Lightfoot and White were the only two individuals to go to trial among the group known as the San Diego 11. In the months leading up to the trial, nine of the other protesters against the “Patriot March” in Pacific Beach all pled guilty to a variety of charges, including felony assault and unlawful use of tear gas.

Two of the San Diego 11 are trans women. One — Nikki Hubbard — has already been sentenced to five years in prison. Despite having a valid California driver’s license that listed her gender as female and informing the arresting officers that she was trans, Hubbard was locked up with men.

On the day of Hubbard’s sentencing, her spouse petitioned the judge directly to honor her gender identity. Nevertheless, Nikki Hubbard is currently being held in a men’s health facility in Stockton, California, in a clear violation of The Transgender Respect, Agency and Dignity Act (SB-132) which was signed into law by California Governor Gavin Newsome on Jan. 1, 2021.

The unprecedented “conspiracy to riot” charges were based on a series of messages exchanged between some of the activists. Evidence brought by prosecutors highlights the ability of cops and courts to seize all digital communications an individual may have on their phones — and to twist even the most innocuous comments into proof of violent intent.