The pro-life activists were found guilty Tuesday by the Biden administration’s Justice Department of violating federal law and face more than 10 years in prison. However, lawyers for the convicted activists are expected to appeal the decision, arguing that the pro-life demonstrators were participating in a “peaceful pro-life rally.”
After a six-day federal trial, a federal jury in Nashville, Tennessee, found six defendants guilty of violating the Freedom of Admissions Act. Defendants Chester Gallagher, Heather Idoni, Calvin Zastrow, Coleman Boyd, Paul Vaughn, and Dennis Green face up to 10 1/2 years in prison and up to $260,000 in fines.
The U.S. Department of Justice declared: press release The six defendants “engaged in a conspiracy to prevent clinic employees from providing and patients from receiving reproductive health services, which is a civil right guaranteed by the FACE Act.”
The FACE Act was reportedly signed by President Bill Clinton in 1994 “in response to increasing violence against reproductive health service providers and patients.” Ministry of Justice. The FACE Act prohibits “violent, threatening, damaging, and disruptive conduct intended to harm, threaten, or interfere with the right to seek, obtain, or provide reproductive health services.” are doing.
Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clark of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division said this week: “These defendants are accused of unlawfully obstructing access to reproductive health services. “We will continue to enforce the FACE Act to protect the rights of those who provide it.” and persons seeking access to such services. ”
“These defendants knowingly chose to violate laws they were unaware of,” said Henry C. Leventis, United States Attorney for the Middle District of Tennessee. “Today’s jury verdict is a victory for the rule of law in this country. It is a reminder that we do not have a choice.” This is also a testament to the excellent work of our trial team and law enforcement partners in this case. ”
The FBI Memphis Field Office, Nashville Field Office investigated this case.
Pro-life activists protested inside the Karafem abortion clinic in Mount Juliet, Tennessee, in March 2021.
As Blaze News previously reported, the 29-minute video shows pro-life protesters lining the walls of an abortion clinic, singing and praying.
Officers from Mount Juliet Police Station asked the protesters to leave the clinic and said they could continue demonstrating outside the building.
After brief negotiations with a pastor representing a pro-life organization, police gave the protesters five minutes to leave the premises. Some of the protesters left, but a few remained inside the abortion clinic.
Some of the pro-life participants were arrested by local police and later released on bail on misdemeanor charges of trespassing.
The Thomas More Society described the incident as a “peaceful pro-life rally.”
Steve Crampton, attorney for the Thomas More Society and attorney for Paul Vaughan, said: press release“Of course we are disappointed with this outcome. This was a completely peaceful demonstration by peaceful citizens aimed at persuading pregnant mothers not to abort their babies. We prayed, sang hymns, and worshiped.”
Crampton added: “Unfortunately, the Biden Justice Department has labeled Paul Vaughn’s peaceful actions a felony ‘conspiracy against rights’ and threatened Paul Vaughn and other pro-life people and people of faith. “We have decided to punish him,” he added.
The Thomas More Society said lawyers representing Bourne “plan to announce that they will appeal the conviction.”
Sentencing hearings for the convicted pro-life protesters are scheduled for July 2nd.
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