Biden's DOJ charges 11 pro-life activists for blocking Tennessee abortion clinic, some face hefty prison sentences



The Department of Justice charged 11 pro-life activists with violations of the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances Act for allegedly blocking access to a Tennessee abortion clinic 19 months ago. Some of the pro-life activists face hefty prison sentences for the demonstration.

On March 5, 2021, pro-life activists staged a protest inside the Carafem abortion clinic in Mount Juliet, Tennessee. A 29-minute video shows the pro-life protesters lining the walls of the abortion clinic as they sang and prayed. A woman in a wheelchair and two men sat in front of a door.

Mount Juliet Police Department officers asked the protesters to leave the clinic and welcomed them to continue the demonstration outside the building. After a brief negotiation with a pastor who spoke for the pro-life group, police gave the protesters five minutes to vacate the premises. Some of the protesters left, but a handful did not.

Live Action – a pro-life news site – reported, "Several participants were arrested by local police that day and were later released after posting bail for misdemeanor trespass charges."

On Wednesday, the DOJ charged 11 people for violating the FACE Act. Seven people were charged with “conspiracy against rights secured by the FACE Act, and committing FACE Act violations,” which is punishable by up to 11 years in prison and $250,000 in fines. Five protesters face up to a year in prison and fines of up to $10,000.

Chester Gallagher, Heather Idoni, Calvin Zastrow, Coleman Boyd, Caroline Davis, Paul Vaughn, Dennis Green, Eva Edl, Eva Zastrow, James Zastrow, and Paul Place were indicted on federal offenses related to the FACE Act. Gallagher, Idoni, Zastrow, Boyd, Davis, Vaughn, and Green were charged with conspiracy against rights secured by the FACE Act.

The ages of the defendants range from 24 to 87.

The DOJ accused Gallagher of using social media to "promote a series of anti-abortion events scheduled for March 4-7, 2021, in the Nashville area," including the "rescue" at the Carafem Health Center Clinic.

Boyd is accused of livestreaming the pro-life protest on Facebook.

The DOJ claimed that the protesters "prevented a patient and an employee from entering."

The DOJ alleged, "The livestream also broadcast members of the group attempting to engage a patient and her companion as Boyd told his livestream audience that the patient was a 'mom coming to kill her baby.'"

The Department of Justice press release stated, "The indictment further alleges that on March 5, 2021, the 11 individuals, aided and abetted by one another, used force and physical obstruction to injure, intimidate, and interfere with employees of the clinic and a patient who was seeking reproductive health services."

The case was investigated by the FBI and is being prosecuted by the civil rights coordinator of the U.S. attorney's office and trial attorneys of the department's Civil Rights Division.

Live Action reported that neighbors of Gallagher claimed that the "FBI arrived with guns drawn and entered the Gallagher home." However, Gallagher was reportedly out of the state when the FBI raid happened.

Pro-life activist AJ Hurley told Live Action that Gallagher "happened to be in South Carolina, but the neighbors reported and then [the FBI] ended up coming to talk to the neighbors to get his cellphone number, to find out where he was."

Hurley added, "He was in South Carolina, immediately offered to turn himself into the U.S. Marshals’ office, which they said he could turn himself in tomorrow, so he’ll be turning himself in tomorrow morning."

Hurley noted that other individuals facing charges were "called by the FBI telling them they had arrest warrants and had to turn themselves in."

The Carafem clinic no longer performs abortions at the site because Tennessee’s Human Life Protection Act banned abortions in the state on Aug. 25, 2022, after the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade.

Last month, up to 30 FBI agents with guns allegedly drawn raided the home of a pro-life activist for reportedly pushing a man to the ground outside an abortion clinic in Pennsylvania nearly a year ago. The pro-abortion man allegedly harassed the Christian man's young son.

As of Sept. 22, there have been 98 pro-abortion incidents of threats, vulgar graffiti, property damage, theft, and arson targeting Catholic churches, pro-life pregnancy centers, maternity homes, and other pro-life organizations since early May, according to the Catholic News Agency.

Radical pro-abortion group Jane's Revenge has made numerous threats of violence toward pro-life organizations and has claimed responsibility for at least 16 acts of vandalism or arson that have targeted pro-life groups. Jane's Revenge said the group was behind the Molotov cocktail attack on Wisconsin Family Action – a pro-life group headquartered in Madison, Wisconsin.

On Wednesday, Washington Free Beacon investigative journalist Chuck Ross commented on the Tennessee case, "DOJ with another likely bogus case under the FACE Act against people protesting at an abortion clinic. Meanwhile, no charges under the FACE Act (or any other Act) for the people who have firebombed crisis pregnancy centers."

Twitter finally suspends 'Ruth Sent Us' after group posted home addresses of Supreme Court justices



A pro-abortion rights group that encouraged far-left activists to protest outside the homes of several U.S. Supreme Court justices has been suspended on Twitter.

The group, Ruth Sent Us, published the home addresses of the six Republican-appointed Supreme court justices in May after a leaked draft majority opinion indicated the court would soon overturn its landmark Roe v. Wade abortion decision.

"Our 6-3 extremist Supreme Court routinely issues rulings that hurt women, racial minorities, LGBTQ+ and immigrant rights," the group's website declared at the time. "We must rise up to force accountability using a diversity of tactics."

Since then, leftist groups have conducted numerous protests targeting the homes of Justices John Roberts, Clarence Thomas, Samuel Alito, Neil Gorsuch, Brett Kavanaugh, and Amy Coney Barrett.

Ruth Sent Us has organized and encouraged the protests, posting the daily schedules of justices and even the addresses of schools attended by Barrett's and Kavanaugh's children.

"If you’re in the DC metro area, join us. Our protests at Barrett’s home moved the needle to this coverage," Ruth Sent Us said in a June tweet that has since been deleted.

"Falls Church is a People of Praise stronghold. She sends her seven kids to a People of Praise school that she sat on the Board of Directors for. She attends church DAILY," the tweet said.

The group's activities appeared to clearly violate Twitter rules against posting "private information" on its platform.

"You may not publish or post other people's private information (such as home phone number and address) without their express authorization and permission. We also prohibit threatening to expose private information or incentivizing others to do so," the rules state.

On Thursday, the account owned by Ruth Sent Us was finally suspended.

\u201cThe group @RuthSentUs that posted a map with addresses of Supreme Court Justices got suspended by Twitter again:\u201d
— Jeryl Bier (@Jeryl Bier) 1657812885

Ruth Sent Us had also been temporarily banned on TikTok in May but has since had its account reinstated, Fox News reports.

Anything Else?

Leftist outrage over the Supreme Court's decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization, which returned the abortion issue to the states, has spawned violent threats against the court's justices and pro-life groups nationwide.

A terrorist group called Jane's Revenge has claimed credit for crimes of firebombing, vandalism, and arson targeting crisis pregnancy centers and a congressional office.

In June, a man was indicted after he went to Justice Brett Kavanaugh's home with the intention to kill him for voting to overturn Roe.

Conservatives have criticized Twitter for inconsistent enforcement of its policies against speech that purportedly incites violence. Former President Donald Trump was permanently banned from the platform for claiming that the 2020 presidential election was illegitimate, which Twitter said posed a risk of "further incitement of violence" after the riot at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021.

But claims that crisis pregnancy centers are "fake clinics" that harm women, which arguably incite crimes against those groups, abound on Twitter.

Antifa group sends threatening message to North Carolina police ahead of 4th of July: 'This is your first and ONLY formal warning'



A police department in Asheville, North Carolina said they received a threatening message from an Antifa group on Sunday regarding upcoming protests.

In a Facebook post, the Asheville Police Department said they received a "concerning email" from Antifa that threatened "further action" if certain demands are not met.

The email was addressed to the chief of police and contained the subject line, "Greetings from ANTIFA."

"We are tired of your lack of protection for the innocent civilians who are peacefully protesting," the email states. The Antifa group accuses the police department of failing to respond to "immediate threats to the safety, security, and well being" of protesters in the city.

Asheville, a Democratic stronghold in North Carolina, is well-known as a hub for left-wing activists and political causes. In recent weeks, demonstrators have gathered to protest the U.S. Supreme Court's recent decisions on gun rights, abortion, and the limits of President Joe Biden's power to issue climate regulations.

Antifa claims there has been "a lack of safety and security" at these protests and that "citizens have had to protect and deputize themselves."

"If Asheville Police Department does not ensure the safety of the protesters, then we, ANTIFA, will, at all costs," the email states. "The ball is in your court. Here is your chance to show the city that you are the heroes you claim to be. If you fail to meet our demands, then we, ANTIFA, will continue our own ways and methods to keep the good people of this city safe.

"We will no longer put up with your oppression in ANY FORM. Due to your lack of safety and support, you have forced us to do your jobs for you. We will NOT allow you to tell us what we are doing is wrong," the email continues.

"If you continue to fail to protect protesters, we will continue to successfully do so. If you continue to harass us for doing so, you will be met with further action. This is your first and ONLY formal warning."

Asheville police Chief David Zack released a statement regarding the email.

“While Asheville prides itself on protecting free speech rights as well as people and property, the email received today runs counter to that spirit," Zack said Sunday.

"Tomorrow, as we celebrate our nation’s birthday, there may be more demonstrations. As we continue to protect the public, we are asking for help from community members, demonstrators, and elected officials: if you see or hear any evidence of someone who is intent on committing violence, destroying property, or breaking any state laws or city ordinances, please report that information to the police."

Asheville police said they are working to authenticate the email.

"The Asheville Police Department’s role in any demonstration is to make sure that the first amendment rights of demonstrators are protected and that laws are followed," the police department said. "We have done that in the past and will continue to do so in future demonstrations."

Maxine Waters vows to 'defy' Supreme Court after Roe v. Wade is overturned



U.S. Congresswoman Maxine Waters (D-Calif.) joined an abortion-rights protest outside the U.S. Supreme Court building Friday, where she said that women will "defy" the court after it overturned its landmark Roe v. Wade decision.

"You see this turnout here? You ain't seen nothing yet," Waters told Reuters journalists who were livestreaming from the protest. "Women are going to control their bodies no matter how they try and stop us."

"The hell with the Supreme Court! We will defy them!" she declared.

"Women will be in control of their bodies, and if they think black women are intimidated or afraid, they got another thought coming. Black women will be out in droves! We will be out by the thousands! We will be out by the millions! We're going to make sure we fight for the right to control our own bodies!"

\u201cMaxine Waters and Al Green among members of Congress who've shown up outside the Supreme Court to denounce the end of Roe. "Women are going to control their bodies, no matter how they try and stop us," Waters says. "The hell with the Supreme Court, we will defy them."\u201d
— Alejandro Alvarez (@Alejandro Alvarez) 1656081831

In a historic 6-3 ruling, the Supreme Court overturned its previous decisions in Roe and Planned Parenthood v. Casey, ending all federal protections for abortion.

"The Constitution does not confer a right to abortion; Roe and Casey are overruled; and the authority to regulate abortion is returned to the people and their elected representatives," Justice Samuel Alito wrote for the majority.

The consequence of this decision is that all 50 states will individually decide how to regulate abortions. In pro-life states under Republican leadership, abortion is likely to be heavily restricted or outright banned. Indeed, thirteen GOP-led states have so-called trigger laws banning all or most abortions, which can now go into effect. Missouri was the first state to do so Friday.

Democrat-led states, like Waters' home state of California, are more than likely to take the reverse course of action and dramatically expand abortion access. In May, after a draft version of Alito's opinion was leaked to the media, California and New York advanced legislation to expand abortion access and even fund abortions with taxpayer dollars.

Waters vowed that Democrats would take more steps to protect abortion after the court's ruling.

"We're going to take every effort and try everything we can to overcome what they have done to us today," she said.

Earlier at the protest, she said the left would rally women to turn out in the upcoming midterm elections and promised legislation would be forthcoming to protect abortion rights.

"We're not intimidated. We're going to fight. We're not going backwards, we're going forward. I don't care what that vote is today, they cannot stop us. We're going to control our lives," Waters said.

"We're going to do everything that we can possibly do. We gonna continue to organize. We're going to turn out a huge vote of women. We're going to see if we can get something on the ballot real soon."

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CNN warns of 'far right' violence after Roe v. Wade leak



CNN reported on Friday that the leak of the Supreme Court draft opinion indicating the court will soon overturn its 1973 Roe v. Wade decision could lead to right-wing political violence.

Despite left-wing groups calling for protests at the home addresses of Supreme Court justices and a pro-choice protest in Los Angeles turning violent this week, CNN's "New Day" reported that police are "bracing for potential violence" as "far-right groups" are planning demonstrations in the coming days and weeks.

"CNN has learned that the U.S. Capitol police are bracing for large demonstrations that are being organized by far-right groups to protest abortion rights," guest host Alex Marquardt said Friday, before turning to law enforcement correspondent Whitney Wild, broadcasting live from the U.S. Supreme Court building.

The recently installed non-scalable fencing outside the court building was visible as Wild reported that "several members of law enforcement" have expressed concerns that "people who are committed to committing acts of violent extremism could use the Roe v. Wade opinion as justification for that."

"And that could include the possibility that someone would commit an act of violence against abortion providers, against the clinics, against members of the judiciary, members of the federal government, and that also includes members of the Supreme Court,” Wild said.

“I should caution, though, there are no specific credible threats. However, social media chatter is being taken much more seriously in the wake of January 6,” she added.

Eight-foot fencing was put up on the south side of the Supreme Court building Wednesday night after pro-choice and pro-life protesters gathered following a bombshell report from Politico that a court majority has voted to overturn Roe. A leaked draft court majority opinion for the case concerning Mississippi's 15-week abortion ban suggests the court will overturn its precedent on abortion rights, returning the issue to state legislatures and the people's elected representatives.

The report was met with shock and outrage from the progressive left, with various pro-choice pundits calling to "burn" the Supreme Court and the country down. Pro-life conservatives were also upset, not with the reported decision but rather that someone at the court had egregiously violated ethical and institutional norms by breaking the confidence of the justices.

So far, the only acts of violence or illegal activity occurring in the wake of Politico's report are by pro-choice protesters. A Catholic church in Boulder, Colorado was vandalized with anti-religious and pro-choice graffiti on Wednesday, and police are investigating the matter. In Los Angeles, at least one police officer was injured after abortion rights protesters began flinging objects at officers called to disperse the crowd, which was disrupting traffic.

A pro-choice group called Ruth Sent Us on Thursday posted what it claims are the home addresses of the six Republican-appointed Supreme Court justices, calling for an organized "walk-by protest" outside their homes next week.

Asked about the vandalism and planned protests during Thursday's White House press briefing, outgoing press secretary Jen Psaki said the White House does not condone vandalism and does not consider peaceful protesters to be "extreme."

(h/t: NewsBusters)