Statement on the April 15, 2024, Protest on the Golden Gate Bridge

On Monday, April 15, 2024, at just before 8 a.m., a small group of protesters blocked all southbound traffic on the Golden Gate Bridge. After stopping traffic, their subsequent actions extended the closure for over four hours. The protest was pre-planned, involving coordinated efforts with specially made devices used to block all traffic heading into San Francisco, and the protestors ignored repeated requests to reopen the roadway from District staff and law enforcement. Their actions to stop traffic for over four hours were unprecedented in the Golden Gate Bridge's history.

Bridge District staff along with law enforcement and fire department partners worked to reopen the Bridge as quickly as possible while prioritizing the safety of the public and staff. Even so, due to the specialty devices and methods used, it took over four hours before the protesters could be removed peacefully and vehicle travel could resume.

The Bridge District supports lawful expressive activities at the Golden Gate Bridge and has adopted rules and regulations to support such activities, as set forth in the District's Master Ordinance. These rules and regulations strike a balance between protestors' First Amendment rights and public safety. Individuals and organizations that wish to obtain a permit for expressive activities at the Bridge may do so at no cost on our website. The Bridge District does not issue permits for expressive activities that endanger the public, such as protesting on the roadway.

During the four-hour closure, the Bridge District lost approximately $160,000 in toll revenue. Golden Gate Bridge tolls are essential to maintain, operate, and secure the Golden Gate Bridge and are the principal subsidy for Golden Gate bus and ferry service. The Bridge District does not receive any dedicated local tax revenues and relies mostly on toll revenue to fulfill its mission to steward the Golden Gate Bridge for future generations while providing essential transit service to the community. Due to changes in travel patterns since the pandemic, the Bridge District currently faces a projected $24 million shortfall this fiscal year.

The criminal justice system includes provisions for restitution for damages and financial losses resulting from the commission of crimes, including those associated with the April 15, 2024, illegal Bridge closure. Recently, the Bridge District has received requests from members of the public calling for the Bridge District to waive restitution and forfeit the approximately $160,000 in lost toll revenue due to the four-hour road closure. The commenters incorrectly claim that the felony charges brought against some of the protesters are tied to the amount of restitution.

The Bridge District has no role in deciding what charges should be filed for possible illegal actions on the Golden Gate Bridge. After the April 15, 2024, protest, the California Highway Patrol conducted an extensive investigation and recommended charges - including some felony charges - to the San Francisco District Attorney. The District Attorney made the final decision on what charges to bring against the April 15, 2024, protesters. The felony charges were tied to conspiracy and false imprisonment, as indicated in the District Attorney's August 2024 press release. To the Bridge District's understanding, the amount of lost toll revenue was not a consideration in the District Attorney's decision to file felony charges.

The Bridge District has also received comments stating that the April 15, 2024, protesters are being treated differently than prior protesters because the Bridge District is seeking restitution for lost toll revenue. The commenters referenced a protest in 1996 involving the actor Woody Harrelson, saying that he and his group stopped traffic on the Bridge but were neither prosecuted nor required to pay restitution. This is inaccurate.

Mr. Harrelson and his group never set foot in a traffic lane on the Golden Gate Bridge. Mr. Harrelson's group of protestors went out on the Bridge sidewalk, climbed the Bridge, and unfurled banners, which is illegal. As confirmed in contemporaneous press reports, Mr. Harrelson and his group were arrested and prosecuted and, after pleading guilty to the charges, paid the associated fines.

On July 6, 2020, over 10,000 people marched on the Golden Gate Bridge in support of the Black Lives Matter movement. The event organizers applied for and received a permit from the Bridge District for a small protest on the Bridge sidewalk only. On the day of the event, thousands of people showed up. During the protest, some demonstrators entered the roadway, temporarily blocking traffic. When law enforcement directed the protesters to exit the roadway, they complied, and the roadway was re-opened shortly thereafter. The District Attorney did not file criminal charges against the July 6, 2020, protesters and there was no associated restitution.

The Bridge District has also received requests to waive the restitution claim because the protesters were bringing awareness to an international crisis. The Bridge District's policies regarding expressive activities are agnostic with respect to the message, and a waiver of restitution for an extended roadway closure would set a concerning precedent for future Bridge shutdowns. Waiving restitution would open the door for more frequent Bridge blockages for a litany of causes, some of which could be patently offensive to members of our community, our customers, Board members, and employees. The Bridge District believes it is in the best interest of our customers, employees, and the community to discourage, rather than encourage, more frequent blockages of the Golden Gate Bridge.

Over the past several years, Bridge District employees have also been injured multiple times responding to protesters who have accessed the roadway. In light of this recent history, the Bridge District will not put the safety of our dedicated employees who maintain, operate and protect the Golden Gate Bridge at further risk.

The legal process for the April 15, 2024, protesters continues to unfold. The process includes formal opportunities for the defendants to contest their charges and dispute any restitution claims. The Bridge District will continue to participate in the legal process and looks forward to a resolution in this case.