge beginning at 7:30 a.m. on April 15, causing a significant traffic backup as commuters tried to travel into San Francisco from the North Bay.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Others, who participated in the demonstration by holding banners and blocking traffic but did not link themselves together, had charges against them dropped or reduced after many agreed to a diversion program, which included paying restitution.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Defense attorneys said the protesters had tried expressing their concern through less disruptive means, like calling their local representatives and participating in marches.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>At the time, as Israel was weighing whether to invade Rafah, a city along Gaza’s southern border where 1 million displaced Palestinians were seeking refuge, they believed the escalation was necessary to save lives.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12089844\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12089844\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260702-GGBVERDICTPRESSCONF-09-BL-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260702-GGBVERDICTPRESSCONF-09-BL-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260702-GGBVERDICTPRESSCONF-09-BL-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260702-GGBVERDICTPRESSCONF-09-BL-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">River Allen speaks during a press conference on the steps of City Hall in San Francisco on July 2, 2026, after a jury deadlocked on a felony conspiracy charge against seven protesters accused of blocking the Golden Gate Bridge during a 2024 protest against the war in Gaza. \u003ccite>(Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>After weeks of deliberation, the jury said it could not come to unanimous decisions on the most serious conspiracy charge or misdemeanor trespassing with the intent to interfere with business.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The foreperson of the jury told the court Thursday that they took at least six votes on the conspiracy charge, which usually ended in a 10-to-2 vote split, with the majority of jurors finding the protesters guilty.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>On a misdemeanor trespassing charge, all but one of the jurors leaned toward finding the group not guilty.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Protester River Allen said the jury guarded against overprosecution by not delivering a guilty verdict on the conspiracy charge\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“We cannot allow that precedent to be set in San Francisco, and the jury did not allow that,” they told a crowd gathered outside of the courthouse.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12089841\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12089841\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260702-GGBVERDICT-02-BL-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260702-GGBVERDICT-02-BL-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260702-GGBVERDICT-02-BL-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260702-GGBVERDICT-02-BL-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Supporters rally outside a courtroom at the Superior Court of California in San Francisco on July 2, 2026, after a jury deadlocked on a felony conspiracy charge against seven protesters accused of blocking the Golden Gate Bridge during a 2024 protest against the war in Gaza. \u003ccite>(Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Throughout the weekslong trial, the DAs office argued that the protesters’ actions had significant consequences for other Bay Area residents — some of whom missed doctors’ appointments or shifts at work while stuck on the bridge — and cost the bridge thousands of dollars in uncollected fares.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Superior Court Judge Teresa Caffese declined to give the jury special instructions to consider a necessity defense, but at least some members of the jury appeared swayed by protesters’ attorneys’ closing argument.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The district attorney’s office said it would “evaluate our options and consider next steps,” which could include retrying the undecided charges.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“The jury plays a key role in our criminal justice system, and I would like to thank them for their service in this trial,” District Attorney Brooke Jenkins said in a statement.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Defense attorneys said they expected to return to court next week.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n",
"blocks": [],
"excerpt": "The seven pro-Palestinian protesters were found guilty of multiple lesser charges after a Tax Day protest in 2024 that blocked Bay Area traffic on the bridge for hours.",
"status": "publish",
"parent": 0,
"modified": 1783033538,
"stats": {
"hasAudio": false,
"hasVideo": false,
"hasChartOrMap": false,
"iframeSrcs": [],
"hasGoogleForm": false,
"hasGallery": false,
"hasHearkenModule": false,
"hasPolis": false,
"paragraphCount": 24,
"wordCount": 961
},
"headData": {
"title": "Golden Gate Bridge Gaza Protesters: Jury Deadlocked on Felony Conspiracy Charges | KQED",
"description": "The seven pro-Palestinian protesters were found guilty of multiple lesser charges after a Tax Day protest in 2024 that blocked Bay Area traffic on the bridge for hours.",
"ogTitle": "",
"ogDescription": "",
"ogImgId": "",
"twTitle": "",
"twDescription": "",
"twImgId": "",
"schema": {
"@context": "https://schema.org",
"@type": "NewsArticle",
"headline": "Golden Gate Bridge Gaza Protesters: Jury Deadlocked on Felony Conspiracy Charges",
"datePublished": "2026-07-02T12:41:58-07:00",
"dateModified": "2026-07-02T16:05:38-07:00",
"image": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/KQED-OG-Image@1x.png",
"isAccessibleForFree": "True",
"publisher": {
"@type": "NewsMediaOrganization",
"@id": "https://www.kqed.org/#organization",
"name": "KQED",
"logo": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/KQED-OG-Image@1x.png",
"url": "https://www.kqed.org",
"sameAs": [
"https://www.facebook.com/KQED",
"https://twitter.com/KQED",
"https://www.instagram.com/kqed/",
"https://www.tiktok.com/@kqedofficial",
"https://www.linkedin.com/company/kqed",
"https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCeC0IOo7i1P_61zVUWbJ4nw"
]
}
}
},
"primaryCategory": {
"termId": 28250,
"slug": "local",
"name": "Local"
},
"sticky": false,
"nprStoryId": "kqed-12089732",
"templateType": "standard",
"featuredImageType": "standard",
"excludeFromSiteSearch": "Include",
"articleAge": "0",
"path": "/news/12089732/golden-gate-bridge-gaza-protesters-deadlocked-on-felony-conspiracy-charges",
"audioTrackLength": null,
"parsedContent": [
{
"type": "contentString",
"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>A San Francisco jury \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12086262/san-franciscos-case-against-pro-palestinian-activists-who-blocked-bridge-heads-to-jury\">failed to reach a unanimous decision\u003c/a> on whether protesters who blocked traffic on the \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/golden-gate-bridge\">Golden Gate Bridge\u003c/a> in 2024 are guilty of felony conspiracy, charges that could have resulted in more than a decade-long prison sentence.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The jury found the seven Bay Area activists — Bhavika Anandpura, River Allen, Sara Cantor, Rocky Chau, Conrad de Jesus, Sarah Ferrell and Em Tillotson — guilty of multiple misdemeanors, including four counts of false imprisonment, obstructing a thoroughfare and unlawful assembly.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Cantor, who acted as a liaison between police and protesters on the day of the incident, was also found guilty of refusal to disperse at a riot.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
"attributes": {
"named": {},
"numeric": []
}
},
{
"type": "component",
"content": "",
"name": "ad",
"attributes": {
"named": {
"label": "fullwidth"
},
"numeric": [
"fullwidth"
]
}
},
{
"type": "contentString",
"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>After the verdict was read, supporters, including some who were crying, flooded out of the packed courthouse, chanting “Free Palestine” and “No justice, no peace.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Attorneys for the protesters had not disputed that their clients brought Golden Gate Bridge traffic to a standstill for hours on Tax Day in 2024, but argued that they believed their actions were legally protected because they were “necessary” to save the lives of Palestinians in Gaza.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Today remains a victory,” public defender Nuha Abusamra said, following the verdict. “We do not fight solely to win. We fight for the resistance.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12089809\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12089809\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260702-GGBVerdict-05-BL.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260702-GGBVerdict-05-BL.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260702-GGBVerdict-05-BL-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260702-GGBVerdict-05-BL-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Manan Kocher gathers with supporters during a rally outside a courtroom at the Superior Court of California in San Francisco on July 2, 2026, after a jury deadlocked on a felony conspiracy charge against seven protesters accused of blocking the Golden Gate Bridge during a 2024 protest against the war in Gaza. \u003ccite>(Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Taking a bridge and blocking traffic for a few hours years ago is the bare minimum that we should be doing as American citizens while our tax dollars continue to fund the mass genocide of Palestinians,” she continued. “We will all go home and sleep safely in our homes. But Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank and the occupied territories, they will not … And that is why we will keep fighting.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The demonstration was part of an international movement protesting the U.S.’s involvement in Israel’s recent military incursion in the region.\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
"attributes": {
"named": {},
"numeric": []
}
},
{
"type": "component",
"content": "",
"name": "aside",
"attributes": {
"named": {
"postid": "news_12089634",
"hero": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/GlockBanCaliforniaGetty.jpg",
"label": ""
},
"numeric": []
}
},
{
"type": "contentString",
"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>Activists also shut down traffic on Interstate-880 in Oakland, and staged similar protests in San Diego, Seattle, Philadelphia, San Antonio, Chicago and across Mexico, Vietnam and Australia.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The group of protesters, part of a larger cohort nicknamed the “Golden Gate 26,” chained themselves to parked cars and each other in the southbound lanes of the bridge beginning at 7:30 a.m. on April 15, causing a significant traffic backup as commuters tried to travel into San Francisco from the North Bay.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Others, who participated in the demonstration by holding banners and blocking traffic but did not link themselves together, had charges against them dropped or reduced after many agreed to a diversion program, which included paying restitution.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Defense attorneys said the protesters had tried expressing their concern through less disruptive means, like calling their local representatives and participating in marches.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>At the time, as Israel was weighing whether to invade Rafah, a city along Gaza’s southern border where 1 million displaced Palestinians were seeking refuge, they believed the escalation was necessary to save lives.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12089844\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12089844\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260702-GGBVERDICTPRESSCONF-09-BL-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260702-GGBVERDICTPRESSCONF-09-BL-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260702-GGBVERDICTPRESSCONF-09-BL-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260702-GGBVERDICTPRESSCONF-09-BL-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">River Allen speaks during a press conference on the steps of City Hall in San Francisco on July 2, 2026, after a jury deadlocked on a felony conspiracy charge against seven protesters accused of blocking the Golden Gate Bridge during a 2024 protest against the war in Gaza. \u003ccite>(Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>After weeks of deliberation, the jury said it could not come to unanimous decisions on the most serious conspiracy charge or misdemeanor trespassing with the intent to interfere with business.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The foreperson of the jury told the court Thursday that they took at least six votes on the conspiracy charge, which usually ended in a 10-to-2 vote split, with the majority of jurors finding the protesters guilty.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>On a misdemeanor trespassing charge, all but one of the jurors leaned toward finding the group not guilty.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Protester River Allen said the jury guarded against overprosecution by not delivering a guilty verdict on the conspiracy charge\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“We cannot allow that precedent to be set in San Francisco, and the jury did not allow that,” they told a crowd gathered outside of the courthouse.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12089841\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12089841\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260702-GGBVERDICT-02-BL-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260702-GGBVERDICT-02-BL-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260702-GGBVERDICT-02-BL-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260702-GGBVERDICT-02-BL-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Supporters rally outside a courtroom at the Superior Court of California in San Francisco on July 2, 2026, after a jury deadlocked on a felony conspiracy charge against seven protesters accused of blocking the Golden Gate Bridge during a 2024 protest against the war in Gaza. \u003ccite>(Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Throughout the weekslong trial, the DAs office argued that the protesters’ actions had significant consequences for other Bay Area residents — some of whom missed doctors’ appointments or shifts at work while stuck on the bridge — and cost the bridge thousands of dollars in uncollected fares.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Superior Court Judge Teresa Caffese declined to give the jury special instructions to consider a necessity defense, but at least some members of the jury appeared swayed by protesters’ attorneys’ closing argument.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The district attorney’s office said it would “evaluate our options and consider next steps,” which could include retrying the undecided charges.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“The jury plays a key role in our criminal justice system, and I would like to thank them for their service in this trial,” District Attorney Brooke Jenkins said in a statement.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Defense attorneys said they expected to return to court next week.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003c/div>\u003c/p>",
"attributes": {
"named": {},
"numeric": []
}
}
],
"link": "/news/12089732/golden-gate-bridge-gaza-protesters-deadlocked-on-felony-conspiracy-charges",
"authors": [
"11913",
"11761"
],
"categories": [
"news_6188",
"news_28250",
"news_8"
],
"tags": [
"news_17725",
"news_6631",
"news_1276",
"news_33333",
"news_19954",
"news_29475",
"news_33647",
"news_745",
"news_38"
],
"featImg": "news_12089813",
"label": "news"
},
"news_12086262": {
"type": "posts",
"id": "news_12086262",
"meta": {
"index": "posts_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "12086262",
"score": null,
"sort": [
1780678653000
]
},
"guestAuthors": [],
"slug": "san-franciscos-case-against-pro-palestinian-activists-who-blocked-bridge-heads-to-jury",
"title": "San Francisco’s Case Against Pro-Palestinian Activists Who Blocked Bridge Heads to Jury",
"publishDate": 1780678653,
"format": "standard",
"headTitle": "San Francisco’s Case Against Pro-Palestinian Activists Who Blocked Bridge Heads to Jury | KQED",
"labelTerm": {
"site": "news"
},
"content": "\u003cp>A \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/san-francisco\">San Francisco\u003c/a> jury will decide whether seven pro-Palestinian protesters who halted traffic on the Golden Gate Bridge for hours in 2024 should each spend more than a decade in jail.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Attorneys for the activists began closing arguments on Thursday, arguing that their clients believed their actions were necessary \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12082743/activists-defend-golden-gate-bridge-shutdown-in-gaza-war-protest-trial\">to save the lives of Palestinians\u003c/a> amid Israel’s military strikes on Gaza.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Necessary, urgent, lifesaving,” defense attorney Shaffy Moeel said during the trial. “Bhavika Anandpura showed up on the Golden Gate Bridge because she believed it was necessary. She showed up on that bridge because she believed it was urgent. She showed up on that bridge because she believed that it would help save lives.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The seven Bay Area residents — Anandpura, River Allen, Sara Cantor, Rocky Chau, Conrad de Jesus, Sarah Ferrell and Em Tillotson — are charged with felony conspiracy and a slew of misdemeanors, including false imprisonment, for blocking the span of the bridge by chaining themselves to parked cars and each other in its southbound lanes on April 15, 2024.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The Tax Day demonstration was part of an international movement — activists also shut down traffic on Interstate-880 in Oakland, and staged similar protests in San Diego, Seattle, Philadelphia, San Antonio, Chicago and across Mexico, Vietnam and Australia.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12086298\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12086298\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/260604-GGBTRIALCLOSING-06-BL-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/260604-GGBTRIALCLOSING-06-BL-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/260604-GGBTRIALCLOSING-06-BL-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/260604-GGBTRIALCLOSING-06-BL-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">River Allen holds a Palestinian flag during a rally across from the San Francisco Superior Courthouse on June 4, 2026, to support the “Golden Gate 26” ahead of closing arguments in their trial. The defendants are accused of blocking traffic on the Golden Gate Bridge during a 2024 protest against the war in Gaza. \u003ccite>(Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>In her final statement, Assistant District Attorney Angela Roze quoted a person who was stuck on the Golden Gate Bridge that day: “We all have a right to protest, but I should have had a right to leave,” she said. “In this case, the defendants unilaterally decided to take that right away from everyone on the road.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>She said between 8 a.m. and noon, no cars passed through the bridge’s toll plaza, which usually records 5,000 vehicles in that time.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“The evidence in this case is clear. These seven individuals broke the law, regardless of their message or beliefs,” she said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Roze spent much of her closing focused on proving conspiracy — the most serious of the charges that carries the longest sentence.[aside postID=news_12082743 hero='https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/260529-GGBTRIALTESTIMONY00089_TV-KQED.jpg']She said that the night before the protest, six of the defendants met in Berkeley and devised the plan to block a thoroughfare.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“That’s when they became guilty of conspiracy to commit false imprisonment,” Roze said, adding that the seventh defendant received a call the same night telling him to meet at a BART station for the protest.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The defendants’ lawyers have focused throughout the trial on setting up a so called “necessity defense” — which requires attorneys to show that the protesters believed they were facing a real, specific and immediate threat to themselves or others; had no reasonable alternative to the action they took; did not create greater danger than the danger they avoided; and did not contribute to or cause the threat.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The attorneys said the protesters had tried expressing their concern through less disruptive means, like calling their local representatives and participating in marches. At the time, as Israel was weighing whether to invade Rafah, a city along Gaza’s southern border where 1 million displaced Palestinians were seeking refuge, they believed the escalation was necessary to save lives.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“When their words were ignored, they had to get louder. And when the invasion of Rafah was imminent, they had to get loudest of all,” defense attorney John Viola said. “They weren’t there to break the law; they were there to enforce the law.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But ahead of closing arguments, Judge Teresa Caffese declined to give jurors special instructions to consider necessity in their deliberation.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12086300\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12086300\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/260604-GGBTRIALCLOSING-14-BL-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/260604-GGBTRIALCLOSING-14-BL-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/260604-GGBTRIALCLOSING-14-BL-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/260604-GGBTRIALCLOSING-14-BL-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Violette Mansour, with Palestinian Youth Movement, speaks during a rally across from the San Francisco Superior Courthouse on June 4, 2026, to support the “Golden Gate 26” ahead of closing arguments in their trial. The defendants are accused of blocking traffic on the Golden Gate Bridge during a 2024 protest against the war in Gaza. \u003ccite>(Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Still, attorneys told the jury that because their clients believed they were protected by the legal justification — which has been used in the past to fight charges against animal activists involved in “open rescues” of animals from factory farms — and therefore should not be found guilty of conspiracy, which requires willfully breaking the law.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The felony conspiracy carries the longest sentence and is one of the harshest filed against activists in comparable cases. Six of the protesters could face 14 years in prison. Cantor could face 15.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“A reasonable doubt does not need to be substantial; it just needs to be reasonable, and if it exists, it means Ms. Tillotson and the rest are not guilty,” public defender Anthony Gedeon said during his closing statement on Thursday.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Closing arguments in the case are expected to wrap up Friday, and the jury could decide on the case as soon as the afternoon.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n",
"blocks": [],
"excerpt": "The seven Bay Area residents who shut down the Golden Gate Bridge on Tax Day in 2024 could each face 14 or more years behind bars for their role in the protest. ",
"status": "publish",
"parent": 0,
"modified": 1780680827,
"stats": {
"hasAudio": false,
"hasVideo": false,
"hasChartOrMap": false,
"iframeSrcs": [],
"hasGoogleForm": false,
"hasGallery": false,
"hasHearkenModule": false,
"hasPolis": false,
"paragraphCount": 20,
"wordCount": 910
},
"headData": {
"title": "San Francisco’s Case Against Pro-Palestinian Activists Who Blocked Bridge Heads to Jury | KQED",
"description": "The seven Bay Area residents who shut down the Golden Gate Bridge on Tax Day in 2024 could each face 14 or more years behind bars for their role in the protest. ",
"ogTitle": "",
"ogDescription": "",
"ogImgId": "",
"twTitle": "",
"twDescription": "",
"twImgId": "",
"schema": {
"@context": "https://schema.org",
"@type": "NewsArticle",
"headline": "San Francisco’s Case Against Pro-Palestinian Activists Who Blocked Bridge Heads to Jury",
"datePublished": "2026-06-05T09:57:33-07:00",
"dateModified": "2026-06-05T10:33:47-07:00",
"image": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/KQED-OG-Image@1x.png",
"isAccessibleForFree": "True",
"publisher": {
"@type": "NewsMediaOrganization",
"@id": "https://www.kqed.org/#organization",
"name": "KQED",
"logo": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/KQED-OG-Image@1x.png",
"url": "https://www.kqed.org",
"sameAs": [
"https://www.facebook.com/KQED",
"https://twitter.com/KQED",
"https://www.instagram.com/kqed/",
"https://www.tiktok.com/@kqedofficial",
"https://www.linkedin.com/company/kqed",
"https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCeC0IOo7i1P_61zVUWbJ4nw"
]
}
}
},
"primaryCategory": {
"termId": 28250,
"slug": "local",
"name": "Local"
},
"sticky": false,
"nprStoryId": "kqed-12086262",
"templateType": "standard",
"featuredImageType": "standard",
"excludeFromSiteSearch": "Include",
"articleAge": "0",
"path": "/news/12086262/san-franciscos-case-against-pro-palestinian-activists-who-blocked-bridge-heads-to-jury",
"audioTrackLength": null,
"parsedContent": [
{
"type": "contentString",
"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>A \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/san-francisco\">San Francisco\u003c/a> jury will decide whether seven pro-Palestinian protesters who halted traffic on the Golden Gate Bridge for hours in 2024 should each spend more than a decade in jail.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Attorneys for the activists began closing arguments on Thursday, arguing that their clients believed their actions were necessary \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12082743/activists-defend-golden-gate-bridge-shutdown-in-gaza-war-protest-trial\">to save the lives of Palestinians\u003c/a> amid Israel’s military strikes on Gaza.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Necessary, urgent, lifesaving,” defense attorney Shaffy Moeel said during the trial. “Bhavika Anandpura showed up on the Golden Gate Bridge because she believed it was necessary. She showed up on that bridge because she believed it was urgent. She showed up on that bridge because she believed that it would help save lives.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
"attributes": {
"named": {},
"numeric": []
}
},
{
"type": "component",
"content": "",
"name": "ad",
"attributes": {
"named": {
"label": "fullwidth"
},
"numeric": [
"fullwidth"
]
}
},
{
"type": "contentString",
"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The seven Bay Area residents — Anandpura, River Allen, Sara Cantor, Rocky Chau, Conrad de Jesus, Sarah Ferrell and Em Tillotson — are charged with felony conspiracy and a slew of misdemeanors, including false imprisonment, for blocking the span of the bridge by chaining themselves to parked cars and each other in its southbound lanes on April 15, 2024.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The Tax Day demonstration was part of an international movement — activists also shut down traffic on Interstate-880 in Oakland, and staged similar protests in San Diego, Seattle, Philadelphia, San Antonio, Chicago and across Mexico, Vietnam and Australia.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12086298\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12086298\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/260604-GGBTRIALCLOSING-06-BL-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/260604-GGBTRIALCLOSING-06-BL-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/260604-GGBTRIALCLOSING-06-BL-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/260604-GGBTRIALCLOSING-06-BL-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">River Allen holds a Palestinian flag during a rally across from the San Francisco Superior Courthouse on June 4, 2026, to support the “Golden Gate 26” ahead of closing arguments in their trial. The defendants are accused of blocking traffic on the Golden Gate Bridge during a 2024 protest against the war in Gaza. \u003ccite>(Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>In her final statement, Assistant District Attorney Angela Roze quoted a person who was stuck on the Golden Gate Bridge that day: “We all have a right to protest, but I should have had a right to leave,” she said. “In this case, the defendants unilaterally decided to take that right away from everyone on the road.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>She said between 8 a.m. and noon, no cars passed through the bridge’s toll plaza, which usually records 5,000 vehicles in that time.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“The evidence in this case is clear. These seven individuals broke the law, regardless of their message or beliefs,” she said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Roze spent much of her closing focused on proving conspiracy — the most serious of the charges that carries the longest sentence.\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
"attributes": {
"named": {},
"numeric": []
}
},
{
"type": "component",
"content": "",
"name": "aside",
"attributes": {
"named": {
"postid": "news_12082743",
"hero": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/260529-GGBTRIALTESTIMONY00089_TV-KQED.jpg",
"label": ""
},
"numeric": []
}
},
{
"type": "contentString",
"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>She said that the night before the protest, six of the defendants met in Berkeley and devised the plan to block a thoroughfare.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“That’s when they became guilty of conspiracy to commit false imprisonment,” Roze said, adding that the seventh defendant received a call the same night telling him to meet at a BART station for the protest.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The defendants’ lawyers have focused throughout the trial on setting up a so called “necessity defense” — which requires attorneys to show that the protesters believed they were facing a real, specific and immediate threat to themselves or others; had no reasonable alternative to the action they took; did not create greater danger than the danger they avoided; and did not contribute to or cause the threat.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The attorneys said the protesters had tried expressing their concern through less disruptive means, like calling their local representatives and participating in marches. At the time, as Israel was weighing whether to invade Rafah, a city along Gaza’s southern border where 1 million displaced Palestinians were seeking refuge, they believed the escalation was necessary to save lives.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“When their words were ignored, they had to get louder. And when the invasion of Rafah was imminent, they had to get loudest of all,” defense attorney John Viola said. “They weren’t there to break the law; they were there to enforce the law.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But ahead of closing arguments, Judge Teresa Caffese declined to give jurors special instructions to consider necessity in their deliberation.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12086300\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12086300\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/260604-GGBTRIALCLOSING-14-BL-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/260604-GGBTRIALCLOSING-14-BL-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/260604-GGBTRIALCLOSING-14-BL-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/260604-GGBTRIALCLOSING-14-BL-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Violette Mansour, with Palestinian Youth Movement, speaks during a rally across from the San Francisco Superior Courthouse on June 4, 2026, to support the “Golden Gate 26” ahead of closing arguments in their trial. The defendants are accused of blocking traffic on the Golden Gate Bridge during a 2024 protest against the war in Gaza. \u003ccite>(Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Still, attorneys told the jury that because their clients believed they were protected by the legal justification — which has been used in the past to fight charges against animal activists involved in “open rescues” of animals from factory farms — and therefore should not be found guilty of conspiracy, which requires willfully breaking the law.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The felony conspiracy carries the longest sentence and is one of the harshest filed against activists in comparable cases. Six of the protesters could face 14 years in prison. Cantor could face 15.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“A reasonable doubt does not need to be substantial; it just needs to be reasonable, and if it exists, it means Ms. Tillotson and the rest are not guilty,” public defender Anthony Gedeon said during his closing statement on Thursday.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Closing arguments in the case are expected to wrap up Friday, and the jury could decide on the case as soon as the afternoon.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003c/div>\u003c/p>",
"attributes": {
"named": {},
"numeric": []
}
}
],
"link": "/news/12086262/san-franciscos-case-against-pro-palestinian-activists-who-blocked-bridge-heads-to-jury",
"authors": [
"11913",
"11761"
],
"categories": [
"news_34167",
"news_6188",
"news_28250",
"news_8",
"news_13"
],
"tags": [
"news_1386",
"news_17725",
"news_27626",
"news_6631",
"news_1276",
"news_1741",
"news_33333",
"news_19954",
"news_29475",
"news_33440",
"news_17968",
"news_33647",
"news_745",
"news_38"
],
"featImg": "news_12086297",
"label": "news"
},
"news_12082743": {
"type": "posts",
"id": "news_12082743",
"meta": {
"index": "posts_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "12082743",
"score": null,
"sort": [
1780096381000
]
},
"guestAuthors": [],
"slug": "activists-defend-golden-gate-bridge-shutdown-in-gaza-war-protest-trial",
"title": "Activists Defend Golden Gate Bridge Shutdown in Gaza War Protest Trial",
"publishDate": 1780096381,
"format": "standard",
"headTitle": "Activists Defend Golden Gate Bridge Shutdown in Gaza War Protest Trial | KQED",
"labelTerm": {
"site": "news"
},
"content": "\u003cp>Pro-Palestinian protesters who \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12084403/golden-gate-bridge-protest-trial-opens-in-san-francisco\">halted traffic across the Golden Gate Bridge\u003c/a> in 2024 say they believed their actions were necessary to save lives amid Israel’s military strikes on Gaza.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Activists facing more than a decade in prison told a San Francisco court on Friday that they felt they had exhausted other options to oppose the U.S.’s involvement in the war.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“I believed that it was an emergency; we needed to act very quickly,” said Conrad de Jesus, one of the seven defendants charged in connection with an April 15, 2024, protest that shut down travel across the Golden Gate Bridge.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The defendants face felony conspiracy and several misdemeanors, including unlawful assembly, willful restriction of free movement and multiple counts of false imprisonment.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>De Jesus’ testimony marked the first time he has spoken publicly about his involvement in the protest more than two years ago.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The San Francisco District Attorney’s Office argues that the defendants’ actions “clearly” broke the law: they planned to block traffic and trapped commuters when they chained themselves to parked vehicles and each other across the southbound lanes of the bridge.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12085595\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12085595\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/260529-GGBTRIALTESTIMONY00445_TV-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/260529-GGBTRIALTESTIMONY00445_TV-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/260529-GGBTRIALTESTIMONY00445_TV-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/260529-GGBTRIALTESTIMONY00445_TV-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">The San Francisco Superior Courthouse in San Francisco on May 29, 2026. \u003ccite>(Tâm Vũ/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>The demonstration was part of a multi-city effort to disrupt local and global economies and put pressure on the U.S. government to halt support for Israel’s war in Gaza. Protesters \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11982940/protesters-shut-down-880-freeway-in-oakland-as-part-of-economic-blockade-for-gaza\">shut down traffic on Interstate 880 in Oakland\u003c/a> and staged similar actions in San Diego, Seattle, Philadelphia, San Antonio, Chicago and Tallahassee, Florida.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Witnesses who took the stand earlier this week said that they were stalled in traffic trying to cross the Golden Gate Bridge, they missed shifts at work and went hours without access to bathrooms and water.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Regina Schneider said she was taking U.S. Interstate 101 from Marin into San Francisco for a doctor’s appointment. Sitting in her car, she was anxious and short of breath, she said.[aside postID=news_12084628 hero='https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/GlobalSumudFlotillaGetty-scaled.jpg']But attorneys for the protesters are trying to prove that their clients believed their actions were justified under a necessity defense.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>They’ll need to show that the activists believed they were facing a real, specific and imminent threat to themselves or others; had no reasonable alternative to the action they took; did not create a greater danger than the danger they avoided; and did not contribute to or cause the threat.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>De Jesus said that, at the time of the protest, he’d already been involved with pro-Palestinian activism and had “exhausted” other means of trying to get the attention of political forces, including attending marches and writing to his local U.S. representative.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>He said at the time Israel was weighing whether to invade Rafah, a city along Gaza’s southern border where 1 million displaced Palestinians were seeking refuge.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“We knew there were talks in the Israeli government to attack Rafah, and we knew it was a good time to take action,” he said on the stand on Friday.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>He said he understands people’s anger and that the protest was inconvenient, but believed his actions were justified “because it was to prevent a greater evil.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12085589\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12085589\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/260529-GGBTRIALTESTIMONY00210_TV-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/260529-GGBTRIALTESTIMONY00210_TV-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/260529-GGBTRIALTESTIMONY00210_TV-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/260529-GGBTRIALTESTIMONY00210_TV-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Manan Kocher, one of dozens of people who blocked the Golden Gate Bridge for a pro-Palestinian protest, poses for a portrait at the San Francisco Superior Courthouse in San Francisco on May 29, 2026. \u003ccite>(Tâm Vũ/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>“I believed that, in doing so, we would be saving lives,” he testified.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Sara Cantor, who faces the steepest sentence of the protesters for her role as their “police liaison,” testified that she believed her actions “would save at least one life, for at least one day.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>She said she believed the coordinated day of action had the possibility to be more impactful than any individual protest, and that she saw herself as a “lightning rod” in the operation.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“It felt important for me to try to keep people safe, and I knew as a white woman, I am typically treated with respect by the police,” she said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The prosecution focused much of its cross-examination of the protesters, trying to clarify the timeline of events that led up to the protest on April 15, angling to develop a record of conspiracy by the defendants.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Assistant District Attorney Angela Roze asked de Jesus about a call he’d gotten from a friend the day prior to the protest, telling him where to meet in the morning. She asked if de Jesus knew where he would be going and what the action was going to be.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>He testified that he didn’t recall and said the first time he knew he was going to the Golden Gate Bridge was that day, at the meeting location.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Cantor testified that protesters decided to target the bridge during a planning meeting in West Berkeley the night before the demonstration, attended by roughly 50 people, including all of the other defendants except de Jesus, where participants volunteered for specific roles.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12085592\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12085592\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/260529-GGBTRIALTESTIMONY00301_TV-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/260529-GGBTRIALTESTIMONY00301_TV-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/260529-GGBTRIALTESTIMONY00301_TV-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/260529-GGBTRIALTESTIMONY00301_TV-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">People wait at the San Francisco Superior Courthouse in San Francisco on May 29, 2026. \u003ccite>(Tâm Vũ/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>The \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12011165/felony-charges-against-golden-gate-bridge-protesters-can-go-to-trial-judge-rules\">felony conspiracy\u003c/a> carries the longest sentence and is one of the harshest brought against activists involved in similar actions in the past. Six of the protesters could face 14 years in prison. Cantor could face 15.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Dozens of pro-Palestinian protesters who shut down westbound travel on the Bay Bridge in November 2023 were charged with misdemeanors and reached a deal with the San Francisco DA’s office to avoid jail time.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Attorneys asked a judge last year to downgrade the felonies to misdemeanors, arguing that the protesters had been overcharged and targeted for their political beliefs, but the judge allowed the charges to stand.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Charges against another 19 protesters, who rounded out the group that refers to itself as the “Golden Gate 26,” have been dropped or thrown out over the last year and a half. Sixteen defendants’ cases were dismissed after they agreed to a diversion program, which included paying restitution.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n",
"blocks": [],
"excerpt": "Pro-Palestinian protesters charged in the 2024 Golden Gate Bridge shutdown testified in a San Francisco court that they believed blocking traffic was necessary to save lives during Israel’s military campaign in Gaza.",
"status": "publish",
"parent": 0,
"modified": 1780352865,
"stats": {
"hasAudio": false,
"hasVideo": false,
"hasChartOrMap": false,
"iframeSrcs": [],
"hasGoogleForm": false,
"hasGallery": false,
"hasHearkenModule": false,
"hasPolis": false,
"paragraphCount": 28,
"wordCount": 1069
},
"headData": {
"title": "Activists Defend Golden Gate Bridge Shutdown in Gaza War Protest Trial | KQED",
"description": "Pro-Palestinian protesters charged in the 2024 Golden Gate Bridge shutdown testified in a San Francisco court that they believed blocking traffic was necessary to save lives during Israel’s military campaign in Gaza.",
"ogTitle": "",
"ogDescription": "",
"ogImgId": "",
"twTitle": "",
"twDescription": "",
"twImgId": "",
"schema": {
"@context": "https://schema.org",
"@type": "NewsArticle",
"headline": "Activists Defend Golden Gate Bridge Shutdown in Gaza War Protest Trial",
"datePublished": "2026-05-29T16:13:01-07:00",
"dateModified": "2026-06-01T15:27:45-07:00",
"image": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/KQED-OG-Image@1x.png",
"isAccessibleForFree": "True",
"publisher": {
"@type": "NewsMediaOrganization",
"@id": "https://www.kqed.org/#organization",
"name": "KQED",
"logo": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/KQED-OG-Image@1x.png",
"url": "https://www.kqed.org",
"sameAs": [
"https://www.facebook.com/KQED",
"https://twitter.com/KQED",
"https://www.instagram.com/kqed/",
"https://www.tiktok.com/@kqedofficial",
"https://www.linkedin.com/company/kqed",
"https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCeC0IOo7i1P_61zVUWbJ4nw"
]
}
}
},
"primaryCategory": {
"termId": 28250,
"slug": "local",
"name": "Local"
},
"sticky": false,
"nprStoryId": "kqed-12082743",
"templateType": "standard",
"featuredImageType": "standard",
"excludeFromSiteSearch": "Include",
"articleAge": "0",
"path": "/news/12082743/activists-defend-golden-gate-bridge-shutdown-in-gaza-war-protest-trial",
"audioTrackLength": null,
"parsedContent": [
{
"type": "contentString",
"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>Pro-Palestinian protesters who \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12084403/golden-gate-bridge-protest-trial-opens-in-san-francisco\">halted traffic across the Golden Gate Bridge\u003c/a> in 2024 say they believed their actions were necessary to save lives amid Israel’s military strikes on Gaza.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Activists facing more than a decade in prison told a San Francisco court on Friday that they felt they had exhausted other options to oppose the U.S.’s involvement in the war.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“I believed that it was an emergency; we needed to act very quickly,” said Conrad de Jesus, one of the seven defendants charged in connection with an April 15, 2024, protest that shut down travel across the Golden Gate Bridge.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
"attributes": {
"named": {},
"numeric": []
}
},
{
"type": "component",
"content": "",
"name": "ad",
"attributes": {
"named": {
"label": "fullwidth"
},
"numeric": [
"fullwidth"
]
}
},
{
"type": "contentString",
"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The defendants face felony conspiracy and several misdemeanors, including unlawful assembly, willful restriction of free movement and multiple counts of false imprisonment.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>De Jesus’ testimony marked the first time he has spoken publicly about his involvement in the protest more than two years ago.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The San Francisco District Attorney’s Office argues that the defendants’ actions “clearly” broke the law: they planned to block traffic and trapped commuters when they chained themselves to parked vehicles and each other across the southbound lanes of the bridge.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12085595\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12085595\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/260529-GGBTRIALTESTIMONY00445_TV-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/260529-GGBTRIALTESTIMONY00445_TV-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/260529-GGBTRIALTESTIMONY00445_TV-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/260529-GGBTRIALTESTIMONY00445_TV-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">The San Francisco Superior Courthouse in San Francisco on May 29, 2026. \u003ccite>(Tâm Vũ/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>The demonstration was part of a multi-city effort to disrupt local and global economies and put pressure on the U.S. government to halt support for Israel’s war in Gaza. Protesters \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11982940/protesters-shut-down-880-freeway-in-oakland-as-part-of-economic-blockade-for-gaza\">shut down traffic on Interstate 880 in Oakland\u003c/a> and staged similar actions in San Diego, Seattle, Philadelphia, San Antonio, Chicago and Tallahassee, Florida.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Witnesses who took the stand earlier this week said that they were stalled in traffic trying to cross the Golden Gate Bridge, they missed shifts at work and went hours without access to bathrooms and water.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Regina Schneider said she was taking U.S. Interstate 101 from Marin into San Francisco for a doctor’s appointment. Sitting in her car, she was anxious and short of breath, she said.\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
"attributes": {
"named": {},
"numeric": []
}
},
{
"type": "component",
"content": "",
"name": "aside",
"attributes": {
"named": {
"postid": "news_12084628",
"hero": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/GlobalSumudFlotillaGetty-scaled.jpg",
"label": ""
},
"numeric": []
}
},
{
"type": "contentString",
"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>But attorneys for the protesters are trying to prove that their clients believed their actions were justified under a necessity defense.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>They’ll need to show that the activists believed they were facing a real, specific and imminent threat to themselves or others; had no reasonable alternative to the action they took; did not create a greater danger than the danger they avoided; and did not contribute to or cause the threat.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>De Jesus said that, at the time of the protest, he’d already been involved with pro-Palestinian activism and had “exhausted” other means of trying to get the attention of political forces, including attending marches and writing to his local U.S. representative.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>He said at the time Israel was weighing whether to invade Rafah, a city along Gaza’s southern border where 1 million displaced Palestinians were seeking refuge.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“We knew there were talks in the Israeli government to attack Rafah, and we knew it was a good time to take action,” he said on the stand on Friday.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>He said he understands people’s anger and that the protest was inconvenient, but believed his actions were justified “because it was to prevent a greater evil.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12085589\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12085589\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/260529-GGBTRIALTESTIMONY00210_TV-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/260529-GGBTRIALTESTIMONY00210_TV-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/260529-GGBTRIALTESTIMONY00210_TV-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/260529-GGBTRIALTESTIMONY00210_TV-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Manan Kocher, one of dozens of people who blocked the Golden Gate Bridge for a pro-Palestinian protest, poses for a portrait at the San Francisco Superior Courthouse in San Francisco on May 29, 2026. \u003ccite>(Tâm Vũ/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>“I believed that, in doing so, we would be saving lives,” he testified.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Sara Cantor, who faces the steepest sentence of the protesters for her role as their “police liaison,” testified that she believed her actions “would save at least one life, for at least one day.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>She said she believed the coordinated day of action had the possibility to be more impactful than any individual protest, and that she saw herself as a “lightning rod” in the operation.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“It felt important for me to try to keep people safe, and I knew as a white woman, I am typically treated with respect by the police,” she said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The prosecution focused much of its cross-examination of the protesters, trying to clarify the timeline of events that led up to the protest on April 15, angling to develop a record of conspiracy by the defendants.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Assistant District Attorney Angela Roze asked de Jesus about a call he’d gotten from a friend the day prior to the protest, telling him where to meet in the morning. She asked if de Jesus knew where he would be going and what the action was going to be.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>He testified that he didn’t recall and said the first time he knew he was going to the Golden Gate Bridge was that day, at the meeting location.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Cantor testified that protesters decided to target the bridge during a planning meeting in West Berkeley the night before the demonstration, attended by roughly 50 people, including all of the other defendants except de Jesus, where participants volunteered for specific roles.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12085592\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12085592\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/260529-GGBTRIALTESTIMONY00301_TV-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/260529-GGBTRIALTESTIMONY00301_TV-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/260529-GGBTRIALTESTIMONY00301_TV-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/260529-GGBTRIALTESTIMONY00301_TV-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">People wait at the San Francisco Superior Courthouse in San Francisco on May 29, 2026. \u003ccite>(Tâm Vũ/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>The \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12011165/felony-charges-against-golden-gate-bridge-protesters-can-go-to-trial-judge-rules\">felony conspiracy\u003c/a> carries the longest sentence and is one of the harshest brought against activists involved in similar actions in the past. Six of the protesters could face 14 years in prison. Cantor could face 15.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Dozens of pro-Palestinian protesters who shut down westbound travel on the Bay Bridge in November 2023 were charged with misdemeanors and reached a deal with the San Francisco DA’s office to avoid jail time.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Attorneys asked a judge last year to downgrade the felonies to misdemeanors, arguing that the protesters had been overcharged and targeted for their political beliefs, but the judge allowed the charges to stand.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Charges against another 19 protesters, who rounded out the group that refers to itself as the “Golden Gate 26,” have been dropped or thrown out over the last year and a half. Sixteen defendants’ cases were dismissed after they agreed to a diversion program, which included paying restitution.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003c/div>\u003c/p>",
"attributes": {
"named": {},
"numeric": []
}
}
],
"link": "/news/12082743/activists-defend-golden-gate-bridge-shutdown-in-gaza-war-protest-trial",
"authors": [
"11913",
"11761"
],
"categories": [
"news_34167",
"news_6188",
"news_28250",
"news_8",
"news_13"
],
"tags": [
"news_17725",
"news_36810",
"news_6631",
"news_1276",
"news_1741",
"news_33333",
"news_19954",
"news_29475",
"news_33440",
"news_17968",
"news_33647",
"news_38"
],
"featImg": "news_12085588",
"label": "news"
},
"news_12085224": {
"type": "posts",
"id": "news_12085224",
"meta": {
"index": "posts_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "12085224",
"score": null,
"sort": [
1779876007000
]
},
"guestAuthors": [],
"slug": "these-protesters-could-go-to-prison-for-blocking-the-golden-gate-bridge",
"title": "These Protesters Could Go to Prison for Blocking the Golden Gate Bridge",
"publishDate": 1779876007,
"format": "audio",
"headTitle": "These Protesters Could Go to Prison for Blocking the Golden Gate Bridge | KQED",
"labelTerm": {},
"content": "\u003cp>On April 15, 2024, dozens of pro-Palestinian protesters blocked the Golden Gate Bridge, in an attempt to pressure the U.S. government into ending military aid for Israel’s bombing and invasion of Gaza.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Now, seven of those protesters are on trial facing felony charges in San Francisco. If convicted, they could face a maximum sentence of 15 years in prison.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c!-- iframe plugin v.4.3 wordpress.org/plugins/iframe/ -->\u003cbr>\n\u003ciframe loading=\"lazy\" frameborder=\"0\" height=\"200\" scrolling=\"no\" src=\"https://playlist.megaphone.fm?e=KQINC4975303124&light=true\" width=\"100%\" class=\"iframe-class\">\u003c/iframe>\u003c/p>\n\u003ch3>\u003cstrong>Episode Transcript\u003c/strong>\u003c/h3>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>This is a computer-generated transcript. While our team has reviewed it, there may be errors.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Ericka Cruz Guevarra: \u003c/b>\u003cem>[00:00:00] \u003c/em>I’m Ericka Cruz Guevarra and welcome to The Bay, local news to keep you rooted. Sara Cantor grew up learning a lot about the Holocaust. Being Jewish, she learned about how much of German life just went on, as Jewish people were displaced, put in camps, and murdered.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Sara Cantor: \u003c/b>\u003cem>[00:00:24] \u003c/em>As a child I was really obsessed with and disturbed by the question of who would I have been during that time period, how would I had acted?\u003cem> \u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Ericka Cruz Guevarra: \u003c/b>\u003cem>[00:00:37] \u003c/em>On April 15th, 2024, Cantor was among 26 protesters who stopped traffic on the Golden Gate Bridge to highlight Israel’s siege of Gaza. Now she, along with six others, are on trial in San Francisco, facing felony conspiracy charges for their actions on the bridge that day. If convicted, they could face up to 15 years in prison.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Sara Cantor: \u003c/b>\u003cem>[00:01:09] \u003c/em>I resolved that if I had been in that situation, or if I were to ever be in a similar situation, that I would resist, that I wouldn’t turn away, that I make sure to fight for the humanity of all people.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Ericka Cruz Guevarra: \u003c/b>\u003cem>[00:01:30] \u003c/em>Today, the Golden Gate Bridge protesters on trial in San Francisco.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Ericka Cruz Guevarra: \u003c/b>\u003cem>[00:01:41] \u003c/em>Let’s start back in April of 2024. What happened on the Golden Gate Bridge?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Juan Carlos Lara: \u003c/b>\u003cem>[00:01:53] \u003c/em>Just before 8am, basically a group of cars drove southbound through Marin onto the Golden Gate Bridge and then stopped about halfway through. At that point some protestors got out of those cars and stopped up all southbound traffic.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Ericka Cruz Guevarra: \u003c/b>\u003cem>[00:02:12] \u003c/em>Juan Carlos Lara is a reporter for KQED.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Juan Carlos Lara: \u003c/b>\u003cem>[00:02:16] \u003c/em>A few of those people kind of connected themselves into these devices, essentially chaining themselves to their cars and to each other, and then others unfurled a big banner that read Stop the World for Gaza.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Protester: \u003c/b>\u003cem>[00:02:28] \u003c/em>Stop funneling U.S. Tax dollars to the Israeli occupation forces to continue the atrocities and genocide of the Palestinian people!\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Juan Carlos Lara: \u003c/b>\u003cem>[00:02:44] \u003c/em>From before this point, they’d been describing Israel’s actions in Gaza as a genocide, and this was part of an international kind of day of action.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Ericka Cruz Guevarra: \u003c/b>\u003cem>[00:02:56] \u003c/em>Tax day. Is that right?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Juan Carlos Lara: \u003c/b>\u003cem>[00:02:57] \u003c/em>Yeah, so this specifically happened on the tax filing deadline in the US. Protesters were hoping to apply economic pressure on the US to get US leaders to end military aid to Israel and, in effect, pressure Israel to stop its bombings of Gaza.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Ericka Cruz Guevarra: \u003c/b>\u003cem>[00:03:17] \u003c/em>And how did this protest eventually end?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Juan Carlos Lara: \u003c/b>\u003cem>[00:03:21] \u003c/em>There were dozens of people out there. 26 were charged, and they ended up blocking traffic for about four hours. 18 of them were charged with misdemeanors. There was one who initially was faced with felony charges, but whose charges were dismissed. And then there were seven who were charged with felonies. These are six who allegedly chained themselves to their cars and to each other using these things called. Lockboxes or sleeping dragon devices that makes it really hard to remove protestors and then there was a seventh who was allegedly the police liaison going back and forth between uh the police and those protesters and these seven are the ones going through trial facing a series of charges chief among them there’s felony conspiracy there’s also a series of misdemeanors including false imprisonment and refusal to disperse\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Ericka Cruz Guevarra: \u003c/b>\u003cem>[00:04:10] \u003c/em>And I actually remember that day and in particular, I remember social media just being sort of a big mess. A lot of people being really upset about the traffic in the Bay Area on that particular day. Again, it was one of many actions, but it’s not an unprecedented thing to see a protest on the Golden Gate Bridge, right?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Juan Carlos Lara: \u003c/b>\u003cem>[00:04:35] \u003c/em>Yeah, that’s right. The bridge has been a frequent site of protest. There was actually another bridge shut down just two months prior to this in February, but that one only lasted for like 45 minutes and dispersed very quickly, so it didn’t make as big headlines. There was a Black Lives Matter march that crossed the bridge in 2020. There was an anti-war protest that happened there in 2002. Two other really big ones in 1996. Woody Harrelson and a bunch of other people engaged in this like Save the Redwoods protest and they climbed the cables and hung a huge banner. And there was also a protest over the US’s response to the AIDS crisis in the 80s. It’s an iconic structure, obviously, and people hoping to… Bring a lot of attention to what they feel is an urgent cause often see it as a great place to stage these demonstrations.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Ericka Cruz Guevarra: \u003c/b>\u003cem>[00:05:28] \u003c/em>This happened more than two years ago now. What was the response at the time and how did we get to this point where there are now seven people facing these felony charges?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Juan Carlos Lara: \u003c/b>\u003cem>[00:05:41] \u003c/em>I’d say the response at the time was pretty divided. This has been a contentious issue, not just in the Bay Area, but kind of internationally. This was kind of at the fever pitch of pro-Palestinian protests in the bay area. Like I said, this was just two months after a smaller bridge shut down. At this time, the student encampments across college campuses were starting to wind down, but we’re still present on at least a few campuses.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Brooke Jenkins: \u003c/b>\u003cem>[00:06:09] \u003c/em>I want to make clear that San Francisco, as well as myself as the district attorney, support free speech. But where we must draw the line is when acts of free speech endanger public safety.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Juan Carlos Lara: \u003c/b>\u003cem>[00:06:23] \u003c/em>In terms of local officials, San Francisco’s District Attorney Brooke Jenkins came out with very strong statements about this. She said that, you know, she encouraged people’s right to protest and to freedom of speech, but that this threatened the safety of people on the bridge.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Brooke Jenkins: \u003c/b>\u003cem>[00:06:38] \u003c/em>And we must make sure that public safety is observed in San Francisco. And that is what we are committed to doing.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Juan Carlos Lara: \u003c/b>\u003cem>[00:06:46] \u003c/em>So the district attorney ended up filing, like I said, felony conspiracy charges against seven and then a slew of misdemeanors against the other 18 involved.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Ericka Cruz Guevarra: \u003c/b>\u003cem>[00:06:57] \u003c/em>And as I understand it, some of these protesters also had to pay the Golden Gate Bridge district for some of the interruptions that happened in terms of traffic that day, is that right?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Juan Carlos Lara: \u003c/b>\u003cem>[00:07:12] \u003c/em>Yeah, so after the bridge shut down, San Francisco District Attorney Brooke Jenkins and the California Highway Patrol both put out messages essentially soliciting people to come forward if they feel like they were victims and that they may be entitled to restitution. The Golden Gate Bridge Highway and Transportation District filed a restitution claim for just over $160,000, arguing that that was the lost toll revenue that they had suffered for the shutdown. That was seen as a somewhat unprecedented move. As far as we can tell, the Bridge District has never filed a restitution claim against other protesters who have shut down the bridge. Ultimately, the bridge district and the protesters settled for an unspecified amount. And then the group of protesters who did not ultimately face felony charges, who were just facing a series of misdemeanors, settled with private individuals who said they suffered losses, mostly the day’s lost wages, and they ended up paying out a group of those claimants for just over five grand.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Ericka Cruz Guevarra: \u003c/b>\u003cem>[00:08:22] \u003c/em>Coming up, inside the courtroom for the Golden Gate Bridge protesters’ trial. By the way, if you appreciate these deep dives into local news in the Bay Area, consider becoming a KQED member. We can’t do this work without our listener donations, so consider joining the hundreds of thousands of your Bay Area neighbors today. KQed.org slash donate is the place to do it. We’ll be right back.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Ericka Cruz Guevarra: \u003c/b>\u003cem>[00:08:57] \u003c/em>So let’s talk about this trial. What is the district attorney’s office arguing in court? And have they said anything in the media about how they’re approaching this?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Juan Carlos Lara: \u003c/b>\u003cem>[00:09:06] \u003c/em>So in court, the prosecution’s main argument is they’ve been asking jurors to set aside how they feel about Gaza or how they feel about Israel’s war in Gaza and to just focus specifically on the actions and the consequences of those actions. In its opening statement, the prosecution argued that people were pretty significantly impacted, that they were trapped on the bridge for hours that people were late to work, including nurses at local hospitals, that people missed doctor’s appointments. And so they argue that these people really were kind of trapped on there. And so false imprisonment is a fitting charge for that reason. The DA’s office has been pretty tight-lipped outside of court. While the district attorney did make a public statement on this initially, not long after the first protest and did put out a statement explaining some of the charges. Uh, in recent months, the DA’s office has declined to comment. They said they’re not really going to litigate this in the media and they’re just going to focus on court.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Ericka Cruz Guevarra: \u003c/b>\u003cem>[00:10:06] \u003c/em>Walk me through the defense argument here, Juan Carlos. It sounds like they do feel like the consequences are perhaps unfair, and that these protesters were just exercising their First Amendment right, just as has been done on the bridge for many years before. Who’s defending these protesters, and what are they saying in court?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Juan Carlos Lara: \u003c/b>\u003cem>[00:10:27] \u003c/em>There are seven defendants and each one of them has their own attorney, which does make for a bit of a circus act in court because there are seven kind of all clamoring to object around the same time. And we heard seven opening statements kind of each tailored to each individual defendant. The protesters and their attorneys have definitely argued that these charges are unprecedented, that charges like false imprisonment or felony conspiracy should be reserved for very serious crimes, not people engaging in acts of civil disobedience. A good example of kind of the defense that they’ve been putting on so far came from Shafi Mouil, who’s the attorney for one of the defendants, and she went first during opening statements. The first words that she spoke when addressing the jury were, necessary, urgent, and life-saving. And essentially, the argument that she made was that her client and all of the other clients there had really made an earnest effort to try to engage with the government and try to facilitate some kind of change that they had, you know, written letters to their member of Congress and that they have participated in kind of permitted sit-ins and other kinds of acceptable protest and that nothing that they’d done had created the change that they thought was needed. And that they sincerely thought that by engaging in this act of protest that they could apply pressure to the government and successfully create some change.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Manan Kocher: \u003c/b>\u003cem>[00:11:56] \u003c/em>My seven co-defendants are amongst the bravest, most beautiful and brilliant people that I know and they are in unwavering solidarity of Palestine always.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Juan Carlos Lara: \u003c/b>\u003cem>[00:12:10] \u003c/em>Manan Kocher was one of the misdemeanor defendants whose case was ultimately diverted and they are serving as sort of a communications person for the group.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Manan Kocher: \u003c/b>\u003cem>[00:12:20] \u003c/em>We’re here to remind everyone that we are more in solidarity, we are stronger together than we were two years ago.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Juan Carlos Lara: \u003c/b>\u003cem>[00:12:28] \u003c/em>They, you know, like the defense have argued that the protesters had good intentions that they were hoping to create a positive change and that their intention was not to break the law.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Manan Kocher: \u003c/b>\u003cem>[00:12:39] \u003c/em>What the overprosecution in this case is intended to do is stifle dissent and prevent people from standing up against the U.S. War machine.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Ericka Cruz Guevarra: \u003c/b>\u003cem>[00:12:53] \u003c/em>And Juan Carlos, you’ve been in the courtroom the past few days. You were there for opening statements. I mean, what was it, what’s it like in there?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Juan Carlos Lara: \u003c/b>\u003cem>[00:13:02] \u003c/em>Yeah, things in the courtroom have been, for the most part, pretty standard. The first day of trial before the jury, a large group of supporters for the protesters came out and sat in trial for most of the morning. And this was a group of people that I had recognized from many other demonstrations that I’ve covered in the last three years, including protests calling on local universities that I’ve asked from weapons manufacturers. There is this kind of undercurrent of tension because the judge, it seems, would prefer to focus on the specific acts of the case. But the defense is hoping to talk about the broader crisis in Gaza in order to justify the actions of their defendants. The judge at one point even said while talking to both sides, we’re not going to decide in this courtroom whether the U.S. Is violating international law. And so it seems like there is an effort to try to avoid the trial from being. Sucked up into this broader debate about the legality of the U.S. And Israel’s actions in Gaza.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Ericka Cruz Guevarra: \u003c/b>\u003cem>[00:14:08] \u003c/em>What happens if they’re found guilty?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Juan Carlos Lara: \u003c/b>\u003cem>[00:14:11] \u003c/em>If they’re found guilty the group of seven face up to 14 or 15 years in prison. Wow. We don’t know for sure whether the prosecution will seek such a steep sentence but their charge is taken together that is the that is the maximum that they’re facing.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Ericka Cruz Guevarra: \u003c/b>\u003cem>[00:14:30] \u003c/em>You’re going back to the courtroom today, Juan Carlos. What are you gonna be watching for?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Juan Carlos Lara: \u003c/b>\u003cem>[00:14:35] \u003c/em>This week the prosecution is expected to wrap up the witnesses that they’re gonna be calling. My understanding is that the remaining witnesses are going to be a few more law enforcement who can speak to kind of just asserting the basic facts of the case. But more significantly, the prosecution is expected to call people who were trapped on the bridge who were stuck in their cars To speak to the way that this impacted them And so really this is going to be a question of how much the that testimony impacts the jury\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Ericka Cruz Guevarra: \u003c/b>\u003cem>[00:15:08] \u003c/em>I mean, what are the potential implications of this trial if these protesters are in fact found guilty of felony charges?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Juan Carlos Lara: \u003c/b>\u003cem>[00:15:17] \u003c/em>What some activists and lawyers for the defendants have argued is that this presents an effort by the district attorney’s office to create a chilling effect on similar demonstrations to essentially make an example out of these protesters and deter other protesters from engaging in similarly disruptive acts in the future. But protesters and Manan Kutcher argue that if that is the intention that it’s not going to work and that they won’t allow something like this to deter them from continuing to advocate.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Ericka Cruz Guevarra: \u003c/b>\u003cem>[00:15:51] \u003c/em>I have to say I’m talking to you now about this trial, Juan Carlos, but it reminds me a lot of the trial that happened for protesters in Stanford and this feeling that Gaza seems to be the exception, that the hand is sort of coming down heavy when it comes to protesters on this particular political issue.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Juan Carlos Lara: \u003c/b>\u003cem>[00:16:12] \u003c/em>That’s definitely something that some of the protesters involved in these demonstrations have also pointed out and argued, that they feel like the reactions to these demonstrations are disproportional and that it’s partially because of what they believe is a disagreement on, you know, perspectives regarding Gaza.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Ericka Cruz Guevarra: \u003c/b>\u003cem>[00:16:36] \u003c/em>Well Juan Carlos, thank you so much for joining us on the show, I appreciate it.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Juan Carlos Lara: \u003c/b>\u003cem>[00:16:40] \u003c/em>Thank you for having me.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad floatright]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan class=\"\" title=\"\">\u003ci>Some members of the KQED podcast team are represented by The Screen Actors Guild, American Federation of Television and Radio Artists, San Francisco-Northern California Local.\u003c/i>\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\n",
"blocks": [],
"excerpt": "If convicted, they could face a maximum sentence of 15 years in prison.",
"status": "publish",
"parent": 0,
"modified": 1779919840,
"stats": {
"hasAudio": true,
"hasVideo": false,
"hasChartOrMap": false,
"iframeSrcs": [],
"hasGoogleForm": false,
"hasGallery": false,
"hasHearkenModule": false,
"hasPolis": false,
"paragraphCount": 54,
"wordCount": 2998
},
"headData": {
"title": "These Protesters Could Go to Prison for Blocking the Golden Gate Bridge | KQED",
"description": "If convicted, they could face a maximum sentence of 15 years in prison.",
"ogTitle": "",
"ogDescription": "",
"ogImgId": "",
"twTitle": "",
"twDescription": "",
"twImgId": "",
"schema": {
"@context": "https://schema.org",
"@type": "NewsArticle",
"headline": "These Protesters Could Go to Prison for Blocking the Golden Gate Bridge",
"datePublished": "2026-05-27T03:00:07-07:00",
"dateModified": "2026-05-27T15:10:40-07:00",
"image": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/KQED-OG-Image@1x.png",
"isAccessibleForFree": "True",
"publisher": {
"@type": "NewsMediaOrganization",
"@id": "https://www.kqed.org/#organization",
"name": "KQED",
"logo": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/KQED-OG-Image@1x.png",
"url": "https://www.kqed.org",
"sameAs": [
"https://www.facebook.com/KQED",
"https://twitter.com/KQED",
"https://www.instagram.com/kqed/",
"https://www.tiktok.com/@kqedofficial",
"https://www.linkedin.com/company/kqed",
"https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCeC0IOo7i1P_61zVUWbJ4nw"
]
}
}
},
"primaryCategory": {
"termId": 8,
"slug": "news",
"name": "News"
},
"source": "The Bay",
"sourceUrl": "https://www.kqed.org/podcasts/thebay",
"audioUrl": "https://www.podtrac.com/pts/redirect.mp3/traffic.megaphone.fm/KQINC4975303124.mp3",
"sticky": false,
"nprStoryId": "kqed-12085224",
"templateType": "standard",
"featuredImageType": "standard",
"excludeFromSiteSearch": "Include",
"articleAge": "0",
"path": "/news/12085224/these-protesters-could-go-to-prison-for-blocking-the-golden-gate-bridge",
"audioTrackLength": null,
"parsedContent": [
{
"type": "contentString",
"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>On April 15, 2024, dozens of pro-Palestinian protesters blocked the Golden Gate Bridge, in an attempt to pressure the U.S. government into ending military aid for Israel’s bombing and invasion of Gaza.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Now, seven of those protesters are on trial facing felony charges in San Francisco. If convicted, they could face a maximum sentence of 15 years in prison.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c!-- iframe plugin v.4.3 wordpress.org/plugins/iframe/ -->\u003cbr>\n\u003ciframe loading=\"lazy\" frameborder=\"0\" height=\"200\" scrolling=\"no\" src=\"https://playlist.megaphone.fm?e=KQINC4975303124&light=true\" width=\"100%\" class=\"iframe-class\">\u003c/iframe>\u003c/p>\n\u003ch3>\u003cstrong>Episode Transcript\u003c/strong>\u003c/h3>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>This is a computer-generated transcript. While our team has reviewed it, there may be errors.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Ericka Cruz Guevarra: \u003c/b>\u003cem>[00:00:00] \u003c/em>I’m Ericka Cruz Guevarra and welcome to The Bay, local news to keep you rooted. Sara Cantor grew up learning a lot about the Holocaust. Being Jewish, she learned about how much of German life just went on, as Jewish people were displaced, put in camps, and murdered.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
"attributes": {
"named": {},
"numeric": []
}
},
{
"type": "component",
"content": "",
"name": "ad",
"attributes": {
"named": {
"label": "fullwidth"
},
"numeric": [
"fullwidth"
]
}
},
{
"type": "contentString",
"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Sara Cantor: \u003c/b>\u003cem>[00:00:24] \u003c/em>As a child I was really obsessed with and disturbed by the question of who would I have been during that time period, how would I had acted?\u003cem> \u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Ericka Cruz Guevarra: \u003c/b>\u003cem>[00:00:37] \u003c/em>On April 15th, 2024, Cantor was among 26 protesters who stopped traffic on the Golden Gate Bridge to highlight Israel’s siege of Gaza. Now she, along with six others, are on trial in San Francisco, facing felony conspiracy charges for their actions on the bridge that day. If convicted, they could face up to 15 years in prison.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Sara Cantor: \u003c/b>\u003cem>[00:01:09] \u003c/em>I resolved that if I had been in that situation, or if I were to ever be in a similar situation, that I would resist, that I wouldn’t turn away, that I make sure to fight for the humanity of all people.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Ericka Cruz Guevarra: \u003c/b>\u003cem>[00:01:30] \u003c/em>Today, the Golden Gate Bridge protesters on trial in San Francisco.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Ericka Cruz Guevarra: \u003c/b>\u003cem>[00:01:41] \u003c/em>Let’s start back in April of 2024. What happened on the Golden Gate Bridge?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Juan Carlos Lara: \u003c/b>\u003cem>[00:01:53] \u003c/em>Just before 8am, basically a group of cars drove southbound through Marin onto the Golden Gate Bridge and then stopped about halfway through. At that point some protestors got out of those cars and stopped up all southbound traffic.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Ericka Cruz Guevarra: \u003c/b>\u003cem>[00:02:12] \u003c/em>Juan Carlos Lara is a reporter for KQED.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Juan Carlos Lara: \u003c/b>\u003cem>[00:02:16] \u003c/em>A few of those people kind of connected themselves into these devices, essentially chaining themselves to their cars and to each other, and then others unfurled a big banner that read Stop the World for Gaza.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Protester: \u003c/b>\u003cem>[00:02:28] \u003c/em>Stop funneling U.S. Tax dollars to the Israeli occupation forces to continue the atrocities and genocide of the Palestinian people!\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Juan Carlos Lara: \u003c/b>\u003cem>[00:02:44] \u003c/em>From before this point, they’d been describing Israel’s actions in Gaza as a genocide, and this was part of an international kind of day of action.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Ericka Cruz Guevarra: \u003c/b>\u003cem>[00:02:56] \u003c/em>Tax day. Is that right?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Juan Carlos Lara: \u003c/b>\u003cem>[00:02:57] \u003c/em>Yeah, so this specifically happened on the tax filing deadline in the US. Protesters were hoping to apply economic pressure on the US to get US leaders to end military aid to Israel and, in effect, pressure Israel to stop its bombings of Gaza.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Ericka Cruz Guevarra: \u003c/b>\u003cem>[00:03:17] \u003c/em>And how did this protest eventually end?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Juan Carlos Lara: \u003c/b>\u003cem>[00:03:21] \u003c/em>There were dozens of people out there. 26 were charged, and they ended up blocking traffic for about four hours. 18 of them were charged with misdemeanors. There was one who initially was faced with felony charges, but whose charges were dismissed. And then there were seven who were charged with felonies. These are six who allegedly chained themselves to their cars and to each other using these things called. Lockboxes or sleeping dragon devices that makes it really hard to remove protestors and then there was a seventh who was allegedly the police liaison going back and forth between uh the police and those protesters and these seven are the ones going through trial facing a series of charges chief among them there’s felony conspiracy there’s also a series of misdemeanors including false imprisonment and refusal to disperse\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Ericka Cruz Guevarra: \u003c/b>\u003cem>[00:04:10] \u003c/em>And I actually remember that day and in particular, I remember social media just being sort of a big mess. A lot of people being really upset about the traffic in the Bay Area on that particular day. Again, it was one of many actions, but it’s not an unprecedented thing to see a protest on the Golden Gate Bridge, right?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Juan Carlos Lara: \u003c/b>\u003cem>[00:04:35] \u003c/em>Yeah, that’s right. The bridge has been a frequent site of protest. There was actually another bridge shut down just two months prior to this in February, but that one only lasted for like 45 minutes and dispersed very quickly, so it didn’t make as big headlines. There was a Black Lives Matter march that crossed the bridge in 2020. There was an anti-war protest that happened there in 2002. Two other really big ones in 1996. Woody Harrelson and a bunch of other people engaged in this like Save the Redwoods protest and they climbed the cables and hung a huge banner. And there was also a protest over the US’s response to the AIDS crisis in the 80s. It’s an iconic structure, obviously, and people hoping to… Bring a lot of attention to what they feel is an urgent cause often see it as a great place to stage these demonstrations.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Ericka Cruz Guevarra: \u003c/b>\u003cem>[00:05:28] \u003c/em>This happened more than two years ago now. What was the response at the time and how did we get to this point where there are now seven people facing these felony charges?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Juan Carlos Lara: \u003c/b>\u003cem>[00:05:41] \u003c/em>I’d say the response at the time was pretty divided. This has been a contentious issue, not just in the Bay Area, but kind of internationally. This was kind of at the fever pitch of pro-Palestinian protests in the bay area. Like I said, this was just two months after a smaller bridge shut down. At this time, the student encampments across college campuses were starting to wind down, but we’re still present on at least a few campuses.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Brooke Jenkins: \u003c/b>\u003cem>[00:06:09] \u003c/em>I want to make clear that San Francisco, as well as myself as the district attorney, support free speech. But where we must draw the line is when acts of free speech endanger public safety.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Juan Carlos Lara: \u003c/b>\u003cem>[00:06:23] \u003c/em>In terms of local officials, San Francisco’s District Attorney Brooke Jenkins came out with very strong statements about this. She said that, you know, she encouraged people’s right to protest and to freedom of speech, but that this threatened the safety of people on the bridge.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Brooke Jenkins: \u003c/b>\u003cem>[00:06:38] \u003c/em>And we must make sure that public safety is observed in San Francisco. And that is what we are committed to doing.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Juan Carlos Lara: \u003c/b>\u003cem>[00:06:46] \u003c/em>So the district attorney ended up filing, like I said, felony conspiracy charges against seven and then a slew of misdemeanors against the other 18 involved.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Ericka Cruz Guevarra: \u003c/b>\u003cem>[00:06:57] \u003c/em>And as I understand it, some of these protesters also had to pay the Golden Gate Bridge district for some of the interruptions that happened in terms of traffic that day, is that right?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Juan Carlos Lara: \u003c/b>\u003cem>[00:07:12] \u003c/em>Yeah, so after the bridge shut down, San Francisco District Attorney Brooke Jenkins and the California Highway Patrol both put out messages essentially soliciting people to come forward if they feel like they were victims and that they may be entitled to restitution. The Golden Gate Bridge Highway and Transportation District filed a restitution claim for just over $160,000, arguing that that was the lost toll revenue that they had suffered for the shutdown. That was seen as a somewhat unprecedented move. As far as we can tell, the Bridge District has never filed a restitution claim against other protesters who have shut down the bridge. Ultimately, the bridge district and the protesters settled for an unspecified amount. And then the group of protesters who did not ultimately face felony charges, who were just facing a series of misdemeanors, settled with private individuals who said they suffered losses, mostly the day’s lost wages, and they ended up paying out a group of those claimants for just over five grand.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Ericka Cruz Guevarra: \u003c/b>\u003cem>[00:08:22] \u003c/em>Coming up, inside the courtroom for the Golden Gate Bridge protesters’ trial. By the way, if you appreciate these deep dives into local news in the Bay Area, consider becoming a KQED member. We can’t do this work without our listener donations, so consider joining the hundreds of thousands of your Bay Area neighbors today. KQed.org slash donate is the place to do it. We’ll be right back.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Ericka Cruz Guevarra: \u003c/b>\u003cem>[00:08:57] \u003c/em>So let’s talk about this trial. What is the district attorney’s office arguing in court? And have they said anything in the media about how they’re approaching this?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Juan Carlos Lara: \u003c/b>\u003cem>[00:09:06] \u003c/em>So in court, the prosecution’s main argument is they’ve been asking jurors to set aside how they feel about Gaza or how they feel about Israel’s war in Gaza and to just focus specifically on the actions and the consequences of those actions. In its opening statement, the prosecution argued that people were pretty significantly impacted, that they were trapped on the bridge for hours that people were late to work, including nurses at local hospitals, that people missed doctor’s appointments. And so they argue that these people really were kind of trapped on there. And so false imprisonment is a fitting charge for that reason. The DA’s office has been pretty tight-lipped outside of court. While the district attorney did make a public statement on this initially, not long after the first protest and did put out a statement explaining some of the charges. Uh, in recent months, the DA’s office has declined to comment. They said they’re not really going to litigate this in the media and they’re just going to focus on court.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Ericka Cruz Guevarra: \u003c/b>\u003cem>[00:10:06] \u003c/em>Walk me through the defense argument here, Juan Carlos. It sounds like they do feel like the consequences are perhaps unfair, and that these protesters were just exercising their First Amendment right, just as has been done on the bridge for many years before. Who’s defending these protesters, and what are they saying in court?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Juan Carlos Lara: \u003c/b>\u003cem>[00:10:27] \u003c/em>There are seven defendants and each one of them has their own attorney, which does make for a bit of a circus act in court because there are seven kind of all clamoring to object around the same time. And we heard seven opening statements kind of each tailored to each individual defendant. The protesters and their attorneys have definitely argued that these charges are unprecedented, that charges like false imprisonment or felony conspiracy should be reserved for very serious crimes, not people engaging in acts of civil disobedience. A good example of kind of the defense that they’ve been putting on so far came from Shafi Mouil, who’s the attorney for one of the defendants, and she went first during opening statements. The first words that she spoke when addressing the jury were, necessary, urgent, and life-saving. And essentially, the argument that she made was that her client and all of the other clients there had really made an earnest effort to try to engage with the government and try to facilitate some kind of change that they had, you know, written letters to their member of Congress and that they have participated in kind of permitted sit-ins and other kinds of acceptable protest and that nothing that they’d done had created the change that they thought was needed. And that they sincerely thought that by engaging in this act of protest that they could apply pressure to the government and successfully create some change.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Manan Kocher: \u003c/b>\u003cem>[00:11:56] \u003c/em>My seven co-defendants are amongst the bravest, most beautiful and brilliant people that I know and they are in unwavering solidarity of Palestine always.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Juan Carlos Lara: \u003c/b>\u003cem>[00:12:10] \u003c/em>Manan Kocher was one of the misdemeanor defendants whose case was ultimately diverted and they are serving as sort of a communications person for the group.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Manan Kocher: \u003c/b>\u003cem>[00:12:20] \u003c/em>We’re here to remind everyone that we are more in solidarity, we are stronger together than we were two years ago.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Juan Carlos Lara: \u003c/b>\u003cem>[00:12:28] \u003c/em>They, you know, like the defense have argued that the protesters had good intentions that they were hoping to create a positive change and that their intention was not to break the law.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Manan Kocher: \u003c/b>\u003cem>[00:12:39] \u003c/em>What the overprosecution in this case is intended to do is stifle dissent and prevent people from standing up against the U.S. War machine.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Ericka Cruz Guevarra: \u003c/b>\u003cem>[00:12:53] \u003c/em>And Juan Carlos, you’ve been in the courtroom the past few days. You were there for opening statements. I mean, what was it, what’s it like in there?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Juan Carlos Lara: \u003c/b>\u003cem>[00:13:02] \u003c/em>Yeah, things in the courtroom have been, for the most part, pretty standard. The first day of trial before the jury, a large group of supporters for the protesters came out and sat in trial for most of the morning. And this was a group of people that I had recognized from many other demonstrations that I’ve covered in the last three years, including protests calling on local universities that I’ve asked from weapons manufacturers. There is this kind of undercurrent of tension because the judge, it seems, would prefer to focus on the specific acts of the case. But the defense is hoping to talk about the broader crisis in Gaza in order to justify the actions of their defendants. The judge at one point even said while talking to both sides, we’re not going to decide in this courtroom whether the U.S. Is violating international law. And so it seems like there is an effort to try to avoid the trial from being. Sucked up into this broader debate about the legality of the U.S. And Israel’s actions in Gaza.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Ericka Cruz Guevarra: \u003c/b>\u003cem>[00:14:08] \u003c/em>What happens if they’re found guilty?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Juan Carlos Lara: \u003c/b>\u003cem>[00:14:11] \u003c/em>If they’re found guilty the group of seven face up to 14 or 15 years in prison. Wow. We don’t know for sure whether the prosecution will seek such a steep sentence but their charge is taken together that is the that is the maximum that they’re facing.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Ericka Cruz Guevarra: \u003c/b>\u003cem>[00:14:30] \u003c/em>You’re going back to the courtroom today, Juan Carlos. What are you gonna be watching for?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Juan Carlos Lara: \u003c/b>\u003cem>[00:14:35] \u003c/em>This week the prosecution is expected to wrap up the witnesses that they’re gonna be calling. My understanding is that the remaining witnesses are going to be a few more law enforcement who can speak to kind of just asserting the basic facts of the case. But more significantly, the prosecution is expected to call people who were trapped on the bridge who were stuck in their cars To speak to the way that this impacted them And so really this is going to be a question of how much the that testimony impacts the jury\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Ericka Cruz Guevarra: \u003c/b>\u003cem>[00:15:08] \u003c/em>I mean, what are the potential implications of this trial if these protesters are in fact found guilty of felony charges?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Juan Carlos Lara: \u003c/b>\u003cem>[00:15:17] \u003c/em>What some activists and lawyers for the defendants have argued is that this presents an effort by the district attorney’s office to create a chilling effect on similar demonstrations to essentially make an example out of these protesters and deter other protesters from engaging in similarly disruptive acts in the future. But protesters and Manan Kutcher argue that if that is the intention that it’s not going to work and that they won’t allow something like this to deter them from continuing to advocate.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Ericka Cruz Guevarra: \u003c/b>\u003cem>[00:15:51] \u003c/em>I have to say I’m talking to you now about this trial, Juan Carlos, but it reminds me a lot of the trial that happened for protesters in Stanford and this feeling that Gaza seems to be the exception, that the hand is sort of coming down heavy when it comes to protesters on this particular political issue.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Juan Carlos Lara: \u003c/b>\u003cem>[00:16:12] \u003c/em>That’s definitely something that some of the protesters involved in these demonstrations have also pointed out and argued, that they feel like the reactions to these demonstrations are disproportional and that it’s partially because of what they believe is a disagreement on, you know, perspectives regarding Gaza.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Ericka Cruz Guevarra: \u003c/b>\u003cem>[00:16:36] \u003c/em>Well Juan Carlos, thank you so much for joining us on the show, I appreciate it.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Juan Carlos Lara: \u003c/b>\u003cem>[00:16:40] \u003c/em>Thank you for having me.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
"attributes": {
"named": {},
"numeric": []
}
},
{
"type": "component",
"content": "",
"name": "ad",
"attributes": {
"named": {
"label": "floatright"
},
"numeric": [
"floatright"
]
}
},
{
"type": "contentString",
"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan class=\"\" title=\"\">\u003ci>Some members of the KQED podcast team are represented by The Screen Actors Guild, American Federation of Television and Radio Artists, San Francisco-Northern California Local.\u003c/i>\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\n\u003c/div>\u003c/p>",
"attributes": {
"named": {},
"numeric": []
}
}
],
"link": "/news/12085224/these-protesters-could-go-to-prison-for-blocking-the-golden-gate-bridge",
"authors": [
"8654",
"11761",
"11831",
"11649"
],
"categories": [
"news_8"
],
"tags": [
"news_31298",
"news_6631",
"news_1276",
"news_33812",
"news_33673",
"news_29475",
"news_745",
"news_38",
"news_22598"
],
"featImg": "news_12084463",
"label": "source_news_12085224"
},
"news_12084403": {
"type": "posts",
"id": "news_12084403",
"meta": {
"index": "posts_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "12084403",
"score": null,
"sort": [
1779311847000
]
},
"guestAuthors": [],
"slug": "golden-gate-bridge-protest-trial-opens-in-san-francisco",
"title": "Golden Gate Bridge Protest Trial Opens in San Francisco",
"publishDate": 1779311847,
"format": "standard",
"headTitle": "Golden Gate Bridge Protest Trial Opens in San Francisco | KQED",
"labelTerm": {
"site": "news"
},
"content": "\u003cp>The felony trial for seven pro-Palestinian protesters who blocked \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12011165/felony-charges-against-golden-gate-bridge-protesters-can-go-to-trial-judge-rules\">traffic on the Golden Gate Bridge\u003c/a> in 2024 opened in San Francisco on Wednesday.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The District Attorney’s office has alleged that the activists conspired to and restricted commuters’ freedom of movement, trapping them suspended over a body of water. If found guilty, they could each face 14- or 15-year prison sentences.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Attorneys for the activists said they plan to make the case that their clients believed their actions were necessary to save the lives of Palestinians amid Israel’s military strikes on Gaza.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Attorney Shaffy Moeel said her client, Bhavika Anandpura, felt it was “immediate, urgent [and] necessary” to join the protesters, who chained themselves to parked vehicles and each other across the southbound lanes of the bridge, shutting down traffic in both directions for about four hours in the early morning of April 15, 2024.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“She posted on social media, she called Congress, she wrote letters, she joined protests … but nothing changes. The bombings continued, hunger spread,” Moeel said during her opening statement. “By April, this does not feel theoretical anymore.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“She thought an economic boycott could create real economic consequences that people in power can’t ignore,” Moeel told the courtroom packed with supporters donning keffiyehs. Some of the attendees have also participated in protests calling on \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11984203/pro-palestinian-protests-sweep-california-college-campuses-amid-israel-hamas-war\">local colleges to divest\u003c/a> from Israeli companies and weapons manufacturers and on the Port of Oakland to \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12056544/bay-area-groups-call-for-end-of-military-shipments-to-israel-from-oakland-airport\">end military cargo shipping\u003c/a> through the city’s airport.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12084463\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-12084463 size-full\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/260520-GGB-PROTEST-02-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/260520-GGB-PROTEST-02-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/260520-GGB-PROTEST-02-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/260520-GGB-PROTEST-02-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">First responders on The Golden Gate 26 on April 15, 2024. A group of Bay Area residents was arrested during a protest against the U.S. role in the war in Gaza on Tax Day. \u003ccite>(Courtesy of Saman Qadir)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>The seven are part of a larger group that participated in a multi-city effort to disrupt local and global economies and put pressure on the U.S. government to halt support for Israel’s war in Gaza on Tax Day 2024. Demonstrators also \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11982940/protesters-shut-down-880-freeway-in-oakland-as-part-of-economic-blockade-for-gaza\">shut down traffic on Interstate-880 in Oakland\u003c/a>, and staged similar protests in San Diego, Seattle, Philadelphia, San Antonio, Chicago and Tallahassee, Florida. Demonstrations were also held internationally, across Mexico, Vietnam and Australia, among others.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Months later, San Francisco District Attorney Brooke Jenkins charged 26 Bay Area protesters, self-identified as the “Golden Gate 26,” in connection with the action.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Cases against 18 of the defendants, who faced misdemeanor charges, have been dropped since, and an eighth person who initially faced felony charges had their case thrown out by a judge in 2024 due to lack of evidence.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In the past, San Francisco has seen \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12081802/search-of-golden-gate-bridge-protesters-social-media-was-illegal-attorneys-argue\">Golden Gate Bridge protests\u003c/a> related to environmental justice and the handling of the AIDS crisis. More recently, dozens of pro-Palestinian protesters who shut down westbound travel on the Bay Bridge in November 2023 were charged with misdemeanors and reached a deal with the \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11970376/demonstrators-pack-the-court-to-support-activists-arrested-for-blocking-bay-bridge-last-month\">San Francisco DA’s office\u003c/a> to avoid jail time.[aside postID=news_12080402 hero='https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/041526_CHADASHBY_9485-KQED.jpg']Compared to those, the charges against the remaining Golden Gate Bridge 26 defendants represent some of the harshest. Each is charged with felony conspiracy, along with a slew of misdemeanors, including unlawful assembly, willful restriction of free movement and multiple counts of false imprisonment.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Attorneys for the defendants asked a judge last year to downgrade the felonies to misdemeanors, arguing their clients had been overcharged and targeted for their political beliefs. But the judge declined, saying his decision was influenced in part by a significant restitution claim from the Golden Gate Bridge, Highway and Transportation District.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The bridge operators initially sought \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12063531/golden-gate-bridge-agency-drops-163k-restitution-claim-against-pro-palestinian-protesters\">more than $160,000 from the protesters\u003c/a> for lost toll revenue, though they reached a confidential deal last year and dropped their claim. Several individuals who were stuck on the bridge also filed restitution claims, mostly for the day’s lost wages. In a separate deal, 16 of the defendants, not including those facing felony charges, agreed to pay nine claimants a collective $5,300.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The protesters’ attorneys are not disputing that their clients blocked bridge travel, but plan to make the case that they felt their actions were necessary to stop a genocide in Gaza.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>To prove a \u003ca href=\"https://www.justia.com/criminal/defenses/necessity/\">necessity defense\u003c/a>, they’ll need to show that the protesters believed they were facing a real, specific and immediate threat to themselves or others; had no reasonable alternative to the action they took; did not create greater danger than the danger they avoided; and did not contribute to or cause the threat.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>During opening statements, attorneys laid out each protester’s individual circumstances leading up to the action — from one who traveled to Palestine herself, to another who heard a trauma surgeon’s account of treating patients in Gaza, and multiple who said their clients had attended protests, sit-ins and called their representatives without response.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12011174\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12011174\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/10/GGBridgeProtestAprilGetty2.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/10/GGBridgeProtestAprilGetty2.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/10/GGBridgeProtestAprilGetty2-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/10/GGBridgeProtestAprilGetty2-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/10/GGBridgeProtestAprilGetty2-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/10/GGBridgeProtestAprilGetty2-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/10/GGBridgeProtestAprilGetty2-1920x1280.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Pro-Palestinian demonstrators blocked San Francisco’s Golden Gate Bridge on April 15, 2024, completely halting traffic for hours as part of a coordinated day of action against Israel’s war in Gaza. \u003ccite>(Paul Kuroda / AFP via Getty Images)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Attorney Nuha Abusamra said her client “believed this was the only way to get U.S. officials to stop sending arms to Israel.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But Assistant District Attorney Angela Roze cited significant inconveniences the action caused for those trying to travel across the Golden Gate Bridge that morning.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“People missed doctors’ appointments, nurses were missing from their jobs, children were forced to defecate in bags, people had little to no water,” Roze said. “Because these seven individuals decided that their cause, their message, was more important.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Roze said it is against the law to block traffic, restrict others’ movement and make a plan to do so.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“The evidence is clear: these individuals broke the law,” Roze told the jury. “And while you may agree with their message, their cause, and it may be an important one, it does not justify breaking the law.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>Correction: A previous version of this story incorrectly stated that defendants paid Golden Gate Bridge operators $5,300 to settle a restitution claim. That total was paid to settle restitution claims from private individuals.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n",
"blocks": [],
"excerpt": "Attorneys for seven activists facing felony conspiracy charges for blocking the Golden Gate Bridge in 2024 will argue their clients believed their actions were necessary to save the lives of Palestinians amid Israel’s military strikes on Gaza.",
"status": "publish",
"parent": 0,
"modified": 1779725911,
"stats": {
"hasAudio": false,
"hasVideo": false,
"hasChartOrMap": false,
"iframeSrcs": [],
"hasGoogleForm": false,
"hasGallery": false,
"hasHearkenModule": false,
"hasPolis": false,
"paragraphCount": 23,
"wordCount": 1066
},
"headData": {
"title": "Golden Gate Bridge Protest Trial Opens in San Francisco | KQED",
"description": "Attorneys for seven activists facing felony conspiracy charges for blocking the Golden Gate Bridge in 2024 will argue their clients believed their actions were necessary to save the lives of Palestinians amid Israel’s military strikes on Gaza.",
"ogTitle": "",
"ogDescription": "",
"ogImgId": "",
"twTitle": "",
"twDescription": "",
"twImgId": "",
"schema": {
"@context": "https://schema.org",
"@type": "NewsArticle",
"headline": "Golden Gate Bridge Protest Trial Opens in San Francisco",
"datePublished": "2026-05-20T14:17:27-07:00",
"dateModified": "2026-05-25T09:18:31-07:00",
"image": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/KQED-OG-Image@1x.png",
"isAccessibleForFree": "True",
"publisher": {
"@type": "NewsMediaOrganization",
"@id": "https://www.kqed.org/#organization",
"name": "KQED",
"logo": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/KQED-OG-Image@1x.png",
"url": "https://www.kqed.org",
"sameAs": [
"https://www.facebook.com/KQED",
"https://twitter.com/KQED",
"https://www.instagram.com/kqed/",
"https://www.tiktok.com/@kqedofficial",
"https://www.linkedin.com/company/kqed",
"https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCeC0IOo7i1P_61zVUWbJ4nw"
]
}
}
},
"primaryCategory": {
"termId": 28250,
"slug": "local",
"name": "Local"
},
"sticky": false,
"nprStoryId": "kqed-12084403",
"templateType": "standard",
"featuredImageType": "standard",
"excludeFromSiteSearch": "Include",
"articleAge": "0",
"path": "/news/12084403/golden-gate-bridge-protest-trial-opens-in-san-francisco",
"audioTrackLength": null,
"parsedContent": [
{
"type": "contentString",
"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>The felony trial for seven pro-Palestinian protesters who blocked \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12011165/felony-charges-against-golden-gate-bridge-protesters-can-go-to-trial-judge-rules\">traffic on the Golden Gate Bridge\u003c/a> in 2024 opened in San Francisco on Wednesday.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The District Attorney’s office has alleged that the activists conspired to and restricted commuters’ freedom of movement, trapping them suspended over a body of water. If found guilty, they could each face 14- or 15-year prison sentences.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Attorneys for the activists said they plan to make the case that their clients believed their actions were necessary to save the lives of Palestinians amid Israel’s military strikes on Gaza.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
"attributes": {
"named": {},
"numeric": []
}
},
{
"type": "component",
"content": "",
"name": "ad",
"attributes": {
"named": {
"label": "fullwidth"
},
"numeric": [
"fullwidth"
]
}
},
{
"type": "contentString",
"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Attorney Shaffy Moeel said her client, Bhavika Anandpura, felt it was “immediate, urgent [and] necessary” to join the protesters, who chained themselves to parked vehicles and each other across the southbound lanes of the bridge, shutting down traffic in both directions for about four hours in the early morning of April 15, 2024.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“She posted on social media, she called Congress, she wrote letters, she joined protests … but nothing changes. The bombings continued, hunger spread,” Moeel said during her opening statement. “By April, this does not feel theoretical anymore.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“She thought an economic boycott could create real economic consequences that people in power can’t ignore,” Moeel told the courtroom packed with supporters donning keffiyehs. Some of the attendees have also participated in protests calling on \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11984203/pro-palestinian-protests-sweep-california-college-campuses-amid-israel-hamas-war\">local colleges to divest\u003c/a> from Israeli companies and weapons manufacturers and on the Port of Oakland to \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12056544/bay-area-groups-call-for-end-of-military-shipments-to-israel-from-oakland-airport\">end military cargo shipping\u003c/a> through the city’s airport.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12084463\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-12084463 size-full\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/260520-GGB-PROTEST-02-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/260520-GGB-PROTEST-02-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/260520-GGB-PROTEST-02-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/260520-GGB-PROTEST-02-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">First responders on The Golden Gate 26 on April 15, 2024. A group of Bay Area residents was arrested during a protest against the U.S. role in the war in Gaza on Tax Day. \u003ccite>(Courtesy of Saman Qadir)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>The seven are part of a larger group that participated in a multi-city effort to disrupt local and global economies and put pressure on the U.S. government to halt support for Israel’s war in Gaza on Tax Day 2024. Demonstrators also \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11982940/protesters-shut-down-880-freeway-in-oakland-as-part-of-economic-blockade-for-gaza\">shut down traffic on Interstate-880 in Oakland\u003c/a>, and staged similar protests in San Diego, Seattle, Philadelphia, San Antonio, Chicago and Tallahassee, Florida. Demonstrations were also held internationally, across Mexico, Vietnam and Australia, among others.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Months later, San Francisco District Attorney Brooke Jenkins charged 26 Bay Area protesters, self-identified as the “Golden Gate 26,” in connection with the action.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Cases against 18 of the defendants, who faced misdemeanor charges, have been dropped since, and an eighth person who initially faced felony charges had their case thrown out by a judge in 2024 due to lack of evidence.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In the past, San Francisco has seen \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12081802/search-of-golden-gate-bridge-protesters-social-media-was-illegal-attorneys-argue\">Golden Gate Bridge protests\u003c/a> related to environmental justice and the handling of the AIDS crisis. More recently, dozens of pro-Palestinian protesters who shut down westbound travel on the Bay Bridge in November 2023 were charged with misdemeanors and reached a deal with the \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11970376/demonstrators-pack-the-court-to-support-activists-arrested-for-blocking-bay-bridge-last-month\">San Francisco DA’s office\u003c/a> to avoid jail time.\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
"attributes": {
"named": {},
"numeric": []
}
},
{
"type": "component",
"content": "",
"name": "aside",
"attributes": {
"named": {
"postid": "news_12080402",
"hero": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/041526_CHADASHBY_9485-KQED.jpg",
"label": ""
},
"numeric": []
}
},
{
"type": "contentString",
"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>Compared to those, the charges against the remaining Golden Gate Bridge 26 defendants represent some of the harshest. Each is charged with felony conspiracy, along with a slew of misdemeanors, including unlawful assembly, willful restriction of free movement and multiple counts of false imprisonment.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Attorneys for the defendants asked a judge last year to downgrade the felonies to misdemeanors, arguing their clients had been overcharged and targeted for their political beliefs. But the judge declined, saying his decision was influenced in part by a significant restitution claim from the Golden Gate Bridge, Highway and Transportation District.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The bridge operators initially sought \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12063531/golden-gate-bridge-agency-drops-163k-restitution-claim-against-pro-palestinian-protesters\">more than $160,000 from the protesters\u003c/a> for lost toll revenue, though they reached a confidential deal last year and dropped their claim. Several individuals who were stuck on the bridge also filed restitution claims, mostly for the day’s lost wages. In a separate deal, 16 of the defendants, not including those facing felony charges, agreed to pay nine claimants a collective $5,300.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The protesters’ attorneys are not disputing that their clients blocked bridge travel, but plan to make the case that they felt their actions were necessary to stop a genocide in Gaza.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>To prove a \u003ca href=\"https://www.justia.com/criminal/defenses/necessity/\">necessity defense\u003c/a>, they’ll need to show that the protesters believed they were facing a real, specific and immediate threat to themselves or others; had no reasonable alternative to the action they took; did not create greater danger than the danger they avoided; and did not contribute to or cause the threat.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>During opening statements, attorneys laid out each protester’s individual circumstances leading up to the action — from one who traveled to Palestine herself, to another who heard a trauma surgeon’s account of treating patients in Gaza, and multiple who said their clients had attended protests, sit-ins and called their representatives without response.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12011174\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12011174\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/10/GGBridgeProtestAprilGetty2.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/10/GGBridgeProtestAprilGetty2.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/10/GGBridgeProtestAprilGetty2-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/10/GGBridgeProtestAprilGetty2-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/10/GGBridgeProtestAprilGetty2-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/10/GGBridgeProtestAprilGetty2-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/10/GGBridgeProtestAprilGetty2-1920x1280.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Pro-Palestinian demonstrators blocked San Francisco’s Golden Gate Bridge on April 15, 2024, completely halting traffic for hours as part of a coordinated day of action against Israel’s war in Gaza. \u003ccite>(Paul Kuroda / AFP via Getty Images)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Attorney Nuha Abusamra said her client “believed this was the only way to get U.S. officials to stop sending arms to Israel.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But Assistant District Attorney Angela Roze cited significant inconveniences the action caused for those trying to travel across the Golden Gate Bridge that morning.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“People missed doctors’ appointments, nurses were missing from their jobs, children were forced to defecate in bags, people had little to no water,” Roze said. “Because these seven individuals decided that their cause, their message, was more important.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Roze said it is against the law to block traffic, restrict others’ movement and make a plan to do so.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“The evidence is clear: these individuals broke the law,” Roze told the jury. “And while you may agree with their message, their cause, and it may be an important one, it does not justify breaking the law.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>Correction: A previous version of this story incorrectly stated that defendants paid Golden Gate Bridge operators $5,300 to settle a restitution claim. That total was paid to settle restitution claims from private individuals.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003c/div>\u003c/p>",
"attributes": {
"named": {},
"numeric": []
}
}
],
"link": "/news/12084403/golden-gate-bridge-protest-trial-opens-in-san-francisco",
"authors": [
"11913",
"11761"
],
"categories": [
"news_28250",
"news_8",
"news_13"
],
"tags": [
"news_17725",
"news_27626",
"news_6631",
"news_1276",
"news_1741",
"news_33333",
"news_19954",
"news_33440",
"news_17968",
"news_33647",
"news_38"
],
"featImg": "news_12084462",
"label": "news"
},
"news_12081802": {
"type": "posts",
"id": "news_12081802",
"meta": {
"index": "posts_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "12081802",
"score": null,
"sort": [
1777572444000
]
},
"guestAuthors": [],
"slug": "search-of-golden-gate-bridge-protesters-social-media-was-illegal-attorneys-argue",
"title": "Search of Golden Gate Bridge Protesters’ Social Media Was Illegal, Attorneys Argue",
"publishDate": 1777572444,
"format": "standard",
"headTitle": "Search of Golden Gate Bridge Protesters’ Social Media Was Illegal, Attorneys Argue | KQED",
"labelTerm": {
"site": "news"
},
"content": "\u003cp>As seven pro-Palestinian activists who blocked the \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/golden-gate-bridge\">Golden Gate Bridge\u003c/a> two years ago prepare for felony trial, their attorneys are raising First Amendment concerns about a wide-ranging search of their social media activity.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The California Highway Patrol’s search warrant identified Facebook and Instagram accounts they believe belong to the defendants and sought three months of records from parent company Meta, including private messages, contact lists, liked posts, passwords and financial information. Defense attorneys aiming to block the data that was handed over from being used in court argue that the warrant was unconstitutionally broad.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“You can’t just say, ‘I’m looking for evidence of any crime,’” attorney Shaffy Moeel said. “You have to actually have a very particularized, specified thing that you’re looking for if you’re going to ask a judge to sign off on a warrant like this. And so what they got from Meta is hundreds of gigs of data related to what we think is absolutely First Amendment-protected activity.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Moeel filed a motion to suppress that evidence in court \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12011165/felony-charges-against-golden-gate-bridge-protesters-can-go-to-trial-judge-rules\">ahead of trial\u003c/a>, where defendants face maximum sentences of 14 or 15 years in prison for charges including felony conspiracy, false imprisonment and trespassing to interfere with a business.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Some of the requested information, such as content from accounts the defendants allegedly interacted with, has no relevance to the question of whether the protesters conspired to block traffic, Moeel argued in the motion. Instead, she told KQED, authorities were looking to build “a map of political association.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“You have the district attorney using law enforcement and the court to get data from people, Americans, regarding their political association, what accounts they’re liking, what accounts they’re reposting, what comments they’re posting related to accounts that might have a political message on it,” Moeel said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12031870\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12031870\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/GettyImages-1246387515-scaled-e1742325160899.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1334\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">The exterior of the Phillip Burton Federal Building and U.S. Courthouse in San Francisco, California, on Jan. 20, 2019. \u003ccite>(Patrick T. Fallon/AFP via Getty Images)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>The San Francisco district attorney’s office declined to comment.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>A CHP analyst looked into Instagram accounts that “supported one another with spreading knowledge of events” as part of the agency’s assessment of protests, according to a CHP officer’s affidavit for the warrant.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Among the list were accounts for some of the groups most consistently responsible for planning pro-Palestinian protests in the Bay Area in recent years, including local chapters for the Palestinian Youth Movement, Jewish Voice for Peace and the Arab Resource and Organizing Center.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The CHP declined to comment, citing the pending case.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Meta said in a statement that the company pushes back or refuses requests that are illegal. It did not do so in this case.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The trial comes more than two years after protesters\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11975859/golden-gate-bridge-blocked-by-activists-calling-for-cease-fire-in-gaza\"> blocked vehicle lanes\u003c/a> for hours on the Golden Gate Bridge as part of a broader day of demonstrations against U.S. economic support for Israel amid its war in Gaza. In Oakland, protesters also blocked lanes on Interstate 880.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Jury selection and opening statements are expected in the coming weeks, Moeel said.[aside postID=news_12080402 hero='https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/041526_CHADASHBY_9485-KQED.jpg']The defendants had previously hoped to avoid trial altogether and convince a judge to downgrade the felony charges to misdemeanors, but two judges ruled against them, most recently in March.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Historically, San Francisco has had other protests where they’ve blocked bridges for environmental justice or to raise awareness regarding \u003ca href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hvKAIPOBWlY\">disparities in providing AIDS treatment\u003c/a>,” Moeel said. “And so, I think this is a part of San Francisco history, and the district attorney here in this case took the unprecedented step of charging felony conspiracy to commit misdemeanor crimes.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Along with those two demonstrations, which occurred in 1996 and 1989 respectively, protesters have also flocked to the Golden Gate Bridge more recently. The environmental justice protest, which involved actor Woody Harrelson, is \u003ca href=\"https://www.goldengate.org/bridge/history-research/moments-events/key-dates/#1990s\">listed among key dates \u003c/a>on the Golden Gate Bridge, Highway and Transportation District’s website.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Anti-war protesters were also arrested on the bridge in 2002, though only one was charged with a felony for assaulting an officer, according to \u003ca href=\"https://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/Anti-war-rally-ties-up-bridge-Cops-stop-traffic-2818029.php\">SFGate.\u003c/a> In 2020, \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11823356/day-8-of-protests-around-the-bay-taking-a-knee-for-change-and-a-march-across-the-golden-gate-bridge\">thousands marched\u003c/a> across the bridge as part of the wave of Black Lives Matter protests without incident.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The defendants in this case note that their action two years ago was seemingly the first time the bridge district filed a restitution claim against protesters, originally set at $163,000 in lost toll revenue.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>When lawyers for the defendants first argued that the felony charges should be reduced, Judge Brendan P. Conroy said he would have considered the motion more seriously because the defendants seemed well-intentioned, but\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12011165/felony-charges-against-golden-gate-bridge-protesters-can-go-to-trial-judge-rules\"> the considerable restitution\u003c/a> amount stopped him.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>After the bridge district \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12063531/golden-gate-bridge-agency-drops-163k-restitution-claim-against-pro-palestinian-protesters\">withdrew its restitution claim\u003c/a> last year, attorneys tried again, but again a separate judge denied the motion, which defense attorneys called disappointing.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n",
"blocks": [],
"excerpt": "As seven pro-Palestinian protesters who blocked the bridge two years ago prepare for felony trial, their attorneys are raising First Amendment concerns about the CHP search warrant.",
"status": "publish",
"parent": 0,
"modified": 1777580042,
"stats": {
"hasAudio": false,
"hasVideo": false,
"hasChartOrMap": false,
"iframeSrcs": [],
"hasGoogleForm": false,
"hasGallery": false,
"hasHearkenModule": false,
"hasPolis": false,
"paragraphCount": 21,
"wordCount": 847
},
"headData": {
"title": "Search of Golden Gate Bridge Protesters’ Social Media Was Illegal, Attorneys Argue | KQED",
"description": "As seven pro-Palestinian protesters who blocked the bridge two years ago prepare for felony trial, their attorneys are raising First Amendment concerns about the CHP search warrant.",
"ogTitle": "",
"ogDescription": "",
"ogImgId": "",
"twTitle": "",
"twDescription": "",
"twImgId": "",
"schema": {
"@context": "https://schema.org",
"@type": "NewsArticle",
"headline": "Search of Golden Gate Bridge Protesters’ Social Media Was Illegal, Attorneys Argue",
"datePublished": "2026-04-30T11:07:24-07:00",
"dateModified": "2026-04-30T13:14:02-07:00",
"image": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/KQED-OG-Image@1x.png",
"isAccessibleForFree": "True",
"publisher": {
"@type": "NewsMediaOrganization",
"@id": "https://www.kqed.org/#organization",
"name": "KQED",
"logo": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/KQED-OG-Image@1x.png",
"url": "https://www.kqed.org",
"sameAs": [
"https://www.facebook.com/KQED",
"https://twitter.com/KQED",
"https://www.instagram.com/kqed/",
"https://www.tiktok.com/@kqedofficial",
"https://www.linkedin.com/company/kqed",
"https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCeC0IOo7i1P_61zVUWbJ4nw"
]
}
}
},
"primaryCategory": {
"termId": 13,
"slug": "politics",
"name": "Politics"
},
"sticky": false,
"nprStoryId": "kqed-12081802",
"templateType": "standard",
"featuredImageType": "standard",
"excludeFromSiteSearch": "Include",
"articleAge": "0",
"path": "/news/12081802/search-of-golden-gate-bridge-protesters-social-media-was-illegal-attorneys-argue",
"audioTrackLength": null,
"parsedContent": [
{
"type": "contentString",
"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>As seven pro-Palestinian activists who blocked the \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/golden-gate-bridge\">Golden Gate Bridge\u003c/a> two years ago prepare for felony trial, their attorneys are raising First Amendment concerns about a wide-ranging search of their social media activity.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The California Highway Patrol’s search warrant identified Facebook and Instagram accounts they believe belong to the defendants and sought three months of records from parent company Meta, including private messages, contact lists, liked posts, passwords and financial information. Defense attorneys aiming to block the data that was handed over from being used in court argue that the warrant was unconstitutionally broad.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“You can’t just say, ‘I’m looking for evidence of any crime,’” attorney Shaffy Moeel said. “You have to actually have a very particularized, specified thing that you’re looking for if you’re going to ask a judge to sign off on a warrant like this. And so what they got from Meta is hundreds of gigs of data related to what we think is absolutely First Amendment-protected activity.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
"attributes": {
"named": {},
"numeric": []
}
},
{
"type": "component",
"content": "",
"name": "ad",
"attributes": {
"named": {
"label": "fullwidth"
},
"numeric": [
"fullwidth"
]
}
},
{
"type": "contentString",
"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Moeel filed a motion to suppress that evidence in court \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12011165/felony-charges-against-golden-gate-bridge-protesters-can-go-to-trial-judge-rules\">ahead of trial\u003c/a>, where defendants face maximum sentences of 14 or 15 years in prison for charges including felony conspiracy, false imprisonment and trespassing to interfere with a business.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Some of the requested information, such as content from accounts the defendants allegedly interacted with, has no relevance to the question of whether the protesters conspired to block traffic, Moeel argued in the motion. Instead, she told KQED, authorities were looking to build “a map of political association.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“You have the district attorney using law enforcement and the court to get data from people, Americans, regarding their political association, what accounts they’re liking, what accounts they’re reposting, what comments they’re posting related to accounts that might have a political message on it,” Moeel said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12031870\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12031870\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/GettyImages-1246387515-scaled-e1742325160899.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1334\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">The exterior of the Phillip Burton Federal Building and U.S. Courthouse in San Francisco, California, on Jan. 20, 2019. \u003ccite>(Patrick T. Fallon/AFP via Getty Images)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>The San Francisco district attorney’s office declined to comment.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>A CHP analyst looked into Instagram accounts that “supported one another with spreading knowledge of events” as part of the agency’s assessment of protests, according to a CHP officer’s affidavit for the warrant.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Among the list were accounts for some of the groups most consistently responsible for planning pro-Palestinian protests in the Bay Area in recent years, including local chapters for the Palestinian Youth Movement, Jewish Voice for Peace and the Arab Resource and Organizing Center.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The CHP declined to comment, citing the pending case.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Meta said in a statement that the company pushes back or refuses requests that are illegal. It did not do so in this case.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The trial comes more than two years after protesters\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11975859/golden-gate-bridge-blocked-by-activists-calling-for-cease-fire-in-gaza\"> blocked vehicle lanes\u003c/a> for hours on the Golden Gate Bridge as part of a broader day of demonstrations against U.S. economic support for Israel amid its war in Gaza. In Oakland, protesters also blocked lanes on Interstate 880.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Jury selection and opening statements are expected in the coming weeks, Moeel said.\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
"attributes": {
"named": {},
"numeric": []
}
},
{
"type": "component",
"content": "",
"name": "aside",
"attributes": {
"named": {
"postid": "news_12080402",
"hero": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/041526_CHADASHBY_9485-KQED.jpg",
"label": ""
},
"numeric": []
}
},
{
"type": "contentString",
"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>The defendants had previously hoped to avoid trial altogether and convince a judge to downgrade the felony charges to misdemeanors, but two judges ruled against them, most recently in March.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Historically, San Francisco has had other protests where they’ve blocked bridges for environmental justice or to raise awareness regarding \u003ca href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hvKAIPOBWlY\">disparities in providing AIDS treatment\u003c/a>,” Moeel said. “And so, I think this is a part of San Francisco history, and the district attorney here in this case took the unprecedented step of charging felony conspiracy to commit misdemeanor crimes.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Along with those two demonstrations, which occurred in 1996 and 1989 respectively, protesters have also flocked to the Golden Gate Bridge more recently. The environmental justice protest, which involved actor Woody Harrelson, is \u003ca href=\"https://www.goldengate.org/bridge/history-research/moments-events/key-dates/#1990s\">listed among key dates \u003c/a>on the Golden Gate Bridge, Highway and Transportation District’s website.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Anti-war protesters were also arrested on the bridge in 2002, though only one was charged with a felony for assaulting an officer, according to \u003ca href=\"https://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/Anti-war-rally-ties-up-bridge-Cops-stop-traffic-2818029.php\">SFGate.\u003c/a> In 2020, \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11823356/day-8-of-protests-around-the-bay-taking-a-knee-for-change-and-a-march-across-the-golden-gate-bridge\">thousands marched\u003c/a> across the bridge as part of the wave of Black Lives Matter protests without incident.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The defendants in this case note that their action two years ago was seemingly the first time the bridge district filed a restitution claim against protesters, originally set at $163,000 in lost toll revenue.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>When lawyers for the defendants first argued that the felony charges should be reduced, Judge Brendan P. Conroy said he would have considered the motion more seriously because the defendants seemed well-intentioned, but\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12011165/felony-charges-against-golden-gate-bridge-protesters-can-go-to-trial-judge-rules\"> the considerable restitution\u003c/a> amount stopped him.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>After the bridge district \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12063531/golden-gate-bridge-agency-drops-163k-restitution-claim-against-pro-palestinian-protesters\">withdrew its restitution claim\u003c/a> last year, attorneys tried again, but again a separate judge denied the motion, which defense attorneys called disappointing.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003c/div>\u003c/p>",
"attributes": {
"named": {},
"numeric": []
}
}
],
"link": "/news/12081802/search-of-golden-gate-bridge-protesters-social-media-was-illegal-attorneys-argue",
"authors": [
"11761"
],
"categories": [
"news_34167",
"news_6188",
"news_8",
"news_13"
],
"tags": [
"news_17725",
"news_6631",
"news_1276",
"news_33333",
"news_33440",
"news_17968",
"news_33647"
],
"featImg": "news_12010374",
"label": "news"
},
"news_12081330": {
"type": "posts",
"id": "news_12081330",
"meta": {
"index": "posts_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "12081330",
"score": null,
"sort": [
1777072141000
]
},
"guestAuthors": [],
"slug": "while-sf-sees-fewer-fatal-overdoses-death-rate-is-still-among-the-countrys-worst",
"title": "While SF Sees Fewer Fatal Overdoses, Death Rate Is Still Among the Country’s Worst",
"publishDate": 1777072141,
"format": "standard",
"headTitle": "While SF Sees Fewer Fatal Overdoses, Death Rate Is Still Among the Country’s Worst | KQED",
"labelTerm": {
"site": "news"
},
"content": "\u003cp>San Francisco’s number of fatal \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/drug-overdoses\">drug overdoses\u003c/a> in March continued a trend of year-over-year declines, public health officials said Friday, even as recent federal data shows the city’s death rate leads most U.S. metropolitan areas.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Last month, 49 people died of accidental drug overdoses in San Francisco, according to the latest figures, bringing the total in the first three months of the year to 148.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>A majority of those who died in March were 55 or older, and about half of the deaths occurred in the ZIP codes covering the Mission District and the Tenderloin/Civic Center area.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The figures represent declines compared to the last few years, both for the month of March and for the year-to-date total, according to Department of Public Health data.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“As I always say, I’m certainly pleased that the trajectory on the numbers are moving in the right direction, but every single one of those 49 overdose deaths is unacceptable, it’s preventable,” Public Health Director Daniel Tsai said Friday. “And whilst we have made progress, these numbers are still far too high, and we have much more to do together.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Tsai also disclosed Friday that one person suffered a fatal overdose this month involving a new synthetic opioid called cychlorphine that city officials have, to his knowledge, never encountered before.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12000177\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12000177\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/08/230831-SAFE-USE-POP-UP-MD-05_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/08/230831-SAFE-USE-POP-UP-MD-05_qed.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/08/230831-SAFE-USE-POP-UP-MD-05_qed-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/08/230831-SAFE-USE-POP-UP-MD-05_qed-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/08/230831-SAFE-USE-POP-UP-MD-05_qed-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/08/230831-SAFE-USE-POP-UP-MD-05_qed-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/08/230831-SAFE-USE-POP-UP-MD-05_qed-1920x1280.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Boxes of Narcan, the overdose prevention drug, at a safe drug use pop-up site created by volunteers with Concerned Public Response in San Francisco on Aug. 31, 2023. \u003ccite>(Martin do Nascimento/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Public health officials said the drug started emerging mostly in Europe two years ago and appeared in Canada last year.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“It’s more potent than fentanyl. And importantly, it’s not detected on the available fentanyl test strips that are out there, so it is very important to really try to avoid counterfeit pills altogether,” addiction medicine specialist Dr. Phillip Coffin said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Coffin added that naloxone, also known under the brand name Narcan, is still effective in reversing overdose from this new synthetic opioid, just as it is with fentanyl.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>While the city’s overdose deaths are on the decline after a spike in 2023, when nearly 100 of every 100,000 residents died of an overdose, San Francisco still holds one of the highest death rates of any metropolis in the country, according to federal data.[aside postID=news_12033622 hero='https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/01/240903-OverdoseResponse-56-BL_qed-1020x680.jpg']“We had probably the worst drug problem almost any city had seen in 2023,” Stanford psychiatry professor and drug policy expert Keith Humphreys said. “Since that time, we’re down about a third, which was certainly excellent, but a third from such a high amount is still horrifying.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Humphreys attributed part of the decline to a “disruption in the federal supply throughout North America, beginning in the middle of 2023, probably due to interdiction in China.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>And while numbers dropped significantly in 2024 following that disruption, the decline in 2025 was much smaller. The city continued making progress, but that progress appeared to slow.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Humphreys said the persistent drug use in San Francisco points to entrenched drug markets that, although disrupted, could reorganize and bounce back.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“If that happens, that’s going to be very hard, not just for San Francisco, but for the entire country,” Humphreys said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The Stanford professor also argued that Mayor Daniel Lurie’s shift toward emphasizing recovery and somewhat leaning away from harm reduction has been a factor in recent progress.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“As important as overdose prevention is, we should aspire to more than keeping people alive for the next 24 hours,” Humphreys said. “Trying to get new treatment beds online, trying new service models \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12073638/san-francisco-moves-ahead-with-sobering-center-despite-legal-risk-memo\">like the Reset Center\u003c/a>. That has been good.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_11995962\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-11995962\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/07/SFOverdoseDeathDecline.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/07/SFOverdoseDeathDecline.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/07/SFOverdoseDeathDecline-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/07/SFOverdoseDeathDecline-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/07/SFOverdoseDeathDecline-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/07/SFOverdoseDeathDecline-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/07/SFOverdoseDeathDecline-1920x1280.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">A harm reduction program representative speaks with people on a popular alleyway in the Tenderloin neighborhood to hand out Narcan, fentanyl detection packets and tinfoil to those who need them as a part of drug addiction outreach in San Francisco. \u003ccite>(Nick Otto/Washington Post via Getty Images)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>While San Francisco works to continue bringing down overdose death rates, the mayor’s office is also moving to cut spending within the Department of Public Health by $40 million over the next two years, partially in response to declines in funding from the Trump administration.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>According to a memo filed with the city’s Health Commission, the department intends to reach that goal by eliminating over 120 full-time positions and cutting contracts with service providers, including peer counseling and harm reduction services.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In the same memo, Public Health Department officials note that Lurie’s office “also asked that harm reduction services that have negative collateral impacts on our communities be reevaluated.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Records show the majority of people working in positions slated for elimination are being redeployed elsewhere in the department, with less than 10 staff members being laid off. Roughly 60% of eliminated positions are currently vacant.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Those are very, very difficult discussions and they’re not things that I otherwise would have wanted to do at all, but for the enormity of the budget challenge and the hole that the Trump Medicaid cuts and some of the state Medicaid cuts have really put the city in,” Tsai said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n",
"blocks": [],
"excerpt": "San Francisco recorded 49 deaths by accidental drug overdose last month, bringing the year’s total so far to 148. Both figures represent declines compared to recent years.",
"status": "publish",
"parent": 0,
"modified": 1777075554,
"stats": {
"hasAudio": false,
"hasVideo": false,
"hasChartOrMap": false,
"iframeSrcs": [],
"hasGoogleForm": false,
"hasGallery": false,
"hasHearkenModule": false,
"hasPolis": false,
"paragraphCount": 23,
"wordCount": 920
},
"headData": {
"title": "While SF Sees Fewer Fatal Overdoses, Death Rate Is Still Among the Country’s Worst | KQED",
"description": "San Francisco recorded 49 deaths by accidental drug overdose last month, bringing the year’s total so far to 148. Both figures represent declines compared to recent years.",
"ogTitle": "",
"ogDescription": "",
"ogImgId": "",
"twTitle": "",
"twDescription": "",
"twImgId": "",
"schema": {
"@context": "https://schema.org",
"@type": "NewsArticle",
"headline": "While SF Sees Fewer Fatal Overdoses, Death Rate Is Still Among the Country’s Worst",
"datePublished": "2026-04-24T16:09:01-07:00",
"dateModified": "2026-04-24T17:05:54-07:00",
"image": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/KQED-OG-Image@1x.png",
"isAccessibleForFree": "True",
"publisher": {
"@type": "NewsMediaOrganization",
"@id": "https://www.kqed.org/#organization",
"name": "KQED",
"logo": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/KQED-OG-Image@1x.png",
"url": "https://www.kqed.org",
"sameAs": [
"https://www.facebook.com/KQED",
"https://twitter.com/KQED",
"https://www.instagram.com/kqed/",
"https://www.tiktok.com/@kqedofficial",
"https://www.linkedin.com/company/kqed",
"https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCeC0IOo7i1P_61zVUWbJ4nw"
]
}
}
},
"primaryCategory": {
"termId": 28250,
"slug": "local",
"name": "Local"
},
"sticky": false,
"nprStoryId": "kqed-12081330",
"templateType": "standard",
"featuredImageType": "standard",
"excludeFromSiteSearch": "Include",
"articleAge": "0",
"path": "/news/12081330/while-sf-sees-fewer-fatal-overdoses-death-rate-is-still-among-the-countrys-worst",
"audioTrackLength": null,
"parsedContent": [
{
"type": "contentString",
"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>San Francisco’s number of fatal \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/drug-overdoses\">drug overdoses\u003c/a> in March continued a trend of year-over-year declines, public health officials said Friday, even as recent federal data shows the city’s death rate leads most U.S. metropolitan areas.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Last month, 49 people died of accidental drug overdoses in San Francisco, according to the latest figures, bringing the total in the first three months of the year to 148.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>A majority of those who died in March were 55 or older, and about half of the deaths occurred in the ZIP codes covering the Mission District and the Tenderloin/Civic Center area.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
"attributes": {
"named": {},
"numeric": []
}
},
{
"type": "component",
"content": "",
"name": "ad",
"attributes": {
"named": {
"label": "fullwidth"
},
"numeric": [
"fullwidth"
]
}
},
{
"type": "contentString",
"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The figures represent declines compared to the last few years, both for the month of March and for the year-to-date total, according to Department of Public Health data.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“As I always say, I’m certainly pleased that the trajectory on the numbers are moving in the right direction, but every single one of those 49 overdose deaths is unacceptable, it’s preventable,” Public Health Director Daniel Tsai said Friday. “And whilst we have made progress, these numbers are still far too high, and we have much more to do together.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Tsai also disclosed Friday that one person suffered a fatal overdose this month involving a new synthetic opioid called cychlorphine that city officials have, to his knowledge, never encountered before.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12000177\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12000177\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/08/230831-SAFE-USE-POP-UP-MD-05_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/08/230831-SAFE-USE-POP-UP-MD-05_qed.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/08/230831-SAFE-USE-POP-UP-MD-05_qed-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/08/230831-SAFE-USE-POP-UP-MD-05_qed-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/08/230831-SAFE-USE-POP-UP-MD-05_qed-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/08/230831-SAFE-USE-POP-UP-MD-05_qed-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/08/230831-SAFE-USE-POP-UP-MD-05_qed-1920x1280.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Boxes of Narcan, the overdose prevention drug, at a safe drug use pop-up site created by volunteers with Concerned Public Response in San Francisco on Aug. 31, 2023. \u003ccite>(Martin do Nascimento/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Public health officials said the drug started emerging mostly in Europe two years ago and appeared in Canada last year.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“It’s more potent than fentanyl. And importantly, it’s not detected on the available fentanyl test strips that are out there, so it is very important to really try to avoid counterfeit pills altogether,” addiction medicine specialist Dr. Phillip Coffin said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Coffin added that naloxone, also known under the brand name Narcan, is still effective in reversing overdose from this new synthetic opioid, just as it is with fentanyl.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>While the city’s overdose deaths are on the decline after a spike in 2023, when nearly 100 of every 100,000 residents died of an overdose, San Francisco still holds one of the highest death rates of any metropolis in the country, according to federal data.\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
"attributes": {
"named": {},
"numeric": []
}
},
{
"type": "component",
"content": "",
"name": "aside",
"attributes": {
"named": {
"postid": "news_12033622",
"hero": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/01/240903-OverdoseResponse-56-BL_qed-1020x680.jpg",
"label": ""
},
"numeric": []
}
},
{
"type": "contentString",
"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>“We had probably the worst drug problem almost any city had seen in 2023,” Stanford psychiatry professor and drug policy expert Keith Humphreys said. “Since that time, we’re down about a third, which was certainly excellent, but a third from such a high amount is still horrifying.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Humphreys attributed part of the decline to a “disruption in the federal supply throughout North America, beginning in the middle of 2023, probably due to interdiction in China.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>And while numbers dropped significantly in 2024 following that disruption, the decline in 2025 was much smaller. The city continued making progress, but that progress appeared to slow.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Humphreys said the persistent drug use in San Francisco points to entrenched drug markets that, although disrupted, could reorganize and bounce back.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“If that happens, that’s going to be very hard, not just for San Francisco, but for the entire country,” Humphreys said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The Stanford professor also argued that Mayor Daniel Lurie’s shift toward emphasizing recovery and somewhat leaning away from harm reduction has been a factor in recent progress.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“As important as overdose prevention is, we should aspire to more than keeping people alive for the next 24 hours,” Humphreys said. “Trying to get new treatment beds online, trying new service models \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12073638/san-francisco-moves-ahead-with-sobering-center-despite-legal-risk-memo\">like the Reset Center\u003c/a>. That has been good.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_11995962\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-11995962\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/07/SFOverdoseDeathDecline.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/07/SFOverdoseDeathDecline.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/07/SFOverdoseDeathDecline-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/07/SFOverdoseDeathDecline-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/07/SFOverdoseDeathDecline-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/07/SFOverdoseDeathDecline-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/07/SFOverdoseDeathDecline-1920x1280.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">A harm reduction program representative speaks with people on a popular alleyway in the Tenderloin neighborhood to hand out Narcan, fentanyl detection packets and tinfoil to those who need them as a part of drug addiction outreach in San Francisco. \u003ccite>(Nick Otto/Washington Post via Getty Images)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>While San Francisco works to continue bringing down overdose death rates, the mayor’s office is also moving to cut spending within the Department of Public Health by $40 million over the next two years, partially in response to declines in funding from the Trump administration.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>According to a memo filed with the city’s Health Commission, the department intends to reach that goal by eliminating over 120 full-time positions and cutting contracts with service providers, including peer counseling and harm reduction services.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In the same memo, Public Health Department officials note that Lurie’s office “also asked that harm reduction services that have negative collateral impacts on our communities be reevaluated.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Records show the majority of people working in positions slated for elimination are being redeployed elsewhere in the department, with less than 10 staff members being laid off. Roughly 60% of eliminated positions are currently vacant.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Those are very, very difficult discussions and they’re not things that I otherwise would have wanted to do at all, but for the enormity of the budget challenge and the hole that the Trump Medicaid cuts and some of the state Medicaid cuts have really put the city in,” Tsai said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003c/div>\u003c/p>",
"attributes": {
"named": {},
"numeric": []
}
}
],
"link": "/news/12081330/while-sf-sees-fewer-fatal-overdoses-death-rate-is-still-among-the-countrys-worst",
"authors": [
"11761"
],
"categories": [
"news_457",
"news_28250",
"news_8"
],
"tags": [
"news_34055",
"news_25968",
"news_30249",
"news_29524",
"news_18543",
"news_19960",
"news_22456",
"news_38"
],
"featImg": "news_11969941",
"label": "news"
}
},
"podcastsReducer": {
"isFetching": false,
"fetchFailed": false,
"hasFetched": false,
"podcasts": {}
},
"radioProgramsReducer": {
"isFetching": false,
"fetchFailed": false,
"hasFetched": false,
"radioPrograms": {}
},
"radioSearchSegmentsReducer": {},
"programsReducer": {
"all-things-considered": {
"id": "all-things-considered",
"title": "All Things Considered",
"info": "Every weekday, \u003cem>All Things Considered\u003c/em> hosts Robert Siegel, Audie Cornish, Ari Shapiro, and Kelly McEvers present the program's trademark mix of news, interviews, commentaries, reviews, and offbeat features. Michel Martin hosts on the weekends.",
"airtime": "MON-FRI 1pm-2pm, 4:30pm-6:30pm\u003cbr />SAT-SUN 5pm-6pm",
"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/All-Things-Considered-Podcast-Tile-360x360-1.jpg",
"officialWebsiteLink": "https://www.npr.org/programs/all-things-considered/",
"meta": {
"site": "news",
"source": "npr"
},
"link": "/radio/program/all-things-considered"
},
"american-suburb-podcast": {
"id": "american-suburb-podcast",
"title": "American Suburb: The Podcast",
"tagline": "The flip side of gentrification, told through one town",
"info": "Gentrification is changing cities across America, forcing people from neighborhoods they have long called home. Call them the displaced. Now those priced out of the Bay Area are looking for a better life in an unlikely place. American Suburb follows this migration to one California town along the Delta, 45 miles from San Francisco. But is this once sleepy suburb ready for them?",
"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/American-Suburb-Podcast-Tile-703x703-1.jpg",
"officialWebsiteLink": "/news/series/american-suburb-podcast",
"meta": {
"site": "news",
"source": "kqed",
"order": 19
},
"link": "/news/series/american-suburb-podcast/",
"subscribe": {
"npr": "https://rpb3r.app.goo.gl/RBrW",
"apple": "https://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewPodcast?mt=2&id=1287748328",
"tuneIn": "https://tunein.com/radio/American-Suburb-p1086805/",
"rss": "https://ww2.kqed.org/news/series/american-suburb-podcast/feed/podcast",
"google": "https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkcy5tZWdhcGhvbmUuZm0vS1FJTkMzMDExODgxNjA5"
}
},
"baycurious": {
"id": "baycurious",
"title": "Bay Curious",
"tagline": "Exploring the Bay Area, one question at a time",
"info": "KQED’s new podcast, Bay Curious, gets to the bottom of the mysteries — both profound and peculiar — that give the Bay Area its unique identity. And we’ll do it with your help! You ask the questions. You decide what Bay Curious investigates. And you join us on the journey to find the answers.",
"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Bay-Curious-Podcast-Tile-703x703-1.jpg",
"imageAlt": "KQED Bay Curious",
"officialWebsiteLink": "/news/series/baycurious",
"meta": {
"site": "news",
"source": "kqed",
"order": 3
},
"link": "/podcasts/baycurious",
"subscribe": {
"apple": "https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/bay-curious/id1172473406",
"npr": "https://www.npr.org/podcasts/500557090/bay-curious",
"rss": "https://ww2.kqed.org/news/category/bay-curious-podcast/feed/podcast",
"amazon": "https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/9a90d476-aa04-455d-9a4c-0871ed6216d4/bay-curious",
"stitcher": "https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/kqed/bay-curious",
"spotify": "https://open.spotify.com/show/6O76IdmhixfijmhTZLIJ8k"
}
},
"bbc-world-service": {
"id": "bbc-world-service",
"title": "BBC World Service",
"info": "The day's top stories from BBC News compiled twice daily in the week, once at weekends.",
"airtime": "MON-FRI 9pm-10pm, TUE-FRI 1am-2am",
"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/BBC-World-Service-Podcast-Tile-360x360-1.jpg",
"officialWebsiteLink": "https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/live:bbc_world_service",
"meta": {
"site": "news",
"source": "BBC World Service"
},
"link": "/radio/program/bbc-world-service",
"subscribe": {
"apple": "https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/global-news-podcast/id135067274?mt=2",
"tuneIn": "https://tunein.com/radio/BBC-World-Service-p455581/",
"rss": "https://podcasts.files.bbci.co.uk/p02nq0gn.rss"
}
},
"californiareport": {
"id": "californiareport",
"title": "The California Report",
"tagline": "California, day by day",
"info": "KQED’s statewide radio news program providing daily coverage of issues, trends and public policy decisions.",
"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/The-California-Report-Podcast-Tile-703x703-1.jpg",
"imageAlt": "KQED The California Report",
"officialWebsiteLink": "/californiareport",
"meta": {
"site": "news",
"source": "kqed",
"order": 8
},
"link": "/californiareport",
"subscribe": {
"apple": "https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/kqeds-the-california-report/id79681292",
"amazon": "https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/26099305-72af-4542-9dde-ac1807fe36d5/kqed-s-the-california-report",
"npr": "https://www.npr.org/podcasts/432285393/the-california-report",
"stitcher": "https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/kqedfm-kqeds-the-california-report-podcast-8838",
"rss": "https://ww2.kqed.org/news/tag/tcram/feed/podcast"
}
},
"californiareportmagazine": {
"id": "californiareportmagazine",
"title": "The California Report Magazine",
"tagline": "Your state, your stories",
"info": "Every week, The California Report Magazine takes you on a road trip for the ears: to visit the places and meet the people who make California unique. The in-depth storytelling podcast from the California Report.",
"airtime": "FRI 4:30pm-5pm, 6:30pm-7pm, 11pm-11:30pm",
"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/The-California-Report-Magazine-Podcast-Tile-703x703-1.jpg",
"imageAlt": "KQED The California Report Magazine",
"officialWebsiteLink": "/californiareportmagazine",
"meta": {
"site": "news",
"source": "kqed",
"order": 10
},
"link": "/californiareportmagazine",
"subscribe": {
"apple": "https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-california-report-magazine/id1314750545",
"google": "https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkcy5tZWdhcGhvbmUuZm0vS1FJTkM3NjkwNjk1OTAz",
"npr": "https://www.npr.org/podcasts/564733126/the-california-report-magazine",
"stitcher": "https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/kqed/the-california-report-magazine",
"rss": "https://ww2.kqed.org/news/tag/tcrmag/feed/podcast"
}
},
"city-arts": {
"id": "city-arts",
"title": "City Arts & Lectures",
"info": "A one-hour radio program to hear celebrated writers, artists and thinkers address contemporary ideas and values, often discussing the creative process. Please note: tapes or transcripts are not available",
"imageSrc": "https://ww2.kqed.org/radio/wp-content/uploads/sites/50/2018/05/cityartsandlecture-300x300.jpg",
"officialWebsiteLink": "https://www.cityarts.net/",
"airtime": "SUN 1pm-2pm, TUE 10pm, WED 1am",
"meta": {
"site": "news",
"source": "City Arts & Lectures"
},
"link": "https://www.cityarts.net",
"subscribe": {
"tuneIn": "https://tunein.com/radio/City-Arts-and-Lectures-p692/",
"rss": "https://www.cityarts.net/feed/"
}
},
"closealltabs": {
"id": "closealltabs",
"title": "Close All Tabs",
"tagline": "Your irreverent guide to the trends redefining our world",
"info": "Close All Tabs breaks down how digital culture shapes our world through thoughtful insights and irreverent humor.",
"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/CAT_2_Tile-scaled.jpg",
"imageAlt": "KQED Close All Tabs",
"officialWebsiteLink": "/podcasts/closealltabs",
"meta": {
"site": "news",
"source": "kqed",
"order": 1
},
"link": "/podcasts/closealltabs",
"subscribe": {
"apple": "https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/close-all-tabs/id214663465",
"rss": "https://feeds.megaphone.fm/KQINC6993880386",
"amazon": "https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/92d9d4ac-67a3-4eed-b10a-fb45d45b1ef2/close-all-tabs",
"spotify": "https://open.spotify.com/show/6LAJFHnGK1pYXYzv6SIol6?si=deb0cae19813417c"
}
},
"code-switch-life-kit": {
"id": "code-switch-life-kit",
"title": "Code Switch / Life Kit",
"info": "\u003cem>Code Switch\u003c/em>, which listeners will hear in the first part of the hour, has fearless and much-needed conversations about race. Hosted by journalists of color, the show tackles the subject of race head-on, exploring how it impacts every part of society — from politics and pop culture to history, sports and more.\u003cbr />\u003cbr />\u003cem>Life Kit\u003c/em>, which will be in the second part of the hour, guides you through spaces and feelings no one prepares you for — from finances to mental health, from workplace microaggressions to imposter syndrome, from relationships to parenting. The show features experts with real world experience and shares their knowledge. Because everyone needs a little help being human.\u003cbr />\u003cbr />\u003ca href=\"https://www.npr.org/podcasts/510312/codeswitch\">\u003cem>Code Switch\u003c/em> offical site and podcast\u003c/a>\u003cbr />\u003ca href=\"https://www.npr.org/lifekit\">\u003cem>Life Kit\u003c/em> offical site and podcast\u003c/a>\u003cbr />",
"airtime": "SUN 9pm-10pm",
"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Code-Switch-Life-Kit-Podcast-Tile-360x360-1.jpg",
"meta": {
"site": "radio",
"source": "npr"
},
"link": "/radio/program/code-switch-life-kit",
"subscribe": {
"apple": "https://podcasts.apple.com/podcast/1112190608?mt=2&at=11l79Y&ct=nprdirectory",
"google": "https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnByLm9yZy9yc3MvcG9kY2FzdC5waHA_aWQ9NTEwMzEy",
"spotify": "https://open.spotify.com/show/3bExJ9JQpkwNhoHvaIIuyV",
"rss": "https://feeds.npr.org/510312/podcast.xml"
}
},
"commonwealth-club": {
"id": "commonwealth-club",
"title": "Commonwealth Club of California Podcast",
"info": "The Commonwealth Club of California is the nation's oldest and largest public affairs forum. As a non-partisan forum, The Club brings to the public airwaves diverse viewpoints on important topics. The Club's weekly radio broadcast - the oldest in the U.S., dating back to 1924 - is carried across the nation on public radio stations and is now podcasting. Our website archive features audio of our recent programs, as well as selected speeches from our long and distinguished history. This podcast feed is usually updated twice a week and is always un-edited.",
"airtime": "THU 10pm, FRI 1am",
"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Commonwealth-Club-Podcast-Tile-360x360-1.jpg",
"officialWebsiteLink": "https://www.commonwealthclub.org/podcasts",
"meta": {
"site": "news",
"source": "Commonwealth Club of California"
},
"link": "/radio/program/commonwealth-club",
"subscribe": {
"apple": "https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/commonwealth-club-of-california-podcast/id976334034?mt=2",
"google": "https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cDovL3d3dy5jb21tb253ZWFsdGhjbHViLm9yZy9hdWRpby9wb2RjYXN0L3dlZWtseS54bWw",
"tuneIn": "https://tunein.com/radio/Commonwealth-Club-of-California-p1060/"
}
},
"forum": {
"id": "forum",
"title": "Forum",
"tagline": "The conversation starts here",
"info": "KQED’s live call-in program discussing local, state, national and international issues, as well as in-depth interviews.",
"airtime": "MON-FRI 9am-11am, 10pm-11pm",
"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Forum-Podcast-Tile-703x703-1.jpg",
"imageAlt": "KQED Forum with Mina Kim and Alexis Madrigal",
"officialWebsiteLink": "/forum",
"meta": {
"site": "news",
"source": "kqed",
"order": 9
},
"link": "/forum",
"subscribe": {
"apple": "https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/kqeds-forum/id73329719",
"google": "https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkcy5tZWdhcGhvbmUuZm0vS1FJTkM5NTU3MzgxNjMz",
"npr": "https://www.npr.org/podcasts/432307980/forum",
"stitcher": "https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/kqedfm-kqeds-forum-podcast",
"rss": "https://feeds.megaphone.fm/KQINC9557381633"
}
},
"freakonomics-radio": {
"id": "freakonomics-radio",
"title": "Freakonomics Radio",
"info": "Freakonomics Radio is a one-hour award-winning podcast and public-radio project hosted by Stephen Dubner, with co-author Steve Levitt as a regular guest. It is produced in partnership with WNYC.",
"imageSrc": "https://ww2.kqed.org/news/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2018/05/freakonomicsRadio.png",
"officialWebsiteLink": "http://freakonomics.com/",
"airtime": "SUN 1am-2am, SAT 3pm-4pm",
"meta": {
"site": "radio",
"source": "WNYC"
},
"link": "/radio/program/freakonomics-radio",
"subscribe": {
"npr": "https://rpb3r.app.goo.gl/4s8b",
"apple": "https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/freakonomics-radio/id354668519",
"tuneIn": "https://tunein.com/podcasts/WNYC-Podcasts/Freakonomics-Radio-p272293/",
"rss": "https://feeds.feedburner.com/freakonomicsradio"
}
},
"fresh-air": {
"id": "fresh-air",
"title": "Fresh Air",
"info": "Hosted by Terry Gross, \u003cem>Fresh Air from WHYY\u003c/em> is the Peabody Award-winning weekday magazine of contemporary arts and issues. One of public radio's most popular programs, Fresh Air features intimate conversations with today's biggest luminaries.",
"airtime": "MON-FRI 7pm-8pm",
"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Fresh-Air-Podcast-Tile-360x360-1.jpg",
"officialWebsiteLink": "https://www.npr.org/programs/fresh-air/",
"meta": {
"site": "radio",
"source": "npr"
},
"link": "/radio/program/fresh-air",
"subscribe": {
"npr": "https://rpb3r.app.goo.gl/4s8b",
"apple": "https://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewPodcast?s=143441&mt=2&id=214089682&at=11l79Y&ct=nprdirectory",
"tuneIn": "https://tunein.com/radio/Fresh-Air-p17/",
"rss": "https://feeds.npr.org/381444908/podcast.xml"
}
},
"here-and-now": {
"id": "here-and-now",
"title": "Here & Now",
"info": "A live production of NPR and WBUR Boston, in collaboration with stations across the country, Here & Now reflects the fluid world of news as it's happening in the middle of the day, with timely, in-depth news, interviews and conversation. Hosted by Robin Young, Jeremy Hobson and Tonya Mosley.",
"airtime": "MON-THU 11am-12pm",
"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Here-And-Now-Podcast-Tile-360x360-1.jpg",
"officialWebsiteLink": "http://www.wbur.org/hereandnow",
"meta": {
"site": "news",
"source": "npr"
},
"link": "/radio/program/here-and-now",
"subsdcribe": {
"apple": "https://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewPodcast?mt=2&id=426698661",
"tuneIn": "https://tunein.com/radio/Here--Now-p211/",
"rss": "https://feeds.npr.org/510051/podcast.xml"
}
},
"hidden-brain": {
"id": "hidden-brain",
"title": "Hidden Brain",
"info": "Shankar Vedantam uses science and storytelling to reveal the unconscious patterns that drive human behavior, shape our choices and direct our relationships.",
"imageSrc": "https://ww2.kqed.org/radio/wp-content/uploads/sites/50/2018/05/hiddenbrain.jpg",
"officialWebsiteLink": "https://www.npr.org/series/423302056/hidden-brain",
"airtime": "SUN 7pm-8pm",
"meta": {
"site": "news",
"source": "NPR"
},
"link": "/radio/program/hidden-brain",
"subscribe": {
"apple": "https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/hidden-brain/id1028908750?mt=2",
"tuneIn": "https://tunein.com/podcasts/Science-Podcasts/Hidden-Brain-p787503/",
"rss": "https://feeds.npr.org/510308/podcast.xml"
}
},
"how-i-built-this": {
"id": "how-i-built-this",
"title": "How I Built This with Guy Raz",
"info": "Guy Raz dives into the stories behind some of the world's best known companies. How I Built This weaves a narrative journey about innovators, entrepreneurs and idealists—and the movements they built.",
"imageSrc": "https://ww2.kqed.org/news/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2018/05/howIBuiltThis.png",
"officialWebsiteLink": "https://www.npr.org/podcasts/510313/how-i-built-this",
"airtime": "SUN 7:30pm-8pm",
"meta": {
"site": "news",
"source": "npr"
},
"link": "/radio/program/how-i-built-this",
"subscribe": {
"npr": "https://rpb3r.app.goo.gl/3zxy",
"apple": "https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/how-i-built-this-with-guy-raz/id1150510297?mt=2",
"tuneIn": "https://tunein.com/podcasts/Arts--Culture-Podcasts/How-I-Built-This-p910896/",
"rss": "https://feeds.npr.org/510313/podcast.xml"
}
},
"hyphenacion": {
"id": "hyphenacion",
"title": "Hyphenación",
"tagline": "Where conversation and cultura meet",
"info": "What kind of no sabo word is Hyphenación? For us, it’s about living within a hyphenation. Like being a third-gen Mexican-American from the Texas border now living that Bay Area Chicano life. Like Xorje! Each week we bring together a couple of hyphenated Latinos to talk all about personal life choices: family, careers, relationships, belonging … everything is on the table. ",
"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Hyphenacion_FinalAssets_PodcastTile.png",
"imageAlt": "KQED Hyphenación",
"officialWebsiteLink": "/podcasts/hyphenacion",
"meta": {
"site": "news",
"source": "kqed",
"order": 15
},
"link": "/podcasts/hyphenacion",
"subscribe": {
"apple": "https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/hyphenaci%C3%B3n/id1191591838",
"spotify": "https://open.spotify.com/show/2p3Fifq96nw9BPcmFdIq0o?si=39209f7b25774f38",
"youtube": "https://www.youtube.com/c/kqedarts",
"amazon": "https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/6c3dd23c-93fb-4aab-97ba-1725fa6315f1/hyphenaci%C3%B3n",
"rss": "https://feeds.megaphone.fm/KQINC2275451163"
}
},
"jerrybrown": {
"id": "jerrybrown",
"title": "The Political Mind of Jerry Brown",
"tagline": "Lessons from a lifetime in politics",
"info": "The Political Mind of Jerry Brown brings listeners the wisdom of the former Governor, Mayor, and presidential candidate. Scott Shafer interviewed Brown for more than 40 hours, covering the former governor's life and half-century in the political game – and Brown has some lessons he'd like to share. ",
"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/The-Political-Mind-of-Jerry-Brown-Podcast-Tile-703x703-1.jpg",
"imageAlt": "KQED The Political Mind of Jerry Brown",
"officialWebsiteLink": "/podcasts/jerrybrown",
"meta": {
"site": "news",
"source": "kqed",
"order": 18
},
"link": "/podcasts/jerrybrown",
"subscribe": {
"npr": "https://www.npr.org/podcasts/790253322/the-political-mind-of-jerry-brown",
"apple": "https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/id1492194549",
"rss": "https://ww2.kqed.org/news/series/jerrybrown/feed/podcast/",
"tuneIn": "http://tun.in/pjGcK",
"stitcher": "https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/kqed/the-political-mind-of-jerry-brown",
"spotify": "https://open.spotify.com/show/54C1dmuyFyKMFttY6X2j6r?si=K8SgRCoISNK6ZbjpXrX5-w",
"amazon": "https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/44420f75-3b0e-4301-ab3b-16da6b09e543/the-political-mind-of-jerry-brown"
}
},
"latino-usa": {
"id": "latino-usa",
"title": "Latino USA",
"airtime": "MON 1am-2am, SUN 6pm-7pm",
"info": "Latino USA, the radio journal of news and culture, is the only national, English-language radio program produced from a Latino perspective.",
"imageSrc": "https://ww2.kqed.org/radio/wp-content/uploads/sites/50/2018/04/latinoUsa.jpg",
"officialWebsiteLink": "http://latinousa.org/",
"meta": {
"site": "news",
"source": "npr"
},
"link": "/radio/program/latino-usa",
"subscribe": {
"npr": "https://rpb3r.app.goo.gl/xtTd",
"apple": "https://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewPodcast?s=143441&mt=2&id=79681317&at=11l79Y&ct=nprdirectory",
"tuneIn": "https://tunein.com/radio/Latino-USA-p621/",
"rss": "https://feeds.npr.org/510016/podcast.xml"
}
},
"marketplace": {
"id": "marketplace",
"title": "Marketplace",
"info": "Our flagship program, helmed by Kai Ryssdal, examines what the day in money delivered, through stories, conversations, newsworthy numbers and more. Updated Monday through Friday at about 3:30 p.m. PT.",
"airtime": "MON-FRI 4pm-4:30pm, MON-WED 6:30pm-7pm",
"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Marketplace-Podcast-Tile-360x360-1.jpg",
"officialWebsiteLink": "https://www.marketplace.org/",
"meta": {
"site": "news",
"source": "American Public Media"
},
"link": "/radio/program/marketplace",
"subscribe": {
"apple": "https://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewPodcast?s=143441&mt=2&id=201853034&at=11l79Y&ct=nprdirectory",
"tuneIn": "https://tunein.com/radio/APM-Marketplace-p88/",
"rss": "https://feeds.publicradio.org/public_feeds/marketplace-pm/rss/rss"
}
},
"masters-of-scale": {
"id": "masters-of-scale",
"title": "Masters of Scale",
"info": "Masters of Scale is an original podcast in which LinkedIn co-founder and Greylock Partner Reid Hoffman sets out to describe and prove theories that explain how great entrepreneurs take their companies from zero to a gazillion in ingenious fashion.",
"airtime": "Every other Wednesday June 12 through October 16 at 8pm (repeats Thursdays at 2am)",
"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Masters-of-Scale-Podcast-Tile-360x360-1.jpg",
"officialWebsiteLink": "https://mastersofscale.com/",
"meta": {
"site": "radio",
"source": "WaitWhat"
},
"link": "/radio/program/masters-of-scale",
"subscribe": {
"apple": "http://mastersofscale.app.link/",
"rss": "https://rss.art19.com/masters-of-scale"
}
},
"mindshift": {
"id": "mindshift",
"title": "MindShift",
"tagline": "A podcast about the future of learning and how we raise our kids",
"info": "The MindShift podcast explores the innovations in education that are shaping how kids learn. Hosts Ki Sung and Katrina Schwartz introduce listeners to educators, researchers, parents and students who are developing effective ways to improve how kids learn. We cover topics like how fed-up administrators are developing surprising tactics to deal with classroom disruptions; how listening to podcasts are helping kids develop reading skills; the consequences of overparenting; and why interdisciplinary learning can engage students on all ends of the traditional achievement spectrum. This podcast is part of the MindShift education site, a division of KQED News. KQED is an NPR/PBS member station based in San Francisco. You can also visit the MindShift website for episodes and supplemental blog posts or tweet us \u003ca href=\"https://twitter.com/MindShiftKQED\">@MindShiftKQED\u003c/a> or visit us at \u003ca href=\"/mindshift\">MindShift.KQED.org\u003c/a>",
"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Mindshift-Podcast-Tile-703x703-1.jpg",
"imageAlt": "KQED MindShift: How We Will Learn",
"officialWebsiteLink": "/mindshift/",
"meta": {
"site": "news",
"source": "kqed",
"order": 12
},
"link": "/podcasts/mindshift",
"subscribe": {
"apple": "https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/mindshift-podcast/id1078765985",
"google": "https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkcy5tZWdhcGhvbmUuZm0vS1FJTkM1NzY0NjAwNDI5",
"npr": "https://www.npr.org/podcasts/464615685/mind-shift-podcast",
"stitcher": "https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/kqed/stories-teachers-share",
"spotify": "https://open.spotify.com/show/0MxSpNYZKNprFLCl7eEtyx"
}
},
"morning-edition": {
"id": "morning-edition",
"title": "Morning Edition",
"info": "\u003cem>Morning Edition\u003c/em> takes listeners around the country and the world with multi-faceted stories and commentaries every weekday. Hosts Steve Inskeep, David Greene and Rachel Martin bring you the latest breaking news and features to prepare you for the day.",
"airtime": "MON-FRI 3am-9am",
"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Morning-Edition-Podcast-Tile-360x360-1.jpg",
"officialWebsiteLink": "https://www.npr.org/programs/morning-edition/",
"meta": {
"site": "news",
"source": "npr"
},
"link": "/radio/program/morning-edition"
},
"onourwatch": {
"id": "onourwatch",
"title": "On Our Watch",
"tagline": "Deeply-reported investigative journalism",
"info": "For decades, the process for how police police themselves has been inconsistent – if not opaque. In some states, like California, these proceedings were completely hidden. After a new police transparency law unsealed scores of internal affairs files, our reporters set out to examine these cases and the shadow world of police discipline. On Our Watch brings listeners into the rooms where officers are questioned and witnesses are interrogated to find out who this system is really protecting. Is it the officers, or the public they've sworn to serve?",
"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/On-Our-Watch-Podcast-Tile-703x703-1.jpg",
"imageAlt": "On Our Watch from NPR and KQED",
"officialWebsiteLink": "/podcasts/onourwatch",
"meta": {
"site": "news",
"source": "kqed",
"order": 11
},
"link": "/podcasts/onourwatch",
"subscribe": {
"apple": "https://podcasts.apple.com/podcast/id1567098962",
"google": "https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkcy5ucHIub3JnLzUxMDM2MC9wb2RjYXN0LnhtbD9zYz1nb29nbGVwb2RjYXN0cw",
"npr": "https://rpb3r.app.goo.gl/onourwatch",
"spotify": "https://open.spotify.com/show/0OLWoyizopu6tY1XiuX70x",
"tuneIn": "https://tunein.com/radio/On-Our-Watch-p1436229/",
"stitcher": "https://www.stitcher.com/show/on-our-watch",
"rss": "https://feeds.npr.org/510360/podcast.xml"
}
},
"on-the-media": {
"id": "on-the-media",
"title": "On The Media",
"info": "Our weekly podcast explores how the media 'sausage' is made, casts an incisive eye on fluctuations in the marketplace of ideas, and examines threats to the freedom of information and expression in America and abroad. For one hour a week, the show tries to lift the veil from the process of \"making media,\" especially news media, because it's through that lens that we see the world and the world sees us",
"airtime": "SUN 2pm-3pm, MON 12am-1am",
"imageSrc": "https://ww2.kqed.org/radio/wp-content/uploads/sites/50/2018/04/onTheMedia.png",
"officialWebsiteLink": "https://www.wnycstudios.org/shows/otm",
"meta": {
"site": "news",
"source": "wnyc"
},
"link": "/radio/program/on-the-media",
"subscribe": {
"apple": "https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/on-the-media/id73330715?mt=2",
"tuneIn": "https://tunein.com/radio/On-the-Media-p69/",
"rss": "http://feeds.wnyc.org/onthemedia"
}
},
"pbs-newshour": {
"id": "pbs-newshour",
"title": "PBS NewsHour",
"info": "Analysis, background reports and updates from the PBS NewsHour putting today's news in context.",
"airtime": "MON-FRI 3pm-4pm",
"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/PBS-News-Hour-Podcast-Tile-360x360-1.jpg",
"officialWebsiteLink": "https://www.pbs.org/newshour/",
"meta": {
"site": "news",
"source": "pbs"
},
"link": "/radio/program/pbs-newshour",
"subscribe": {
"apple": "https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/pbs-newshour-full-show/id394432287?mt=2",
"tuneIn": "https://tunein.com/radio/PBS-NewsHour---Full-Show-p425698/",
"rss": "https://www.pbs.org/newshour/feeds/rss/podcasts/show"
}
},
"perspectives": {
"id": "perspectives",
"title": "Perspectives",
"tagline": "KQED's series of daily listener commentaries since 1991",
"info": "KQED's series of daily listener commentaries since 1991.",
"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Perspectives_Tile_Final.jpg",
"imageAlt": "KQED Perspectives",
"officialWebsiteLink": "/perspectives/",
"meta": {
"site": "radio",
"source": "kqed",
"order": 14
},
"link": "/perspectives",
"subscribe": {
"apple": "https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/id73801135",
"npr": "https://www.npr.org/podcasts/432309616/perspectives",
"rss": "https://ww2.kqed.org/perspectives/category/perspectives/feed/",
"google": "https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly93dzIua3FlZC5vcmcvcGVyc3BlY3RpdmVzL2NhdGVnb3J5L3BlcnNwZWN0aXZlcy9mZWVkLw"
}
},
"planet-money": {
"id": "planet-money",
"title": "Planet Money",
"info": "The economy explained. Imagine you could call up a friend and say, Meet me at the bar and tell me what's going on with the economy. Now imagine that's actually a fun evening.",
"airtime": "SUN 3pm-4pm",
"imageSrc": "https://ww2.kqed.org/radio/wp-content/uploads/sites/50/2018/04/planetmoney.jpg",
"officialWebsiteLink": "https://www.npr.org/sections/money/",
"meta": {
"site": "news",
"source": "npr"
},
"link": "/radio/program/planet-money",
"subscribe": {
"npr": "https://rpb3r.app.goo.gl/M4f5",
"apple": "https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/planet-money/id290783428?mt=2",
"tuneIn": "https://tunein.com/podcasts/Business--Economics-Podcasts/Planet-Money-p164680/",
"rss": "https://feeds.npr.org/510289/podcast.xml"
}
},
"politicalbreakdown": {
"id": "politicalbreakdown",
"title": "Political Breakdown",
"tagline": "Politics from a personal perspective",
"info": "Political Breakdown is a new series that explores the political intersection of California and the nation. Each week hosts Scott Shafer and Marisa Lagos are joined with a new special guest to unpack politics -- with personality — and offer an insider’s glimpse at how politics happens.",
"airtime": "THU 6:30pm-7pm",
"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Political-Breakdown-2024-Podcast-Tile-703x703-1.jpg",
"imageAlt": "KQED Political Breakdown",
"officialWebsiteLink": "/podcasts/politicalbreakdown",
"meta": {
"site": "radio",
"source": "kqed",
"order": 5
},
"link": "/podcasts/politicalbreakdown",
"subscribe": {
"apple": "https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/political-breakdown/id1327641087",
"amazon": "https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/e0c2d153-ad36-4c8d-901d-f1da6a724824/political-breakdown",
"npr": "https://www.npr.org/podcasts/572155894/political-breakdown",
"stitcher": "https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/kqed/political-breakdown",
"spotify": "https://open.spotify.com/show/07RVyIjIdk2WDuVehvBMoN",
"rss": "https://ww2.kqed.org/news/tag/political-breakdown/feed/podcast"
}
},
"possible": {
"id": "possible",
"title": "Possible",
"info": "Possible is hosted by entrepreneur Reid Hoffman and writer Aria Finger. Together in Possible, Hoffman and Finger lead enlightening discussions about building a brighter collective future. The show features interviews with visionary guests like Trevor Noah, Sam Altman and Janette Sadik-Khan. Possible paints an optimistic portrait of the world we can create through science, policy, business, art and our shared humanity. It asks: What if everything goes right for once? How can we get there? Each episode also includes a short fiction story generated by advanced AI GPT-4, serving as a thought-provoking springboard to speculate how humanity could leverage technology for good.",
"airtime": "SUN 2pm",
"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Possible-Podcast-Tile-360x360-1.jpg",
"officialWebsiteLink": "https://www.possible.fm/",
"meta": {
"site": "news",
"source": "Possible"
},
"link": "/radio/program/possible",
"subscribe": {
"apple": "https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/possible/id1677184070",
"spotify": "https://open.spotify.com/show/730YpdUSNlMyPQwNnyjp4k"
}
},
"pri-the-world": {
"id": "pri-the-world",
"title": "PRI's The World: Latest Edition",
"info": "Each weekday, host Marco Werman and his team of producers bring you the world's most interesting stories in an hour of radio that reminds us just how small our planet really is.",
"airtime": "MON-FRI 2pm-3pm",
"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/The-World-Podcast-Tile-360x360-1.jpg",
"officialWebsiteLink": "https://www.pri.org/programs/the-world",
"meta": {
"site": "news",
"source": "PRI"
},
"link": "/radio/program/pri-the-world",
"subscribe": {
"apple": "https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/pris-the-world-latest-edition/id278196007?mt=2",
"tuneIn": "https://tunein.com/podcasts/News--Politics-Podcasts/PRIs-The-World-p24/",
"rss": "http://feeds.feedburner.com/pri/theworld"
}
},
"radiolab": {
"id": "radiolab",
"title": "Radiolab",
"info": "A two-time Peabody Award-winner, Radiolab is an investigation told through sounds and stories, and centered around one big idea. In the Radiolab world, information sounds like music and science and culture collide. Hosted by Jad Abumrad and Robert Krulwich, the show is designed for listeners who demand skepticism, but appreciate wonder. WNYC Studios is the producer of other leading podcasts including Freakonomics Radio, Death, Sex & Money, On the Media and many more.",
"airtime": "SUN 12am-1am, SAT 2pm-3pm",
"imageSrc": "https://ww2.kqed.org/radio/wp-content/uploads/sites/50/2018/04/radiolab1400.png",
"officialWebsiteLink": "https://www.wnycstudios.org/shows/radiolab/",
"meta": {
"site": "science",
"source": "WNYC"
},
"link": "/radio/program/radiolab",
"subscribe": {
"apple": "https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/radiolab/id152249110?mt=2",
"tuneIn": "https://tunein.com/radio/RadioLab-p68032/",
"rss": "https://feeds.wnyc.org/radiolab"
}
},
"reveal": {
"id": "reveal",
"title": "Reveal",
"info": "Created by The Center for Investigative Reporting and PRX, Reveal is public radios first one-hour weekly radio show and podcast dedicated to investigative reporting. Credible, fact based and without a partisan agenda, Reveal combines the power and artistry of driveway moment storytelling with data-rich reporting on critically important issues. The result is stories that inform and inspire, arming our listeners with information to right injustices, hold the powerful accountable and improve lives.Reveal is hosted by Al Letson and showcases the award-winning work of CIR and newsrooms large and small across the nation. In a radio and podcast market crowded with choices, Reveal focuses on important and often surprising stories that illuminate the world for our listeners.",
"airtime": "SAT 4pm-5pm",
"imageSrc": "https://ww2.kqed.org/radio/wp-content/uploads/sites/50/2018/04/reveal300px.png",
"officialWebsiteLink": "https://www.revealnews.org/episodes/",
"meta": {
"site": "news",
"source": "npr"
},
"link": "/radio/program/reveal",
"subscribe": {
"apple": "https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/reveal/id886009669",
"tuneIn": "https://tunein.com/radio/Reveal-p679597/",
"rss": "http://feeds.revealradio.org/revealpodcast"
}
},
"rightnowish": {
"id": "rightnowish",
"title": "Rightnowish",
"tagline": "Art is where you find it",
"info": "Rightnowish digs into life in the Bay Area right now… ish. Journalist Pendarvis Harshaw takes us to galleries painted on the sides of liquor stores in West Oakland. We'll dance in warehouses in the Bayview, make smoothies with kids in South Berkeley, and listen to classical music in a 1984 Cutlass Supreme in Richmond. Every week, Pen talks to movers and shakers about how the Bay Area shapes what they create, and how they shape the place we call home.",
"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Rightnowish-Podcast-Tile-500x500-1.jpg",
"imageAlt": "KQED Rightnowish with Pendarvis Harshaw",
"officialWebsiteLink": "/podcasts/rightnowish",
"meta": {
"site": "arts",
"source": "kqed",
"order": 16
},
"link": "/podcasts/rightnowish",
"subscribe": {
"npr": "https://www.npr.org/podcasts/721590300/rightnowish",
"rss": "https://ww2.kqed.org/arts/programs/rightnowish/feed/podcast",
"apple": "https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/rightnowish/id1482187648",
"stitcher": "https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/kqed/rightnowish",
"google": "https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkcy5tZWdhcGhvbmUuZm0vS1FJTkMxMjU5MTY3NDc4",
"spotify": "https://open.spotify.com/show/7kEJuafTzTVan7B78ttz1I"
}
},
"science-friday": {
"id": "science-friday",
"title": "Science Friday",
"info": "Science Friday is a weekly science talk show, broadcast live over public radio stations nationwide. Each week, the show focuses on science topics that are in the news and tries to bring an educated, balanced discussion to bear on the scientific issues at hand. Panels of expert guests join host Ira Flatow, a veteran science journalist, to discuss science and to take questions from listeners during the call-in portion of the program.",
"airtime": "FRI 11am-1pm",
"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Science-Friday-Podcast-Tile-360x360-1.jpg",
"officialWebsiteLink": "https://www.wnycstudios.org/shows/science-friday",
"meta": {
"site": "news",
"source": "npr"
},
"link": "/radio/program/science-friday",
"subscribe": {
"apple": "https://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewPodcast?s=143441&mt=2&id=73329284&at=11l79Y&ct=nprdirectory",
"tuneIn": "https://tunein.com/radio/Science-Friday-p394/",
"rss": "http://feeds.wnyc.org/science-friday"
}
},
"snap-judgment": {
"id": "snap-judgment",
"title": "Snap Judgment",
"tagline": "Real stories with killer beats",
"info": "The Snap Judgment radio show and podcast mixes real stories with killer beats to produce cinematic, dramatic radio. Snap's musical brand of storytelling dares listeners to see the world through the eyes of another. This is storytelling... with a BEAT!! Snap first aired on public radio stations nationwide in July 2010. Today, Snap Judgment airs on over 450 public radio stations and is brought to the airwaves by KQED & PRX.",
"airtime": "SAT 1pm-2pm, 9pm-10pm",
"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Snap-Judgment-Podcast-Tile-703x703-1.jpg",
"imageAlt": "KQED Snap Judgment",
"officialWebsiteLink": "https://snapjudgment.org",
"meta": {
"site": "arts",
"source": "kqed",
"order": 4
},
"link": "https://snapjudgment.org",
"subscribe": {
"apple": "https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/snap-judgment/id283657561",
"npr": "https://www.npr.org/podcasts/449018144/snap-judgment",
"stitcher": "https://www.pandora.com/podcast/snap-judgment/PC:241?source=stitcher-sunset",
"spotify": "https://open.spotify.com/show/3Cct7ZWmxHNAtLgBTqjC5v",
"rss": "https://snap.feed.snapjudgment.org/"
}
},
"soldout": {
"id": "soldout",
"title": "SOLD OUT: Rethinking Housing in America",
"tagline": "A new future for housing",
"info": "Sold Out: Rethinking Housing in America",
"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Sold-Out-Podcast-Tile-703x703-1.jpg",
"imageAlt": "KQED Sold Out: Rethinking Housing in America",
"officialWebsiteLink": "/podcasts/soldout",
"meta": {
"site": "news",
"source": "kqed",
"order": 13
},
"link": "/podcasts/soldout",
"subscribe": {
"npr": "https://www.npr.org/podcasts/911586047/s-o-l-d-o-u-t-a-new-future-for-housing",
"apple": "https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/introducing-sold-out-rethinking-housing-in-america/id1531354937",
"rss": "https://feeds.megaphone.fm/soldout",
"spotify": "https://open.spotify.com/show/38dTBSk2ISFoPiyYNoKn1X",
"stitcher": "https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/kqed/sold-out-rethinking-housing-in-america",
"tunein": "https://tunein.com/radio/SOLD-OUT-Rethinking-Housing-in-America-p1365871/"
}
},
"spooked": {
"id": "spooked",
"title": "Spooked",
"tagline": "True-life supernatural stories",
"info": "",
"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Spooked-Podcast-Tile-703x703-1.jpg",
"imageAlt": "KQED Spooked",
"officialWebsiteLink": "https://spookedpodcast.org/",
"meta": {
"site": "news",
"source": "kqed",
"order": 7
},
"link": "https://spookedpodcast.org/",
"subscribe": {
"apple": "https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/spooked/id1279361017",
"npr": "https://www.npr.org/podcasts/549547848/snap-judgment-presents-spooked",
"spotify": "https://open.spotify.com/show/76571Rfl3m7PLJQZKQIGCT",
"rss": "https://feeds.simplecast.com/TBotaapn"
}
},
"tech-nation": {
"id": "tech-nation",
"title": "Tech Nation Radio Podcast",
"info": "Tech Nation is a weekly public radio program, hosted by Dr. Moira Gunn. Founded in 1993, it has grown from a simple interview show to a multi-faceted production, featuring conversations with noted technology and science leaders, and a weekly science and technology-related commentary.",
"airtime": "FRI 10pm",
"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Tech-Nation-Radio-Podcast-Tile-360x360-1.jpg",
"officialWebsiteLink": "http://technation.podomatic.com/",
"meta": {
"site": "science",
"source": "Tech Nation Media"
},
"link": "/radio/program/tech-nation",
"subscribe": {
"rss": "https://technation.podomatic.com/rss2.xml"
}
},
"ted-radio-hour": {
"id": "ted-radio-hour",
"title": "TED Radio Hour",
"info": "The TED Radio Hour is a journey through fascinating ideas, astonishing inventions, fresh approaches to old problems, and new ways to think and create.",
"airtime": "SUN 3pm-4pm, SAT 10pm-11pm",
"imageSrc": "https://ww2.kqed.org/radio/wp-content/uploads/sites/50/2018/04/tedRadioHour.jpg",
"officialWebsiteLink": "https://www.npr.org/programs/ted-radio-hour/?showDate=2018-06-22",
"meta": {
"site": "news",
"source": "npr"
},
"link": "/radio/program/ted-radio-hour",
"subscribe": {
"npr": "https://rpb3r.app.goo.gl/8vsS",
"apple": "https://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewPodcast?s=143441&mt=2&id=523121474&at=11l79Y&ct=nprdirectory",
"tuneIn": "https://tunein.com/radio/TED-Radio-Hour-p418021/",
"rss": "https://feeds.npr.org/510298/podcast.xml"
}
},
"thebay": {
"id": "thebay",
"title": "The Bay",
"tagline": "Local news to keep you rooted",
"info": "Host Devin Katayama walks you through the biggest story of the day with reporters and newsmakers.",
"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/The-Bay-Podcast-Tile-703x703-1.jpg",
"imageAlt": "KQED The Bay",
"officialWebsiteLink": "/podcasts/thebay",
"meta": {
"site": "radio",
"source": "kqed",
"order": 2
},
"link": "/podcasts/thebay",
"subscribe": {
"apple": "https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-bay/id1350043452",
"amazon": "https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/d800ea4c-7a2c-42f2-b861-edaf78a5db0b/the-bay",
"npr": "https://www.npr.org/podcasts/586725995/the-bay",
"stitcher": "https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/kqed/the-bay",
"spotify": "https://open.spotify.com/show/4BIKBKIujizLHlIlBNaAqQ",
"rss": "https://feeds.megaphone.fm/KQINC8259786327"
}
},
"thelatest": {
"id": "thelatest",
"title": "The Latest",
"tagline": "Trusted local news in real time",
"info": "",
"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/The-Latest-2025-Podcast-Tile-703x703-1.jpg",
"imageAlt": "KQED The Latest",
"officialWebsiteLink": "/thelatest",
"meta": {
"site": "news",
"source": "kqed",
"order": 6
},
"link": "/thelatest",
"subscribe": {
"apple": "https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-latest-from-kqed/id1197721799",
"npr": "https://www.npr.org/podcasts/1257949365/the-latest-from-k-q-e-d",
"spotify": "https://open.spotify.com/show/5KIIXMgM9GTi5AepwOYvIZ?si=bd3053fec7244dba",
"rss": "https://feeds.megaphone.fm/KQINC9137121918"
}
},
"theleap": {
"id": "theleap",
"title": "The Leap",
"tagline": "What if you closed your eyes, and jumped?",
"info": "Stories about people making dramatic, risky changes, told by award-winning public radio reporter Judy Campbell.",
"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/The-Leap-Podcast-Tile-703x703-1.jpg",
"imageAlt": "KQED The Leap",
"officialWebsiteLink": "/podcasts/theleap",
"meta": {
"site": "news",
"source": "kqed",
"order": 17
},
"link": "/podcasts/theleap",
"subscribe": {
"apple": "https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-leap/id1046668171",
"npr": "https://www.npr.org/podcasts/447248267/the-leap",
"stitcher": "https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/kqed/the-leap",
"spotify": "https://open.spotify.com/show/3sSlVHHzU0ytLwuGs1SD1U",
"rss": "https://ww2.kqed.org/news/programs/the-leap/feed/podcast"
}
},
"the-moth-radio-hour": {
"id": "the-moth-radio-hour",
"title": "The Moth Radio Hour",
"info": "Since its launch in 1997, The Moth has presented thousands of true stories, told live and without notes, to standing-room-only crowds worldwide. Moth storytellers stand alone, under a spotlight, with only a microphone and a roomful of strangers. The storyteller and the audience embark on a high-wire act of shared experience which is both terrifying and exhilarating. Since 2008, The Moth podcast has featured many of our favorite stories told live on Moth stages around the country. For information on all of our programs and live events, visit themoth.org.",
"airtime": "SAT 8pm-9pm and SUN 11am-12pm",
"imageSrc": "https://ww2.kqed.org/radio/wp-content/uploads/sites/50/2018/04/theMoth.jpg",
"officialWebsiteLink": "https://themoth.org/",
"meta": {
"site": "arts",
"source": "prx"
},
"link": "/radio/program/the-moth-radio-hour",
"subscribe": {
"apple": "https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/the-moth-podcast/id275699983?mt=2",
"tuneIn": "https://tunein.com/radio/The-Moth-p273888/",
"rss": "http://feeds.themoth.org/themothpodcast"
}
},
"the-new-yorker-radio-hour": {
"id": "the-new-yorker-radio-hour",
"title": "The New Yorker Radio Hour",
"info": "The New Yorker Radio Hour is a weekly program presented by the magazine's editor, David Remnick, and produced by WNYC Studios and The New Yorker. Each episode features a diverse mix of interviews, profiles, storytelling, and an occasional burst of humor inspired by the magazine, and shaped by its writers, artists, and editors. This isn't a radio version of a magazine, but something all its own, reflecting the rich possibilities of audio storytelling and conversation. Theme music for the show was composed and performed by Merrill Garbus of tUnE-YArDs.",
"airtime": "SAT 10am-11am",
"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/The-New-Yorker-Podcast-Tile-360x360-1.jpg",
"officialWebsiteLink": "https://www.wnycstudios.org/shows/tnyradiohour",
"meta": {
"site": "arts",
"source": "WNYC"
},
"link": "/radio/program/the-new-yorker-radio-hour",
"subscribe": {
"apple": "https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/id1050430296",
"tuneIn": "https://tunein.com/podcasts/WNYC-Podcasts/New-Yorker-Radio-Hour-p803804/",
"rss": "https://feeds.feedburner.com/newyorkerradiohour"
}
},
"the-sam-sanders-show": {
"id": "the-sam-sanders-show",
"title": "The Sam Sanders Show",
"info": "One of public radio's most dynamic voices, Sam Sanders helped launch The NPR Politics Podcast and hosted NPR's hit show It's Been A Minute. Now, the award-winning host returns with something brand new, The Sam Sanders Show. Every week, Sam Sanders and friends dig into the culture that shapes our lives: what's driving the biggest trends, how artists really think, and even the memes you can't stop scrolling past. Sam is beloved for his way of unpacking the world and bringing you up close to fresh currents and engaging conversations. The Sam Sanders Show is smart, funny and always a good time.",
"airtime": "FRI 12-1pm AND SAT 11am-12pm",
"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/The-Sam-Sanders-Show-Podcast-Tile-400x400-1.jpg",
"officialWebsiteLink": "https://www.kcrw.com/shows/the-sam-sanders-show/latest",
"meta": {
"site": "arts",
"source": "KCRW"
},
"link": "https://www.kcrw.com/shows/the-sam-sanders-show/latest",
"subscribe": {
"rss": "https://feed.cdnstream1.com/zjb/feed/download/ac/28/59/ac28594c-e1d0-4231-8728-61865cdc80e8.xml"
}
},
"the-splendid-table": {
"id": "the-splendid-table",
"title": "The Splendid Table",
"info": "\u003cem>The Splendid Table\u003c/em> hosts our nation's conversations about cooking, sustainability and food culture.",
"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/The-Splendid-Table-Podcast-Tile-360x360-1.jpg",
"officialWebsiteLink": "https://www.splendidtable.org/",
"airtime": "SUN 10-11 pm",
"meta": {
"site": "radio",
"source": "npr"
},
"link": "/radio/program/the-splendid-table"
},
"this-american-life": {
"id": "this-american-life",
"title": "This American Life",
"info": "This American Life is a weekly public radio show, heard by 2.2 million people on more than 500 stations. Another 2.5 million people download the weekly podcast. It is hosted by Ira Glass, produced in collaboration with Chicago Public Media, delivered to stations by PRX The Public Radio Exchange, and has won all of the major broadcasting awards.",
"airtime": "SAT 12pm-1pm, 7pm-8pm",
"imageSrc": "https://ww2.kqed.org/radio/wp-content/uploads/sites/50/2018/04/thisAmericanLife.png",
"officialWebsiteLink": "https://www.thisamericanlife.org/",
"meta": {
"site": "news",
"source": "wbez"
},
"link": "/radio/program/this-american-life",
"subscribe": {
"apple": "https://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewPodcast?s=143441&mt=2&id=201671138&at=11l79Y&ct=nprdirectory",
"rss": "https://www.thisamericanlife.org/podcast/rss.xml"
}
},
"tinydeskradio": {
"id": "tinydeskradio",
"title": "Tiny Desk Radio",
"info": "We're bringing the best of Tiny Desk to the airwaves, only on public radio.",
"airtime": "SUN 8pm and SAT 9pm",
"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/300x300-For-Member-Station-Logo-Tiny-Desk-Radio-@2x.png",
"officialWebsiteLink": "https://www.npr.org/series/g-s1-52030/tiny-desk-radio",
"meta": {
"site": "news",
"source": "npr"
},
"link": "/radio/program/tinydeskradio",
"subscribe": {
"rss": "https://feeds.npr.org/g-s1-52030/rss.xml"
}
},
"wait-wait-dont-tell-me": {
"id": "wait-wait-dont-tell-me",
"title": "Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me!",
"info": "Peter Sagal and Bill Kurtis host the weekly NPR News quiz show alongside some of the best and brightest news and entertainment personalities.",
"airtime": "SUN 10am-11am, SAT 11am-12pm, SAT 6pm-7pm",
"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Wait-Wait-Podcast-Tile-300x300-1.jpg",
"officialWebsiteLink": "https://www.npr.org/programs/wait-wait-dont-tell-me/",
"meta": {
"site": "news",
"source": "npr"
},
"link": "/radio/program/wait-wait-dont-tell-me",
"subscribe": {
"npr": "https://rpb3r.app.goo.gl/Xogv",
"apple": "https://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewPodcast?s=143441&mt=2&id=121493804&at=11l79Y&ct=nprdirectory",
"tuneIn": "https://tunein.com/radio/Wait-Wait-Dont-Tell-Me-p46/",
"rss": "https://feeds.npr.org/344098539/podcast.xml"
}
},
"weekend-edition-saturday": {
"id": "weekend-edition-saturday",
"title": "Weekend Edition Saturday",
"info": "Weekend Edition Saturday wraps up the week's news and offers a mix of analysis and features on a wide range of topics, including arts, sports, entertainment, and human interest stories. The two-hour program is hosted by NPR's Peabody Award-winning Scott Simon.",
"airtime": "SAT 5am-10am",
"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Weekend-Edition-Podcast-Tile-360x360-1.jpg",
"officialWebsiteLink": "https://www.npr.org/programs/weekend-edition-saturday/",
"meta": {
"site": "news",
"source": "npr"
},
"link": "/radio/program/weekend-edition-saturday"
},
"weekend-edition-sunday": {
"id": "weekend-edition-sunday",
"title": "Weekend Edition Sunday",
"info": "Weekend Edition Sunday features interviews with newsmakers, artists, scientists, politicians, musicians, writers, theologians and historians. The program has covered news events from Nelson Mandela's 1990 release from a South African prison to the capture of Saddam Hussein.",
"airtime": "SUN 5am-10am",
"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Weekend-Edition-Podcast-Tile-360x360-1.jpg",
"officialWebsiteLink": "https://www.npr.org/programs/weekend-edition-sunday/",
"meta": {
"site": "news",
"source": "npr"
},
"link": "/radio/program/weekend-edition-sunday"
}
},
"racesReducer": {},
"racesGenElectionReducer": {},
"racesGenElection2026Reducer": {},
"racesGenElection2026PresidentialReducer": {},
"radioSchedulesReducer": {},
"listsReducer": {
"posts?author=11761&authorName=Juan Carlos Lara": {
"isFetching": false,
"latestQuery": {
"from": 0,
"size": 12
},
"vitalsOnly": false,
"totalRequested": 12,
"isLoading": false,
"isLoadingMore": true,
"total": {
"value": 144,
"relation": "eq"
},
"items": [
"news_12102644",
"news_12102161",
"news_12098255",
"news_12096244",
"news_12094957",
"news_12089732",
"news_12086262",
"news_12082743",
"news_12085224",
"news_12084403",
"news_12081802",
"news_12081330"
],
"complete": true
}
},
"recallGuideReducer": {
"intros": {},
"policy": {},
"candidates": {}
},
"savedArticleReducer": {
"articles": [],
"status": {}
},
"newslettersReducer": {
"isFetching": false,
"fetchFailed": false,
"hasFetched": false,
"newsletters": {},
"isSubscribing": false,
"isUnsubscribing": false,
"subscribedNewsletters": {}
},
"termsReducer": {
"about": {
"name": "About",
"type": "terms",
"id": "about",
"slug": "about",
"link": "/about",
"taxonomy": "site"
},
"arts": {
"name": "Arts & Culture",
"grouping": [
"arts",
"pop",
"trulyca"
],
"description": "KQED Arts provides daily in-depth coverage of the Bay Area's music, art, film, performing arts, literature and arts news, as well as cultural commentary and criticism.",
"type": "terms",
"id": "arts",
"slug": "arts",
"link": "/arts",
"taxonomy": "site"
},
"artschool": {
"name": "Art School",
"parent": "arts",
"type": "terms",
"id": "artschool",
"slug": "artschool",
"link": "/artschool",
"taxonomy": "site"
},
"bayareabites": {
"name": "KQED food",
"grouping": [
"food",
"bayareabites",
"checkplease"
],
"parent": "food",
"type": "terms",
"id": "bayareabites",
"slug": "bayareabites",
"link": "/food",
"taxonomy": "site"
},
"bayareahiphop": {
"name": "Bay Area Hiphop",
"type": "terms",
"id": "bayareahiphop",
"slug": "bayareahiphop",
"link": "/bayareahiphop",
"taxonomy": "site"
},
"campaign21": {
"name": "Campaign 21",
"type": "terms",
"id": "campaign21",
"slug": "campaign21",
"link": "/campaign21",
"taxonomy": "site"
},
"careers": {
"name": "Careers",
"type": "terms",
"id": "careers",
"slug": "careers",
"link": "/careers",
"taxonomy": "site"
},
"checkplease": {
"name": "KQED food",
"grouping": [
"food",
"bayareabites",
"checkplease"
],
"parent": "food",
"type": "terms",
"id": "checkplease",
"slug": "checkplease",
"link": "/food",
"taxonomy": "site"
},
"education": {
"name": "Education",
"grouping": [
"education"
],
"type": "terms",
"id": "education",
"slug": "education",
"link": "/education",
"taxonomy": "site"
},
"elections": {
"name": "Elections",
"type": "terms",
"id": "elections",
"slug": "elections",
"link": "/elections",
"taxonomy": "site"
},
"events": {
"name": "Events",
"type": "terms",
"id": "events",
"slug": "events",
"link": "/events",
"taxonomy": "site"
},
"event": {
"name": "Event",
"alias": "events",
"type": "terms",
"id": "event",
"slug": "event",
"link": "/event",
"taxonomy": "site"
},
"filmschoolshorts": {
"name": "Film School Shorts",
"type": "terms",
"id": "filmschoolshorts",
"slug": "filmschoolshorts",
"link": "/filmschoolshorts",
"taxonomy": "site"
},
"food": {
"name": "KQED food",
"grouping": [
"food",
"bayareabites",
"checkplease"
],
"type": "terms",
"id": "food",
"slug": "food",
"link": "/food",
"taxonomy": "site"
},
"forum": {
"name": "Forum",
"relatedContentQuery": "posts/forum?",
"parent": "news",
"type": "terms",
"id": "forum",
"slug": "forum",
"link": "/forum",
"taxonomy": "site"
},
"futureofyou": {
"name": "Future of You",
"grouping": [
"science",
"futureofyou"
],
"parent": "science",
"type": "terms",
"id": "futureofyou",
"slug": "futureofyou",
"link": "/futureofyou",
"taxonomy": "site"
},
"jpepinheart": {
"name": "KQED food",
"relatedContentQuery": "posts/food,bayareabites,checkplease",
"parent": "food",
"type": "terms",
"id": "jpepinheart",
"slug": "jpepinheart",
"link": "/food",
"taxonomy": "site"
},
"liveblog": {
"name": "Live Blog",
"type": "terms",
"id": "liveblog",
"slug": "liveblog",
"link": "/liveblog",
"taxonomy": "site"
},
"livetv": {
"name": "Live TV",
"parent": "tv",
"type": "terms",
"id": "livetv",
"slug": "livetv",
"link": "/livetv",
"taxonomy": "site"
},
"lowdown": {
"name": "The Lowdown",
"relatedContentQuery": "posts/lowdown?",
"parent": "news",
"type": "terms",
"id": "lowdown",
"slug": "lowdown",
"link": "/lowdown",
"taxonomy": "site"
},
"mindshift": {
"name": "Mindshift",
"parent": "news",
"description": "MindShift explores the future of education by highlighting the innovative – and sometimes counterintuitive – ways educators and parents are helping all children succeed.",
"type": "terms",
"id": "mindshift",
"slug": "mindshift",
"link": "/mindshift",
"taxonomy": "site"
},
"news": {
"name": "News",
"grouping": [
"news",
"forum"
],
"type": "terms",
"id": "news",
"slug": "news",
"link": "/news",
"taxonomy": "site"
},
"newsletters": {
"name": "newsletters",
"type": "terms",
"id": "newsletters",
"slug": "newsletters",
"link": "/newsletters",
"taxonomy": "site"
},
"perspectives": {
"name": "Perspectives",
"parent": "radio",
"type": "terms",
"id": "perspectives",
"slug": "perspectives",
"link": "/perspectives",
"taxonomy": "site"
},
"podcasts": {
"name": "Podcasts",
"type": "terms",
"id": "podcasts",
"slug": "podcasts",
"link": "/podcasts",
"taxonomy": "site"
},
"pop": {
"name": "Pop",
"parent": "arts",
"type": "terms",
"id": "pop",
"slug": "pop",
"link": "/pop",
"taxonomy": "site"
},
"pressroom": {
"name": "Pressroom",
"type": "terms",
"id": "pressroom",
"slug": "pressroom",
"link": "/pressroom",
"taxonomy": "site"
},
"quest": {
"name": "Quest",
"parent": "science",
"type": "terms",
"id": "quest",
"slug": "quest",
"link": "/quest",
"taxonomy": "site"
},
"radio": {
"name": "Radio",
"grouping": [
"forum",
"perspectives"
],
"description": "Listen to KQED Public Radio – home of Forum and The California Report – on 88.5 FM in San Francisco, 89.3 FM in Sacramento, 88.3 FM in Santa Rosa and 88.1 FM in Martinez.",
"type": "terms",
"id": "radio",
"slug": "radio",
"link": "/radio",
"taxonomy": "site"
},
"root": {
"name": "KQED",
"image": "https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/2020/02/KQED-OG-Image@1x.png",
"imageWidth": 1200,
"imageHeight": 630,
"headData": {
"title": "KQED | News, Radio, Podcasts, TV | Public Media for Northern California",
"description": "KQED provides public radio, television, and independent reporting on issues that matter to the Bay Area. We’re the NPR and PBS member station for Northern California."
},
"type": "terms",
"id": "root",
"slug": "root",
"link": "/root",
"taxonomy": "site"
},
"science": {
"name": "Science",
"grouping": [
"science",
"futureofyou"
],
"description": "KQED Science brings you award-winning science and environment coverage from the Bay Area and beyond.",
"type": "terms",
"id": "science",
"slug": "science",
"link": "/science",
"taxonomy": "site"
},
"stateofhealth": {
"name": "State of Health",
"parent": "science",
"type": "terms",
"id": "stateofhealth",
"slug": "stateofhealth",
"link": "/stateofhealth",
"taxonomy": "site"
},
"support": {
"name": "Support",
"type": "terms",
"id": "support",
"slug": "support",
"link": "/support",
"taxonomy": "site"
},
"thedolist": {
"name": "The Do List",
"parent": "arts",
"type": "terms",
"id": "thedolist",
"slug": "thedolist",
"link": "/thedolist",
"taxonomy": "site"
},
"trulyca": {
"name": "Truly CA",
"grouping": [
"arts",
"pop",
"trulyca"
],
"parent": "arts",
"type": "terms",
"id": "trulyca",
"slug": "trulyca",
"link": "/trulyca",
"taxonomy": "site"
},
"tv": {
"name": "TV",
"type": "terms",
"id": "tv",
"slug": "tv",
"link": "/tv",
"taxonomy": "site"
},
"voterguide": {
"name": "Voter Guide",
"parent": "elections",
"alias": "elections",
"type": "terms",
"id": "voterguide",
"slug": "voterguide",
"link": "/voterguide",
"taxonomy": "site"
},
"guiaelectoral": {
"name": "Guia Electoral",
"parent": "elections",
"alias": "elections",
"type": "terms",
"id": "guiaelectoral",
"slug": "guiaelectoral",
"link": "/guiaelectoral",
"taxonomy": "site"
},
"source_news_12085224": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "source_news_12085224",
"meta": {
"override": true
},
"name": "The Bay",
"link": "https://www.kqed.org/podcasts/thebay",
"isLoading": false
},
"news_31795": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_31795",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "31795",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "California",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "category",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "California Archives | KQED News",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 31812,
"slug": "california",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/category/california"
},
"news_19906": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_19906",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "19906",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "Environment",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "category",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "Environment Archives | KQED News",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 19923,
"slug": "environment",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/category/environment"
},
"news_457": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_457",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "457",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "Health",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "category",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "Health Archives | KQED News",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 16998,
"slug": "health",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/category/health"
},
"news_28250": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_28250",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "28250",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "Local",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "category",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "Local Archives | KQED News",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 28267,
"slug": "local",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/category/local"
},
"news_8": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_8",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "8",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "News",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "category",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "News Archives | KQED News",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 8,
"slug": "news",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/category/news"
},
"news_18538": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_18538",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "18538",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "California",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "tag",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "California Archives | KQED News",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 31,
"slug": "california",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/tag/california"
},
"news_19204": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_19204",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "19204",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "climate",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "tag",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "climate Archives | KQED News",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 19221,
"slug": "climate",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/tag/climate"
},
"news_6253": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_6253",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "6253",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "coal",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "tag",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "coal Archives | KQED News",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 6277,
"slug": "coal",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/tag/coal"
},
"news_1323": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_1323",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "1323",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "Donald Trump",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "tag",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "Donald Trump Archives | KQED News",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 1335,
"slug": "donald-trump",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/tag/donald-trump"
},
"news_20023": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_20023",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "20023",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "environment",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "tag",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "environment Archives | KQED News",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 20040,
"slug": "environment",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/tag/environment"
},
"news_27626": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_27626",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "27626",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "featured-news",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "tag",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "featured-news Archives | KQED News",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 27643,
"slug": "featured-news",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/tag/featured-news"
},
"news_36059": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_36059",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "36059",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"name": "Gov. Gavin Newsom",
"slug": "gov-gavin-newsom",
"taxonomy": "tag",
"description": null,
"featImg": null,
"headData": {
"title": "Gov. Gavin Newsom | KQED News",
"description": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogDescription": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"twDescription": null,
"twImgId": null
},
"ttid": 36076,
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/tag/gov-gavin-newsom"
},
"news_29347": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_29347",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "29347",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "Mia Bonta",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "tag",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "Mia Bonta Archives | KQED News",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 29364,
"slug": "mia-bonta",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/tag/mia-bonta"
},
"news_34054": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_34054",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "34054",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "oakland",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "tag",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "oakland Archives | KQED News",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 34071,
"slug": "oakland",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/tag/oakland"
},
"news_35256": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_35256",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "35256",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"name": "Trump Administration",
"slug": "trump-administration",
"taxonomy": "tag",
"description": null,
"featImg": null,
"headData": {
"title": "Trump Administration | KQED News",
"description": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogDescription": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"twDescription": null,
"twImgId": null
},
"ttid": 35273,
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/tag/trump-administration"
},
"news_33747": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_33747",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "33747",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "Health",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "interest",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "Health Archives | KQED News",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 33764,
"slug": "health",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/interest/health"
},
"news_33734": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_33734",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "33734",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "Local Politics",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "interest",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "Local Politics Archives | KQED News",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 33751,
"slug": "local-politics",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/interest/local-politics"
},
"news_33730": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_33730",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "33730",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "Oakland",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "interest",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "Oakland Archives | KQED News",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 33747,
"slug": "oakland",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/interest/oakland"
},
"news_1169": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_1169",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "1169",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "Immigration",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "category",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "Immigration Archives | KQED News",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 1180,
"slug": "immigration",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/category/immigration"
},
"news_6188": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_6188",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "6188",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "Law and Justice",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "category",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "Law and Justice Archives | KQED News",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 6212,
"slug": "law-and-justice",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/category/law-and-justice"
},
"news_13": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_13",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "13",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"name": "Politics",
"slug": "politics",
"taxonomy": "category",
"description": null,
"featImg": null,
"headData": {
"title": "Politics | KQED News",
"description": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogDescription": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"twDescription": null,
"twImgId": null
},
"ttid": 13,
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/category/politics"
},
"news_37276": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_37276",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "37276",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"name": "accountability",
"slug": "accountability",
"taxonomy": "tag",
"description": null,
"featImg": null,
"headData": {
"title": "accountability | KQED News",
"description": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogDescription": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"twDescription": null,
"twImgId": null
},
"ttid": 37293,
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/tag/accountability"
},
"news_16": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_16",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "16",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "Gavin Newsom",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "tag",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "Gavin Newsom Archives | KQED News",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 16,
"slug": "gavin-newsom",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/tag/gavin-newsom"
},
"news_36298": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_36298",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "36298",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"name": "ICE arrests",
"slug": "ice-arrests",
"taxonomy": "tag",
"description": null,
"featImg": null,
"headData": {
"title": "ICE arrests | KQED News",
"description": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogDescription": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"twDescription": null,
"twImgId": null
},
"ttid": 36315,
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/tag/ice-arrests"
},
"news_6884": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_6884",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "6884",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "ICE detention",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "tag",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "ICE detention Archives | KQED News",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 6908,
"slug": "ice-detention",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/tag/ice-detention"
},
"news_20202": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_20202",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "20202",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "immigration",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "tag",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "immigration Archives | KQED News",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 20219,
"slug": "immigration",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/tag/immigration"
},
"news_19954": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_19954",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "19954",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "Law and Justice",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "tag",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "Law and Justice Archives | KQED News",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 19971,
"slug": "law-and-justice",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/tag/law-and-justice"
},
"news_20529": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_20529",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "20529",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "tag",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Archives | KQED News",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 20546,
"slug": "u-s-immigration-and-customs-enforcement",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/tag/u-s-immigration-and-customs-enforcement"
},
"news_33748": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_33748",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "33748",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "Immigration",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "interest",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "Immigration Archives | KQED News",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 33765,
"slug": "immigration",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/interest/immigration"
},
"news_33733": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_33733",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "33733",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "News",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "interest",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "News Archives | KQED News",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 33750,
"slug": "news",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/interest/news"
},
"news_260": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_260",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "260",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "Alameda County",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "tag",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "Alameda County Archives | KQED News",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 268,
"slug": "alameda-county",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/tag/alameda-county"
},
"news_17725": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_17725",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "17725",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "criminal justice",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "tag",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "criminal justice Archives | KQED News",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 17759,
"slug": "criminal-justice",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/tag/criminal-justice"
},
"news_22434": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_22434",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "22434",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "death",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "tag",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "death Archives | KQED News",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 22451,
"slug": "death",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/tag/death"
},
"news_29160": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_29160",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "29160",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "Oakland Chinatown",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "tag",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "Oakland Chinatown Archives | KQED News",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 29177,
"slug": "oakland-chinatown",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/tag/oakland-chinatown"
},
"news_416": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_416",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "416",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "Oakland Police Department",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "tag",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "Oakland Police Department Archives | KQED News",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 425,
"slug": "oakland-police-department",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/tag/oakland-police-department"
},
"news_28780": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_28780",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "28780",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "police accountability",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "tag",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "police accountability Archives | KQED News",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 28797,
"slug": "police-accountability",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/tag/police-accountability"
},
"news_33745": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_33745",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "33745",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "Criminal Justice",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "interest",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "Criminal Justice Archives | KQED News",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 33762,
"slug": "criminal-justice",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/interest/criminal-justice"
},
"news_6631": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_6631",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "6631",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "Gaza",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "tag",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "Gaza Archives | KQED News",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 6655,
"slug": "gaza",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/tag/gaza"
},
"news_1276": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_1276",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "1276",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "Golden Gate Bridge",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "tag",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "Golden Gate Bridge Archives | KQED News",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 1288,
"slug": "golden-gate-bridge",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/tag/golden-gate-bridge"
},
"news_1741": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_1741",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "1741",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "Israel",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "tag",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "Israel Archives | KQED News",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 1753,
"slug": "israel",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/tag/israel"
},
"news_33333": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_33333",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "33333",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "Israel-Hamas War",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "tag",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "Israel-Hamas War Archives | KQED News",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 33350,
"slug": "israel-hamas-war",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/tag/israel-hamas-war"
},
"news_29475": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_29475",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "29475",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "palestine",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "tag",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "palestine Archives | KQED News",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 29492,
"slug": "palestine",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/tag/palestine"
},
"news_33647": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_33647",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "33647",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "pro-palestinian protest",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "tag",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "pro-palestinian protest Archives | KQED News",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 33664,
"slug": "pro-palestinian-protest",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/tag/pro-palestinian-protest"
},
"news_38": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_38",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "38",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "San Francisco",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "tag",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "San Francisco Archives | KQED News",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 58,
"slug": "san-francisco",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/tag/san-francisco"
},
"news_2688": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_2688",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "2688",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "sentencing",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "tag",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "sentencing Archives | KQED News",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 2705,
"slug": "sentencing",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/tag/sentencing"
},
"news_33729": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_33729",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "33729",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "San Francisco",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "interest",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "San Francisco Archives | KQED News",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 33746,
"slug": "san-francisco",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/interest/san-francisco"
},
"news_6266": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_6266",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "6266",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "Housing",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "category",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "Housing Archives | KQED News",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 6290,
"slug": "housing",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/category/housing"
},
"news_3921": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_3921",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "3921",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "affordable housing",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "tag",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "affordable housing Archives | KQED News",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 3940,
"slug": "affordable-housing",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/tag/affordable-housing"
},
"news_18352": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_18352",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "18352",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "East Bay",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "tag",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "East Bay Archives | KQED News",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 18386,
"slug": "east-bay",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/tag/east-bay"
},
"news_1775": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_1775",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "1775",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "housing",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "tag",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "housing Archives | KQED News",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 1790,
"slug": "housing",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/tag/housing"
},
"news_28957": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_28957",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "28957",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "landlords",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "tag",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "landlords Archives | KQED News",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 28974,
"slug": "landlords",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/tag/landlords"
},
"news_36360": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_36360",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "36360",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"name": "renter protections",
"slug": "renter-protections",
"taxonomy": "tag",
"description": null,
"featImg": null,
"headData": {
"title": "renter protections | KQED News",
"description": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogDescription": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"twDescription": null,
"twImgId": null
},
"ttid": 36377,
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/tag/renter-protections"
},
"news_27707": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_27707",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "27707",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "tenants",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "tag",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "tenants Archives | KQED News",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 27724,
"slug": "tenants",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/tag/tenants"
},
"news_33739": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_33739",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "33739",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "Housing",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "interest",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "Housing Archives | KQED News",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 33756,
"slug": "housing",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/interest/housing"
},
"news_745": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_745",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "745",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "protests",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "tag",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "protests Archives | KQED News",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 754,
"slug": "protests",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/tag/protests"
},
"news_34167": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_34167",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "34167",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"name": "Criminal Justice",
"slug": "criminal-justice",
"taxonomy": "category",
"description": null,
"featImg": null,
"headData": {
"title": "Criminal Justice Archives | KQED News",
"description": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogDescription": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"twDescription": null,
"twImgId": null
},
"ttid": 34184,
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/category/criminal-justice"
},
"news_1386": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_1386",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "1386",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "Bay Area",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "tag",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "Bay Area Archives | KQED News",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 1398,
"slug": "bay-area",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/tag/bay-area"
},
"news_33440": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_33440",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "33440",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "Palestinians",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "tag",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "Palestinians Archives | KQED News",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 33457,
"slug": "palestinians",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/tag/palestinians"
},
"news_17968": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_17968",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "17968",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"name": "Politics",
"slug": "politics",
"taxonomy": "tag",
"description": null,
"featImg": null,
"headData": {
"title": "Politics | KQED News",
"description": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogDescription": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"twDescription": null,
"twImgId": null
},
"ttid": 18002,
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/tag/politics"
},
"news_36810": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_36810",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "36810",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"name": "federal trial",
"slug": "federal-trial",
"taxonomy": "tag",
"description": null,
"featImg": null,
"headData": {
"title": "federal trial | KQED News",
"description": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogDescription": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"twDescription": null,
"twImgId": null
},
"ttid": 36827,
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/tag/federal-trial"
},
"news_31298": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_31298",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "31298",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"name": "Brooke Jenkins",
"slug": "brooke-jenkins",
"taxonomy": "tag",
"description": null,
"featImg": null,
"headData": {
"title": "Brooke Jenkins | KQED News",
"description": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogDescription": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"twDescription": null,
"twImgId": null,
"metaRobotsNoIndex": "index"
},
"ttid": 31315,
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/tag/brooke-jenkins"
},
"news_33812": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_33812",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "33812",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "Interests",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "tag",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "Interests Archives | KQED News",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 33829,
"slug": "interests",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/tag/interests"
},
"news_33673": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_33673",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "33673",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "israel-gaza war",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "tag",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "israel-gaza war Archives | KQED News",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 33690,
"slug": "israel-gaza-war",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/tag/israel-gaza-war"
},
"news_22598": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_22598",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "22598",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "The Bay",
"description": "\u003cimg class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-11638190\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/news/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2018/02/TheBay_1200x6301.png\" alt=\"\" />\r\n\u003cbr/>\r\n\r\nEvery good story starts local. So that’s where we start. \u003ci>The Bay\u003c/i> is storytelling for daily news. KQED host Devin Katayama talks with reporters to help us make sense of what’s happening in the Bay Area. One story. One conversation. One idea.\r\n\r\n\u003cstrong>Subscribe to The Bay:\u003c/strong>\r\n\r\n\u003ca href=\"https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/the-bay/id1350043452?mt=2\">\u003cimg src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/news/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2018/01/Listen_on_Apple_Podcasts_sRGB_US-e1515635079510.png\" />\u003c/a>",
"taxonomy": "tag",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": "Every good story starts local. So that’s where we start. The Bay is storytelling for daily news. KQED host Devin Katayama talks with reporters to help us make sense of what’s happening in the Bay Area. One story. One conversation. One idea. Subscribe to The Bay:",
"title": "The Bay Archives | KQED News",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 22615,
"slug": "the-bay",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/tag/the-bay"
},
"news_34055": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_34055",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "34055",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"name": "Daniel Lurie",
"slug": "daniel-lurie",
"taxonomy": "tag",
"description": null,
"featImg": null,
"headData": {
"title": "Daniel Lurie | KQED News",
"description": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogDescription": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"twDescription": null,
"twImgId": null
},
"ttid": 34072,
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/tag/daniel-lurie"
},
"news_25968": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_25968",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "25968",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "drug addiction",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "tag",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "drug addiction Archives | KQED News",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 25985,
"slug": "drug-addiction",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/tag/drug-addiction"
},
"news_30249": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_30249",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "30249",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "drug overdoses",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "tag",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "drug overdoses Archives | KQED News",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 30266,
"slug": "drug-overdoses",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/tag/drug-overdoses"
},
"news_29524": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_29524",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "29524",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "Fentanyl overdoses",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "tag",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "Fentanyl overdoses Archives | KQED News",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 29541,
"slug": "fentanyl-overdoses",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/tag/fentanyl-overdoses"
},
"news_18543": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_18543",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "18543",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "Health",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "tag",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "Health Archives | KQED News",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 466,
"slug": "health",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/tag/health"
},
"news_19960": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_19960",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "19960",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "public health",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "tag",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "public health Archives | KQED News",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 19977,
"slug": "public-health",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/tag/public-health"
},
"news_22456": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_22456",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "22456",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "public safety",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "tag",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "public safety Archives | KQED News",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 22473,
"slug": "public-safety",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/tag/public-safety"
}
},
"userPermissionsReducer": {
"wpLoggedIn": false
},
"eventsReducer": {},
"fssReducer": {},
"tvDailyScheduleReducer": {},
"tvWeeklyScheduleReducer": {},
"tvPrimetimeScheduleReducer": {},
"tvMonthlyScheduleReducer": {},
"userAccountReducer": {
"user": {
"email": null,
"emailStatus": "EMAIL_UNVALIDATED",
"loggedStatus": "LOGGED_OUT",
"loggingChecked": false,
"articles": [],
"firstName": null,
"lastName": null,
"phoneNumber": null,
"fetchingMembership": false,
"membershipError": false,
"memberships": [
{
"id": null,
"startDate": null,
"firstName": null,
"lastName": null,
"familyNumber": null,
"memberNumber": null,
"memberSince": null,
"expirationDate": null,
"pfsEligible": false,
"isSustaining": false,
"membershipLevel": "Prospect",
"membershipStatus": "Non Member",
"lastGiftDate": null,
"renewalDate": null,
"lastDonationAmount": null
}
]
},
"authModal": {
"isOpen": false,
"view": "LANDING_VIEW"
},
"error": null
},
"youthMediaReducer": {},
"checkPleaseReducer": {
"filterData": {
"region": {
"key": "Restaurant Region",
"filters": [
"Any Region"
]
},
"cuisine": {
"key": "Restaurant Cuisine",
"filters": [
"Any Cuisine"
]
}
},
"restaurantDataById": {},
"restaurantIdsSorted": [],
"error": null
},
"userAgentReducer": {
"userAgent": "Mozilla/5.0 AppleWebKit/537.36 (KHTML, like Gecko; compatible; ClaudeBot/1.0; +claudebot@anthropic.com)",
"isBot": true
},
"requestOutcomesReducer": {
"notFound": []
},
"navPromosReducer": {
"isFetching": false,
"fetchFailed": false,
"hasFetched": true,
"promos": {
"news": {
"name": "2026 Voter Guide",
"link": "/voterguide",
"imageURL": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/Nav-News-Nov2026ElectionCoverage@2x-7bd4aad4.png",
"description": "Get informed in minutes with our Voter Guide for California’s November 3 election."
},
"podcasts-radio": {},
"video-tv": {},
"events": {},
"support": {}
}
}
}
