On January 23, President Trump pardoned 23 peaceful pro-life activists who were wrongfully targeted and imprisoned.
After all they’ve been through, it’s impossible to fathom or articulate what it might have been like to hear the news, to walk out of prison and into the arms of loved ones, and to sleep in their own bed without shackles for the first time in several years.
Here Are Some of Those Who Were Released
Joan Bell
Joan learned she’d been pardoned through the news, but she thought it would be at least a few days, or perhaps weeks before she was released. But, while her friends inside prison were still clapping and congratulating her, a guard told her to pack up her things. She’d already spent her last night in prison.
“We are so grateful to Trump. And to just feel the fresh air, God’s beautiful air, just wonderful. Just being out and being with my husband, my son, just glorious. There are no words to describe that kind of freedom.”
Seventy-six-year-old Bell stayed up all night so she could go to her 52nd annual March for Life in Washington D.C. During the march, she did an interview with LifeSiteNews.
When asked about her experience in prison, Bell said, “It’s a beautiful grounds for evangelization and just to love others and to try to serve God by loving each other.”
To fellow pro-life advocates and Christians, Joan has the following request: “We need to pray, pray. Pray at the abortion mill. Take the Blessed Sacrament there. If the bishop doesn’t allow, then go to communion and bring him in our hearts and go there. But be where the killing is.”
Bevelyn Beatty Williams
Bevelyn Beatty Williams posted a video of her release on Facebook. She held her daughter close to her face, speaking softly. The video ended with her husband giving thanks, “Thank you, Jesus! The Lord is good!”
Lauren Handy
The day of her release, Lauren Handy’s organization, Progressive Anti-Abortion Uprising (PAAU) posted the following message from Lauren on the PAAU Facebook page.
On January 31, Lauren posted a brief video where she stated, “I’ve been given a very special privilege and opportunity… so I can go back to full-time cyber counseling and more advocacy work.”
Herb Geraghty
Upon release, Geraghty shared, “I’ll be celebrating with friends and loved ones this weekend, but the world doesn’t stop toward seeking justice for the unborn and liberation for us all from this culture of death and exploitation.”
John Hinshaw
John Hinshaw said he spent his time in prison ministering to other men through a Bible study group that he established and led with fellow pro-life inmate Will Goodman. As he reflected on his faith while he was in prison, Hinshaw said, “It was surprising to me how close God became to me and how concrete were His actions. In so many small, daily ways, He made His Presence felt.”
Upon release, he said he is most looking forward to sitting with his “wonderful, courageous wife, whom I have loved since I first met her in 1979.” He was also anxious to meet two grandchildren born while he was in prison, drinking “real coffee.”
Paul Vaughn
During an interview, Paul Vaughn said, “I was on a panel with Thomas Moore doing a life and law conference there in D.C., and during the panel, we got notification that he had just signed the pardon for the pro-lifers. This is the day before the march. And so, we were rejoicing, obviously, and very excited and very thankful that we have a president that, you know, keeps his word and follows through with what he says he would do.”
When asked about the impact this experience has had on his spiritual life, Vaughn explained that early in the journey, a pastor told him that, “This is going to be the best thing that ever happened to your life and the worst thing that ever happened your life. There’s no two ways about it. You will grow spiritually.”
Vaughn went on to explain, “And he was absolutely right. Our family has grown, our faith has grown. I can’t imagine my life today without having gone through this with the strength and the growth and the maturity it’s brought to our walk with God. It’s an amazing thing and it’s even hard to explain without having gone through it. But I hope that if anything comes out of this, that it will encourage others in their faith and to trust God to be courageous and just to know that we’re not battling flesh and blood. There’s a spiritual battle in all this, and we’re getting to be part of it.”
In a January 30th interview with NewsMax, Vaughn shared additional comments about his gratitude for his pardon.
“We normally talk about the President’s first hundred days in office, but I’ll take the first hundred hours that we’ve had from President Trump. It’s refreshing to see someone doing the work of the executive and standing up, being a strong leader and looking at justice and recognizing where things have gone astray and trying to make them right.”
When asked if the experience over the last few years has “dulled your passion, dulled your passion to protect the unborn,” Vaughn spoke for himself and the rest of the pro-life community: “Not at all. Of course, they came in with the big heavy-handed raid to intimidate us. And not just us, but people across America, pro-lifers that go out and try to minister to people. And I think it’s had the exact opposite effect. We’re like, okay, well the game is on now. This is what it is to be a Christian and to be pro-life, then we’re willing to take it. We’re willing to take it on the chin. I really think it’s emboldened and encouraged the church in America. And I’m excited about that aspect of it and I pray it pays many returns.”
Trump Administration’s Pro-Life Promises
The day after the pardons, Vice President JD Vance made an in-person appearance at the annual March for Life.
Vance promised that, “No longer will the federal government direct FBI raids on the homes of people like Mark Hauck and other Catholic and Christian activists who are fighting for the unborn every single day. And no longer will our government throw pro-life protesters and activists, elderly grandparents or anybody else in prison.”
Later, President Trump encouraged the marchers by video. He began his comments by declaring he was “proud to be the first president ever to have joined you in person.” To the people he pardoned the day before, he promised that “a reformed Department of Justice will finally investigate the radical left attacks on churches and crisis pregnancy centers. And we will bring perpetrators to justice. We will get them to justice one way or the other. … I will also end the weaponization of law enforcement against Americans of faith. … Never again will religious persecution be allowed to happen in America.”
Trump ended his brief speech with gratitude for those marching in the bitter January cold:
“To all of the very special people marching today in this bitter cold. I know your hearts are warm and your spirits are strong because your mission is just very, very pure. To forge a society that welcomes and protects every child as a beautiful gift from the hand of our Creator. Thank you for never losing hope and never giving up. Thank you for your tremendous support. God bless you, and God bless America.”
The Future of Pro-Life America
What’s next for the pardoned activists and the rest of pro-life America? There is more to the story. Many of the activists commented on the toll the last few years have taken on them and their loved ones. We can only assume that much healing work remains, but we know God is faithful.
You can encourage them by lifting up the cause for which they sacrificed so much.
