In a significant development, Bevelyn Williams, a staunch pro-life advocate, has been granted freedom following an executive order by former President Donald Trump.
This order pardoned Williams and 22 other pro-life activists who had been convicted under the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances (FACE) Act during the Biden administration.
As reported by The Post Millennial, Williams, hailing from Tennessee, was seen embracing her husband and child upon her release. Her conviction stemmed from a 2020 incident where she obstructed access to a Planned Parenthood facility in New York City. During this protest, Williams leaned against a door, inadvertently injuring a staff member's hand. She was subsequently sentenced to 41 months in prison for her actions. Expressing her relief, Williams exclaimed, Im free! as she reunited with her family.
In a statement accompanying the pardons, Trump remarked, They should not have been prosecuted. Many of them are elderly people. This is a great honor to sign this. His decision to pardon these activists underscores his criticism of the FACE Act's application under President Biden. The Thomas More Society had previously advocated for these pardons, asserting that the activists deserved "full and unconditional pardons."
Erin Hawley, Senior Counsel at Alliance Defending Freedom, lauded Trump's decision while criticizing the previous administration. She stated, "The Biden administration politicized and abused the FACE Act to target and discriminate against peaceful pro-life advocates. While they received harsh prison sentences, vandals who violently attacked pro-life pregnancy centers got off scot-free.
Williams reflected on the impact of her sentence, describing it as a severe blow to her family. She lamented, Not only is this bond extensive for the accused crime, but [Judge Jennifer Rochan] made it very clear in the courtroom that she was going to [make an] example out of me. The concern of being a young mother, and a stay-at-home mother, was completely disregarded.
This case highlights the ongoing debate over the FACE Act and its enforcement. Critics argue that the Act has been wielded as a political tool, disproportionately targeting pro-life advocates while neglecting similar offenses against pro-life institutions. The pardons issued by Trump have reignited discussions on the balance between lawful protest and the protection of access to healthcare facilities.
Login