Biden’s Justice Department praised the conviction of a 75-year-old pro-life activist for crimes committed three years ago, but police have previously pepper-sprayed hundreds of violent anti-Israel protesters. There has been some escalation in response to the mob being ignored. week.
Last week, U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia Matthew Graves charged Paula “Paulette” Harlow, 75, of Kingston, Massachusetts, with “conspiracy against the federal government’s rights” and access to a clinic for participating in it. He was found guilty of violating the FACE Act. She at an abortion clinic protest in 2020.
Graves said Harlow and a group of eight others “conspired to prevent our fellow citizens from exercising their right to receive and provide reproductive health care,” and they faced up to 11 years in prison and a 25-year fine. He praised the conviction for a crime that could carry a fine of $10,000. .
But some critics believe that about 200 pro-Palestinian activists, some armed with pepper spray, rioted at Democratic National Committee (DNC) headquarters and injured six Capitol Police officers. They point out that Graves has yet to denounce or threaten possible prosecution. Officers on November 15th.
Michigan Democratic Party says violent pro-Palestinian DNC protests were ‘more chaotic’ than January 6 riot
U.S. Capitol Police remove demonstrators from the Democratic National Committee headquarters during a demonstration against the war between Israel and Hamas on November 15, 2023. (Alex Wong/Getty Images)
“President Biden and his administration are seeking to brutally punish pro-life Americans,” Brian Birch, president of Catholic Vote, told FOX News Digital. “He has caused lasting damage to the trust and integrity of important parts of our government.”
“It’s one thing to have a different view on abortion. It’s quite another for the president of the United States to turn an independent law enforcement agency into a pro-abortion police force,” he added.
John Shue, a constitutional law expert who served in both the George H.W. , questioned why the Justice Department was not being “just as proactive.” .
“Pro-abortion groups and policies are so important to the Democratic Party that Democratic administrations, including the current one, will be expected to aggressively enforce the FACE Act, especially post-Dobbs,” Schuh said. told FOX News Digital in a statement.
The FACE Act provides that a person who uses force or threatens to use force to “harm, intimidate, or impede” a person seeking reproductive health services or lawfully attempting to obtain those services It is a federal crime, punishable by hefty fines and prison time. Exercising the First Amendment The right to religious freedom in places of religious worship. The FACE Act also prohibits intentional property damage to facilities that provide reproductive health services or places of religious worship.
Since the Supreme Court struck down Roe v. Wade in 2022, the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division has prosecuted dozens of FACE Act cases, with a notable increase in applications involving pro-life defendants. It has increased.
“At the same time, anyone who believes that the Department of Justice will similarly aggressively prosecute as violent criminals those who intentionally injure Capitol Police officers, Metropolitan Police Department officers, and other sworn law enforcement personnel.” There may be some. [protesters] We did that with last week’s violent protests at the DNC,” Shu continued.
Republicans bomb pro-Palestinian protests at DNC: ‘The nation’s capital is under siege’
Police barricade outside DNC headquarters as demonstrators demand an end to the Israel-Hamas war. (Fox News Digital)
“The U.S. Capitol Police specifically said it was not peaceful. [protesters] Police reportedly pepper-sprayed and punched people, blocked exits with trash cans and forced people, including Democratic lawmakers, inside. These are all serious crimes under the D.C. Crimes Act and U.S. law,” Hsu added.
Shu said Graves “should thoroughly investigate and prosecute these crimes, regardless of whether most, if not all, of the protesters are on the political left.”
“Otherwise, it would appear that we have different or unfair standards of justice based on politics, thereby exposing the office to criticism and possibly oversight hearings.” “There are real risks,” he added.
These laws include the D.C. Code, which makes “rioting or inciting a riot” a crime, punishable by a $25,000 fine and 10 years in prison if someone is injured. ing.
Violent pro-Palestinian protest erupts in front of DNC headquarters in Washington, D.C.; Capitol Police injured
Protesters block entrance to DNC headquarters in Washington, DC (Alex Wong/Getty Images)
U.S. Capitol Police (USCP) issued a statement following the “unlawful demonstration,” saying, “We have responded to hundreds of peaceful protests, but last night’s group was anything but peaceful.” Stated.
“The crowd did not comply with our legal orders to leave the DNC, where members of Congress were inside the building,” the statement said.
“As the group moved trash bins in front of the exits and officers sprayed pepper spray and attempted to lift the bike racks, our teams delivered immediate results, dragging people back from the building, pushing them back and Having cleared the area, we were able to safely evacuate our members and staff,” the statement continued.
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According to USCP, six officers were treated for injuries ranging from minor cuts to pepper spray and being punched, and one person was arrested.
Annabelle Rutledge of the Christian conservative activist group Concerned Women for America said the Justice Department’s “new normal” is an inability to identify “real threats.”
“Congratulations to the Department of Justice for protecting our country from prayerful grandmas who oppose the killing of unborn children,” she said.
Fox News Digital reached out to Graves’ office for comment, but did not receive a response in time for publication.
