The Biden administration has indicted at least 37 individuals on charges under the Freedom of Access to Clinics (FACE) Act. In just over three years, the Biden Department of Justice (DOJ) has accounted for more than a quarter of all FACE Act charges in the law’s 30-year history. Notably, this includes the frequent use of a novel sentence enhancement, signaling a weaponization in the application of this law under the current administration.
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The FACE Act itself is a prime example of federal overreach and an infringement on First Amendment rights. While the federal law applies both to conduct committed at abortion clinics and at pro-life facilities like pregnancy centers, enforcement has historically shown a focus on protecting access to abortion services. Thus, it has morphed into a tool for the selective persecution of pro-life advocates.
President-elect Donald Trump has a golden opportunity to correct this imbalance. In addition to his commendable promise to address the injustices faced by those involved in the January 6 protests, whom he rightly calls political prisoners, he should extend this mercy to these pro-life activists. Pardoning the twelve individuals currently imprisoned under the FACE Act would not only right a wrong but also send a strong message against the misuse of power by the Biden DOJ.
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The repeal of the FACE Act is equally imperative. This law has no place in a society that values free speech, assembly, and the right to protest without fear of reprisal. It’s an outdated piece of legislation that no longer serves its intended purpose in a post-Roe v. Wade America, where states are reclaiming their authority over abortion laws. Its repeal would restore balance, ensuring that the application of the law does not target peaceful and religious activists.
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Trump’s commitment to pardoning both the January 6 defendants and these pro-life activists would be a testament to his dedication to rectifying the egregious oversteps of the current administration’s DOJ. It would be a bold step towards healing the nation’s deep political wounds, affirming that in America, justice should not be a partisan tool but a beacon of equity and freedom. It’s time to dismantle the FACE Act, release those imprisoned for their beliefs, and restore faith in our legal system.
These 12 pro-life individuals are sitting in prison for peacefully standing against abortion. They have been targeted but the Biden DOJ and have been unjustly prosecuted for signing and praying outside abortion clinics.
We demand @realDonaldTrump pardon these individuals day one… pic.twitter.com/1xfHPJZSxh— Survivors (@TheSurvivors_US) December 9, 2024
Here are the 12 pro-life activists currently imprisoned under the FACE Act:
- Bevelyn Williams – Age 35; Sentence: 41 months
- Jean Marshall – Age 74; Sentence: 24 months
- Heather Idoni – Age 59; Sentence: 24 months
- Lauren Handy – Age 30; Sentence: 57 months
- Jonathan Darnel – Age 34; Sentence: 34 months
- William Goodman – Age 54; Sentence: 27 months
- John Hinshaw – Age 69; Sentence: 21 months
- Joan Bell – Age 76; Sentence: 27 months
- Herb Geraghty – Age 27; Sentence: 27 months
- Calvin Zastrow – Age 74; Sentence: 6 months
- Steven Lefemine – Age 68; Sentence: 60 days
- Paulette Harlow – Age 75; Sentence: 24 months
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