Black Lives Matters closes Bay Bridge again, yet no charges??

Chances are the protesters who shut down the Bay Bridge on Monday won’t pay too high a price — if any — for their actions.

The California Highway Patrol cited 25 protesters for chaining themselves to five cars that they parked across the westbound direction of the eastern span. They were booked on suspicion of creating public nuisance, unlawful assembly and obstructing free passage.

But if history is any indication, the charges will ultimately be reduced — or even dropped — as they make their way through the legal system.

Alameda County District Attorney Nancy O’Malley, for example, dismissed all charges against the 14 Black Lives Matter protesters (read rest of story at SF Chronicle here)

One of the protesters who chained themselves to cars on eastern span of the Bay Bridge on Monday. Photo: Joel Angel Jurez

Chances are the protesters who shut down the Bay Bridge on Monday won’t pay too high a price — if any — for their actions.

The California Highway Patrol cited 25 protesters for chaining themselves to five cars that they parked across the westbound direction of the eastern span. They were booked on suspicion of creating public nuisance, unlawful assembly and obstructing free passage.

But if history is any indication, the charges will ultimately be reduced — or even dropped — as they make their way through the legal system.

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IMAGE 1 OF 15 | BAY BRIDGE PROTEST

Vanessa Riles holds her fist up as she and other protestors block traffic during a demonstration against police brutality on the eastern span of the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge in Oakland, California on January 18, 2016.

Alameda County District Attorney Nancy O’Malley, for example, dismissed all charges against the 14 Black Lives Matter protesters who disrupted BART service for hours when they chained themselves to a train at the West Oakland station the day after Thanksgiving in 2014.

O’Malley’s decision followed a year of political pressure by protesters’ supporters, including sit-ins in her office. Rather than take the cases to court, she had the protesters come in for a “restorative justice” sit-down in her office. At the meeting, the protesters acknowledged the effect their demonstration had on BART passengers. They also aired their complaints about the criminal justice system.

San Mateo County were a bit harsher when dealing with activists who shut down the San Mateo Bridge last January in support of protesters in Ferguson, Mo.

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The protesters were all offered a plea deal that included $400 apiece in restitution and 30 hours of community service. A dozen said “no” and went to trial. All but one were convicted and sentenced to 30 to 100 hours of community service.