DOJ Announces the Indictments of Christian Activists

(RightWing.org) – Across the country, pro-life advocacy groups and churches have faced attacks and threats. On Wednesday, October 5, the Department of Justice (DOJ) announced that 11 Christian activists were indicted by a federal grand jury for obstructing the entrance of a reproductive health clinic near Nashville, Tennessee, during a planned protest. Some question if Joe Biden’s Justice Department is acting fairly.

In a press release, the DOJ alleged the activists organized a blockade of an abortion facility. It stated the group violated the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances (FACE) Act. Just weeks before, the FBI raided the home of a Catholic pro-life advocate, alleging he assaulted someone outside an abortion provider. So, is the DOJ treating one group differently?

DOJ Alleges Christian Activists Violated FACE Act

The Justice Department said it charged 11 protestors for violations of the FACE Act. They were:

Chester Gallagher, 73
Paul Vaughn, 55
Heather Idoni, 58
Calvin Zastrow, 57
Caroline Davis, 24
Coleman Boyd, 51
Dennis Green, 56
Eva Edl, 87
Eva Zastrow, 24
James Zastrow, 25
Paul Place, 24

The indictment alleges that in February 2021, Gallagher used social media to promote several anti-abortion events. On March 4, Gallagher and Boyd advertised there would be a blockade of the Carafem Health Center Clinic in Mount Juliet, Tennessee, the following day. At 7:45 am, the announcement said Boyd live streamed the event as the group supposedly blocked doors to the clinic and tried to prohibit an employee from entering the facility.

In addition, the indictment alleged that on the following day, the 11 activists “used force and physical obstruction to injure, intimidate and interfere” with workers and a patient seeking medical services, which are violations of the FACE Act.

What is the FACE Act?

In 1994, Congress passed the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances Act. The DOJ says the law prohibits violence, threats, or detrimental conduct meant to harm, intimidate, or interfere with someone’s right to reproductive health services or damage property because it allows for reproductive health care.

The agency stressed the law was not about abortion. It states the measure also protects pro-life pregnancy counseling services and any other “pregnancy support facility” that provides reproductive health care.

So, that begs a few questions.

According to CatholicVote, since the leak of the Supreme Court’s (SCOTUS) decision to overturn Roe v. Wade on May 2, there have been at least 73 attacks on pro-life pregnancy centers. Additionally, 83 Catholic churches were attacked. Yet, the FBI has refused to tell the Daily Caller News Foundation (DCNF) if any arrests have been made since May.

President of CatholicVote Brian Burch told DCNF the DOJ’s political ideology drives its decision-making over equal justice under the law.

Does he have a legitimate point of view?

Is the DOJ politically motivated?