(ZENIT News / Washington, 12.04.2024).- As federal courts hand down sentences to pro-life activists under the Biden administration, allegations of disproportionate enforcement of the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances (FACE) Act have intensified. Several activists remain in prison or await sentencing for peaceful demonstrations at abortion facilities, with the prospect of pardons from President-elect Donald Trump looming.
Escalating Prosecutions
The FACE Act, enacted in 1994, has been used by the Department of Justice (DOJ) to prosecute over 30 pro-life demonstrators in 2023 alone. Protests in Nashville, Mount Juliet (Tennessee), Washington, D.C., and Sterling Heights (Michigan) have led to federal charges against activists, many of whom are senior citizens.
Among those sentenced is Lauren Handy, 30, a leader in the Progressive Anti-Abortion Uprising, who received nearly five years in federal prison. Handy, undeterred by her sentence, vowed to continue her mission, stating that she would not let «fear or shame» prevent her from treating the unborn as equals.
Jonathan Darnel, who recorded a Washington, D.C., protest that temporarily shut down an abortion clinic, was sentenced to nearly three years for his role. Reflecting on the protest, Darnel said, «We hope that some of those children were saved.»
Elderly Activists Behind Bars
The case of Paulette Harlow, 75, underscores the DOJ’s aggressive stance. Footage from her demonstration shows peaceful prayer and hymn-singing, yet she now serves time for blocking clinic entrances. Similarly, 76-year-old Joan Bell, a mother and grandmother, was sentenced for her involvement, with her husband Chris offering their separation as spiritual reparations.
Jean Marshall, 74, also faces imprisonment despite widespread support from pro-life communities, many of whom see her as a symbol of sacrificial activism.
Historical Echoes and Persistent Disparities
Eva Ed, 89, a survivor of communist Yugoslavia’s concentration camps, was convicted for blocking a Michigan clinic entrance. Her case has drawn significant attention, as it highlights the stark contrast in enforcement: while over 100 attacks on pro-life pregnancy centers and churches remain unresolved, pro-life protesters face swift and severe legal action.
Attorney General Merrick Garland has attributed this disparity to the differing circumstances of the crimes, arguing that pro-life protests occur “in daylight,” making identification easier, while pro-abortion vandalism typically takes place “under cover of darkness.”
Trump’s Pledge
President-elect Trump has criticized the DOJ’s approach, describing it as driven by «Marxist and Stalinist ideologies.» He has pledged to pardon convicted activists, calling their protests acts of conscience rather than criminal behavior.
In a speech earlier this year, Trump referenced Harlow’s case and condemned what he sees as excessive sentencing: “Eleven years for peaceful prayer and protest? This isn’t justice.”
Republican Pushback
Republican lawmakers have voiced concerns about the DOJ’s priorities, urging transparency in its investigations into violence against pro-life institutions. Advocacy groups are also demanding answers about the perceived neglect of such cases, which they argue reflects systemic bias against the pro-life movement.
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