Pro-Life Leaders Call for Repeal of FACE Act Following Conviction of Peaceful Activists
A Coalition of Pro-Life Leaders Urges House Republicans to Repeal the FACE Act
A coalition of passionate pro-life leaders is calling on House Republican leadership to take immediate action and repeal the FACE Act. This urgent plea comes in the wake of the conviction of six pro-lifers who peacefully demonstrated at a Tennessee abortion facility, facing up to 11 years in federal prison.
The letter, obtained exclusively by The Daily Signal, is addressed to House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) and House Judiciary Committee Chair Jim Jordan (R-OH). It implores them to introduce legislation that would repeal the FACE Act, a law from the Clinton era that criminalizes the use of force or threats of force to impede access to abortion facilities.
“In the aftermath of additional pro-life activists being convicted by the Biden administration under the FACE Act for peacefully protesting outside an abortion business, we respectfully urge you to take immediate legislative action to protect peaceful pro-life activists from the Biden administration’s weaponized Department of Justice and an unconstitutional law,” the letter, headed up by conservative group Advancing American Freedom, said.
The letter is signed by prominent pro-life advocates including Kristan Hawkins of Students for Life of America, Tom McClusky of CatholicVote, Tony Perkins of the Family Research Council, Tom Brejcha of the Thomas More Society, Ryan Anderson of the Ethics and Public Policy Center, Lila Rose of Live Action, and Penny Nance of Concerned Women for America.
Highlighting the fact that the FACE Act has primarily been used to prosecute pro-lifers, the letter emphasizes that the law was also intended to protect churches and pregnancy centers.
“We believe that the FACE Act is unconstitutional,” the letter said. “It wrongly usurps police powers reserved to the states by the Constitution and allows the Department of Justice to swoop in to punish its political enemies, rather than equally applying the law. Additionally, the FACE Act protects abortion, when taking the life of the unborn is no longer and never rightly was a constitutional right.”
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Following the conviction of Chet Gallagher, Coleman Boyd, Heather Idoni, Cal Zastrow, Paul Vaughn, and Dennis Green, calls to repeal the FACE Act have grown louder. These individuals now face over ten years in prison and substantial fines for violating the FACE Act and conspiring against rights secured by the FACE, as determined by a federal court jury in Nashville.
The six were indicted by the Department of Justice after a protest that took place in a hallway outside of a Mount Juliet abortion provider on March 5, 2021. On that day, a group of demonstrators gathered on the second floor of an office building in the hallway outside the Carafem Health Center Clinic. The group prayed, sang hymns, and urged women showing up to the clinic not to get abortions.
Efforts to repeal the FACE Act have been previously introduced by Rep. Chip Roy (R-TX) and Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT), and there are ongoing initiatives to renew congressional consideration.
How does the broad language and vague definitions of the FACE Act potentially infringe on the free expression and activism of pro-life activists?
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The coalition argues that the FACE Act violates the First Amendment rights of pro-life activists, who are simply exercising their freedom of speech and assembly to peacefully protest against the injustice of abortion. The Act’s broad language and vague definitions allow for a wide interpretation, resulting in the suppression of free expression and activism.
Furthermore, the recent convictions of the Tennessee pro-lifers highlight the Biden administration’s disregard for the rights of pro-life individuals. The overly aggressive prosecution of peaceful protesters sends a chilling message to all pro-life activists across the country, instilling a fear that their legal activities will be unjustly persecuted. It is alarming that these individuals face the possibility of such severe sentences for engaging in peaceful demonstrations.
The coalition stresses that the right to peaceful protest is a cornerstone of American democracy, and it is essential that the government upholds and protects this right for all citizens, regardless of their stance on abortion. The freedom to express opposition to a particular issue is crucial for the healthy functioning of a democratic society.
Repealing the FACE Act would not eliminate lawful restrictions on protest activities. Laws already exist to prevent violence and harassment, and law enforcement agencies have the authority to intervene in situations where laws are being broken. The coalition simply advocates for a fair and just system that respects the rights of both pro-life activists and those seeking access to abortion facilities.
Moreover, the coalition argues that the FACE Act unfairly targets pro-life activists, as it places restrictions on their ability to peacefully protest at abortion facilities, while other political demonstrations are allowed to occur freely. This inconsistency in treating different types of protests violates the principle of equality before the law and undermines the concept of justice.
The pro-life leaders also express concern that the FACE Act is being weaponized by the Biden administration to suppress the pro-life movement. This weaponization of the law to target individuals who peacefully advocate for the rights of the unborn is a disturbing abuse of power and a violation of the democratic values that our nation holds dear.
In conclusion, the coalition of pro-life leaders urgently calls on House Republicans to repeal the FACE Act and protect the rights of peaceful pro-life activists. The Act serves as an unconstitutional barrier to the exercise of free speech and assembly and unfairly targets those who advocate for the rights of the unborn. Repealing this law would restore justice and uphold the fundamental principles of democracy, ensuring that all citizens can engage in peaceful protest without fear of prosecution or suppression.
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