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Four Pro-Life Activists Face Prison After Convictions For Blocking Access To Abortion Clinic

by Karen Faulkner, Worthy News Correspondent

(Worthy News) – Four pro-life activists face a potential prison term and/or a fine after being convicted Tuesday of violating the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances (FACE) Act by blocking access to an abortion clinic in Tennessee in 2021.

Eva Edl, Eva Zastrow, James Zastrow, and Paul Place were found guilty of blocking access to the Carafem Health Center Clinic in Mt. Juliet, Tennessee on March 5, 2021. The prosecution was brought by the Department of Justice and the one day bench trial took place at the Fred Thompson federal courthouse in Nashville.

The defendants asserted during the trial that they had engaged in a peaceful protest against abortion, a practice they stated is contrary to their faith as Christians. They said they were at the clinic to peacefully pray and sing, and persuade women not to have abortions. A two-hour long video posted to Facebook showed a large group of protestors sitting and standing along a corridor inside the clinic, singing and reading from the Bible, and filming. The defendants were arrested after refusing to leave the clinic upon being ordered to do so by police.

The DOJ asserted the defendants were not prosecuted for their beliefs but for conduct which violated the FACE Act. Signed by President Bill Clinton in May 1994, the FACE Act prohibits “the use of physical force, threat of physical force, or physical obstruction to intentionally injure, intimidate, interfere with or attempt to injure, intimidate or interfere with any person who is obtaining an abortion.” The Act does not prohibit distributing literature, carrying signs, shouting, singing hymns or Counseling.

The defendants will be sentenced on July 30. FACE carries prison terms of up to six months in prison and up to up to $10,000 in fines for a first offense. Those with prior convictions face the possibility of longer prison terms and fines.