The Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances Act (FACE) was passed by President Clinton in 1994 following violent protests at reproductive health facilities. The FACE Act “prohibits violent, threatening, damaging, and obstructive conduct intended to injure, intimidate, or interfere with the right to seek, obtain or provide reproductive health services.”
The law further states that it applies equally to “referral services relating to the human reproductive system (including services relating to pregnancy or the termination of a pregnancy).” The penalties for a first offense include not more than one year of imprisonment. Subsequent offenses can result in imprisonment up to three years.
Each of the protests listed below were managed as a “rescue,” which is a non-violent attempt to save as many preborn babies as possible by sharing the gospel, assuring mothers that they have other options, and offering the support they need. The rescues are listed in date order.
Bevelyn Beatty Williams
06.20.2020 | New York, NY | Planned Parenthood
Bevelyn Beatty Williams had her first abortion at the age of 15. She dropped out of school and went on to suffer from drug addiction. She had two more abortions and was arrested for money laundering.
But a miracle happened, and Beverly met Jesus. She then founded At the Well Ministries (atwellministries.org), where the mission is to share Jesus one city at a time. In addition to running the ministry, she is married and the mother of a toddler.
In June 2020, she protested at a Planned Parenthood in New York. She blocked the entrance to the clinic, and some reports say she verbally threatened staff and was involved in an incident where a woman’s hand got caught in a door. For this, she was judged guilty of FACE Act violations.
In July 2024, she was sentenced to 40 months in federal prison followed by 24 months supervised release. Even if the threats and unintentional injury are true, many argue that the punishment does not fit the crime or the threat she supposedly presents to society.
Personhood Tennessee
08.27.2020 | Sterling Heights MI | Northland Family Planning Clinic
Participants convicted in August 2024:
- Joel Curry
- Caroline Davis
- Eva Edl
- Chester Gallagher
- Heather Idoni
- Justin Phillips
- Calvin Zastrow
- Eva Zastrow
On August 27, 2020, members of Personhood Tennessee gathered at Northland Family Planning Clinic in Sterling Heights, MI. The sit-in was part of a revival.
In August 2024, all eight were convicted of conspiracy against rights and FACE Act violations. All eight await sentencing at a date yet to be determined.
Progressive Anti-Abortion Uprising (PAAU)
10.22.2020 | Washington DC Surgi-Clinic
Participants sentenced in May 2024:
- Joan Bell
- Jonathan Darnel
- Herb Geraghty
- William Goodman
- Lauren Handy
- Paulette Harlow
- John Hinshaw
- Heather Idoni
- Jean Marshall
- Jay Smith
In 2013, Live Action recorded the operator of the Washington Surgi-Clinic, Dr. Cesare Santangelo, saying that he would allow an abortion survivor to die. And indeed, not long after, evidence was discovered that he not only allowed them to die, but he actively killed viable babies.
CNN reported that “police officers were called to investigate a tip regarding bio-hazard material” being kept in an apartment on Capitol Hill. But the truth is that when the garbage service for Surgi-Clinic discovered their pick-up included 115 bodies of aborted babies, they called PAAU in hopes the babies could at least get a proper burial. Lauren Handy took the “trash” home, and after discovering the extent of the carnage, she called the authorities and asked them to come to her apartment.
Five of the babies were larger and more developed than the rest. One had evidence of a partial birth abortion.
Public outcry was reinforced by expert opinion regarding the possibility of illegal activity and supported by congressional demands for investigation. Partial birth abortions were illegal in Washington DC at the time, so the pro-life advocates demanded autopsies to confirm how the babies died, but the Department of Justice ordered the evidence destroyed. There was no investigation, and the Washington Surgi-Care remains in business today.
Handy and her team at PAAU organized a protest to stop the massacre and seek justice for the children who became known as “DC5.” The protest was streamed live on Facebook. During the introduction, Jonathan Darnel explained the police will likely move in quickly to make arrests, but “We’re going to go down with the ship, most of us will, because these kids are worth it.” He explained their intent is to “get serious” about spreading the pro-life message to save babies’ lives, and that “these kids are worth it.”
In the first few minutes of the livestream, the team witnessed a man dropping off a young woman at the curb, screaming at her and calling her a whore. The woman saw the team’s pictures of aborted babies and ran down the street yelling, “I’m not a whore!” Later, Jonathan reported that the team was able to minister and pray with her. As we know, most women get an abortion because they are pressured by circumstances or other people.
Four people sat in the entrance of the clinic singing hymns and offering words of love and encouragement to officers and patients. The Department of Justice asked the court to sentence all “co-conspirators” to six years in federal prison for acts of violence with the intent to intimidate, interfere, and injure others and for their coordinated conspiracy to violate civil rights.
Here is a little more about the four people, some of whom are wheelchair bound and now sleep with shackles around their ankles. Ages are at the time of their sentencing:
Paulette Harlow, age 75
During the sit-in, Paulette Harlow called to patients to tell them that both she and Jesus loves them and their baby. Paulette assured patients that she understood they felt they had no other choice, but she promised PAAU would help in any way possible, even to adopt the babies themselves.
When Paulette was sentenced, the judge agreed to consider her significant health issues before sentencing because the health care at the Bureau of Prisons is “not the same” level or quality, admitting that the health care is not as good or intended to manage the needs of aging inmates. Paulette’s health issues include diabetes, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, spinal stenosis, severe arthritis in her neck, sleep apnea, bronchial asthma, fibromyalgia, neuropathy in both of her feet, migraine headaches, arthritis in her right hip, psoriasis in her left hip, and tinnitus in her left ear, which causes short-term memory loss.
Paulette was told to wait under house arrest until a spot opened in a medical prison equipped to care for inmates with more involved medical needs. During house arrest, she could not leave for church or anything else other than doctors’ appointments, but none of that time counted towards her sentence. She was scheduled to report to the Federal Medical Center in Fort Worth on September 24, 2024, but a stroke delayed her arrival until November 22, 2024.
Joan Andrews Bell, age 76
Joan Andrews Bell spent her time during the protest sitting in a chair either praying or singing hymns. During her hearing, she chose to represent herself in honor of the innocent babies she swore to protect who also had no representation. However, she couldn’t even deliver her opening or closing statements because the court censored her.
She wanted to tell the jury that her human “spiritual mentors” are Gandi and Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. She has been opposing all forms of acts against life since the 1960s, including protesting against wars, the death penalty, and attacks on police. She opposed “any group that would not cease or that promoted violence, verbal or otherwise.”
She also described PAAU’s “absolute standard” to never touch anyone, even in defense. Any group member under attack was instructed to “lay down to protect yourself.” A group member wanting to help another under attack could “place your body over the other to take the blows for him or her. This is an absolute standard. Nothing else is tolerated.”
“Jesus Christ is the ultimate standard: lay down your life for others.”
—Joan Andrews Bell, 2024
The court convicted Bell of crimes of violence and the judge sentenced her to two years and three months in federal prison. She shared her response to the sentence in an interview:
“The rougher it gets for us the more we can rejoice that we are succeeding; no longer are we being treated so much as the privileged born, but as the discriminated against conceived child… We do not expect justice in the courts. Furthermore, we do not seek it for ourselves when it is being denied [to] our beloved brothers and sisters. … God’s timing is perfect. I may not see any fruits of these simple prayers and acts, but the Lord of all will do what is best. Please pray and do what God wants you to do.”
Heather Idoni, age 59
Heather Idoni stood in the hallway or walked around outside during the protest. In April, she was sentenced as a violent co-conspirator like the rest and had a stroke in prison. She has also had frightening issues as prison staff neglected life-saving diabetes treatment. She has also reported instances where her pleas for scheduled insulin treatments are either ignored or neglected. But they don’t forget to check the locks on her shackles before bed.
“But glory to God! His mercies are new every morning,” she told Catholic News Agency.
Jean Marshall, age 74
Jean Marshall spent her time sitting in the entrance praying and singing. She has osteoporosis, acute hip pain, and gastroesophageal reflux disease. Jean presented signed medical documentation as proof of an upcoming medically necessary hip replacement, but instead of putting her under house arrest, Jean was taken back to prison.
Debilitating, untreated hip pain prevents her from following doctor’s orders to treat the osteoporosis through regular walks. Her hip also makes her a severe fall risk, but the officers only check on her every half hour.
Personhood Tennessee
03.05.2021 | Mt Juliet, TN | Carafem Health Center
Participants sentenced in the spring of 2024:
- Coleman Boyd
- Eva Edl
- Chester Gallagher
- Dennis Green
- Heather Idoni
- Paul Place
- Paul Vaugn
- Calvin Zastrow
- Eva Zastrow
- James Zastrow
On March 5, 2021, a group of rescuers from Personhood, TN gathered at Carefem Health Center (an abortion clinic) in Mt. Juliet to save babies from death by dismemberment. The group included an emergency room doctor, an 89-year-old death camp survivor, a police officer, a ministry director, and a pastor.
After one hour and 46 minutes of prayer, hymns, and scripture, the pastor advised the group that the police were outside and would be in to arrest them soon. He told them this was their chance to leave now, but for those who stayed, he offered advice on how to sit to minimize discomfort during the handcuffed drive downtown. Their entire ordeal can be found online, including the arrests.
After watching the livestream, the Department of Justice asked the court to hand down sentences of up to 10.5 years and $260,000 in fines.
Summary: Pro-life Prisoners at-a-Glance
The following is a chart with the rescuers listed alphabetically by name along with the date and city of the rescue, the crimes they were convicted of, and the sentences they received.
With eight sentences still pending, the DOJ has sentenced 23 people to 291 months (24.25 years) in federal prison, and 738 months (61.5 years) of sentencing outside of prison, including 30 months house arrest, 516 months of supervised release, and 192 months of probation for participation in one, two, or three non-violent, no-contact protests.
| Name | Rescue Date and City | Crime | Sentence |
| Joan Bell, age 76 | 10.22.2020 | Washington DC | Civil Rights Conspiracy FACE Act violation | 27 months in Federal prison 36 months supervised release |
| Coleman Boyd, age 51 | 03.05.2021 | Mount Juliet, Tennessee | Civil Rights Conspiracy FACE Act violation | 60 months’ probation 6 months house arrest $10,000 fine + travel restrictions |
| Joel Curry, age 41 | 08.27.2020 | Sterling Heights, MI | Civil Rights Conspiracy FACE Act violation | Pending |
| Jonathan Darnel, age 42 | 10.22.2020 | Washington DC | Civil Rights Conspiracy FACE Act violation | 34 months in Federal prison 36 months supervised release |
| Caroline Davis, age 56 | 08.27.2020 | Sterling Heights, MI | Civil Rights Conspiracy FACE Act violation | Pending |
| Eva Edl, age 89 | 08.27.2020 | Sterling Heights, MI | Civil Rights Conspiracy FACE Act violation | Pending |
| 03.05.2021 | Mount Juliet, Tennessee | FACE Act violation | 36 months’ probation | |
| Chester Gallagher, 74 | 08.27.2020 | Sterling Heights, MI | Civil Rights Conspiracy FACE Act violation | Pending |
| 03.05.2021 | Mount Juliet, Tennessee | Civil Rights Conspiracy FACE Act violation | 16 months in Federal prison 36 months supervised release | |
| Herb Geraghty, age 27 | 10.22.2020 | Washington DC | Civil Rights Conspiracy FACE Act violation | 27 months in Federal prison, 36 months supervised release |
| William Goodman, age 54 | 10.22.2020 | Washington DC | Civil Rights Conspiracy FACE Act violation | 27 months in Federal prison 36 months supervised release |
| Dennis Green, age 67 | 03.05.2021 | Mount Juliet, Tennessee | Civil Rights Conspiracy FACE Act violation | 6 months house arrest 36 months supervised release |
| Lauren Handy, age 30 | 10.22.2020 | Washington DC | Civil Rights Conspiracy FACE Act violation | 57 months in Federal prison 36 months supervised release |
| Paulette Harlow, age 75 | 10.22.2020 | Washington DC | Civil Rights Conspiracy FACE Act violation | 24 months in Federal prison |
| John Hinshaw, age 69 | 10.22.2020 | Washington DC | Civil Rights Conspiracy FACE Act violation | 21 months in Federal prison 36 months supervised release |
| Heather Idoni, age 59 | 08.27.2020 | Sterling Heights, MI | Civil Rights Conspiracy FACE Act violation | Pending |
| 10.22.2020 | Washington DC | Civil Rights Conspiracy FACE Act violation | 24 months in Federal prison 36 months supervised release | |
| 03.05.2021 | Mount Juliet, Tennessee | Civil Rights Conspiracy FACE Act violation | 8 months supervised release | |
| Jean Marshall, age 74 | 10.22.2020 | Washington DC | Civil Rights Conspiracy FACE Act violation | 24 months in Federal prison 36 months supervised release |
| Justin Phillips, age 42 | 08.27.2020 | Sterling Heights, MI | Civil Rights Conspiracy FACE Act violation | Pending |
| Paul Place, age 63 | 03.05.2021 | Mount Juliet, Tennessee | FACE Act violations | 3 months house arrest 36 months supervised release |
| Jay Smith, age 34 | 10.22.2020 | Washington DC | FACE Act violation (pled guilty) | 10 months in Federal prison 36 months supervised release $100 special assessment |
| Paul Vaughn, age 56 | 03.05.2021 | Mount Juliet, Tennessee | Civil Rights Conspiracy FACE Act violation | 6 months house arrest 36 months’ probation |
| Bevelyn Beatty Williams, age 33 | 06.20.2020 | New York, NY | FACE Act violations | 41 months in Federal prison 24 months supervised release |
| Calvin Zastrow, age 61 | 08.27.2020 | Sterling Heights, MI | Civil Rights Conspiracy FACE Act violation | Pending |
| 03.05.2021 | Mount Juliet, Tennessee | Civil Rights Conspiracy FACE Act violation | 6 months prison 6 months house arrest 36 months’ probation | |
| Eva Zastrow, age 24 | 08.27.2020 | Sterling Heights, MI | Civil Rights Conspiracy FACE Act violation | Pending |
| 03.05.2021 | Mount Juliet, Tennessee | FACE Act violations | 3 months house arrest 36 months supervised release | |
| James Zastrow, age 73 | 03.05.2021 | Mount Juliet, Tennessee | FACE Act violations | 3 months house arrest 36 months supervised release |
Conclusion
FAQs
What is the FACE Act about?
The FACE Act, or the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances Act, was passed in 1994 to prohibit violent, threatening, damaging, and obstructive conduct intended to interfere with reproductive health services, including abortion providers and Pregnancy Clinics equally.
What is a pro-life rescue?
Joan Andrews Bell was one of the first to conduct a rescue, which is a non-violent protest to save as many babies from abortion as possible by blocking the entrance and ministering to the mothers.
Do any of the 2024 pro-life prisoners have a prior violent criminal record?
No, the rescuers include ministry leaders, a small business owner, an emergency room doctor, a police officer, a death camp survivor, and elderly retirees. None of them had been arrested for FACE Act violations before either.
What is the allowable sentence for a FACE Act violation?
The first offense is punishable up to one year in prison. Subsequent violations are punishable for up to three years.
Is PreBorn! involved in pro-life activism?
PreBorn! exists to support a network of pro-life Pregnancy Clinics that provide ultrasounds and other support to expectant mothers, such as resources, prayer, sharing the gospel, and healing for post-abortion moms. We are not involved in activism or politics; however, we strive to report relevant and timely information, news, activity, and resources to help save babies and save souls.
Conclusion
The use of the FACE Act in 2024 has led to significant legal consequences for many non-violent pro-life demonstrators. We hope their stories have helped you understand what is at stake and that you appreciate their passion and sacrifice to save preborn babies. We hope you will join all of us in the pro-life movement, whether through prayer, donations, or getting involved directly.
