Op-Ed: The DOJ and FBI only arrest pro-life advocates

(The Center Square) – “Laws made by common consent must not be trampled on by individuals.” – George Washington

The city of Mt. Juliet, Tennessee, is in the buckle of the Bible Belt about a half hour from Nashville’s famed Music City Row. Home to many country music stars, as well as former country legends such as Johnny Cash and Charlie Daniels, this town of 40,000 is recognized for its gourmet restaurants, fashionable boutiques and trend-setting novelty shops in Providence Market Place. With a church on every corner, the town does not wake up on Sunday until church services are over after noon.

According to a Pew Research survey on the most religious states in America, 81% of all adults in Tennessee are devout Christians who identify with one specific church. Another 14% admit being Christians but are unaffiliated with any specific religion. About 3% are of a non-Christian faith. Only 2% are nontheological. Over two thirds of all people in Tennessee attend church services regularly.

For over a year, residents of this jewel of the Bible Belt have conducted a peaceful sidewalk vigil outside the Carafem abortion clinic, praying and handing out anti-abortion material. They’ve been showing disdain for a facility they did not want in their Christian community. This abortion clinic was forced upon them by a federal judge after the city passed emergency legislation to keep it out.

When Carafem filed for a business license in 2019 and the city learned this was an abortion clinic, amidst outrage from residents, the city counsel rezoned the area to prevent them from performing abortions. With the help of ACLU attorney Andrew Beck, Carafem won the legal battle to remain there.

“If a mother can kill her own child, what is left for me to kill you and you to kill me?” – Mother Teresa

In March of 2021, a pro-life group visited the Carafem abortion clinic in Mt. Juliet. The group came there to reach out to women seeking abortions to try and persuade them to choose life for the unborn. This group lined the walkways outside the abortion clinic praying for the unborn. Several protesters were arrested for misdemeanor trespassing by Mt. Juliet police, scolded, then released.

Although this took place over a year ago, due to the overturning of Roe vs. Wade, and outrage by abortion supporters, Biden is sending the FBI and DOJ after pro-life protesters. A U.S. District Court ruling last week claimed that this group violated the FACE Act and has issued warrants for their arrest.

Eleven warrants have been issued for these peaceful protesters. The DOJ alleges that Chester Gallagher utilized social media to promote a series of anti-abortion events in the Nashville area. They contend Gallagher organized the Carafem event and protesters used intimidation and force to block Carafem’s entry, which prevented one patient and one employee from entering the clinic.

Seven of the defendants who participated in this peaceful protest face conspiracy charges under the FACE Act, with a maximum penalty of 11 years in prison and fines of up to $350,000. The four defendants, charged with misdemeanors, could face up to one year in prison and a $10,000 fine.

Passed in 1994, the FACE Act allows the arrest, fining and jailing of anyone who intimidates or tries to interfere with a person obtaining or providing reproductive healthcare services.

“I have instructed the FBI and the DOJ to arrest anyone who inhibits anyone from getting an abortion.” – President Joe Biden

Randall Terry, founder of the pro-life organization Operation Rescue, told reporters, “In the past pro-life protesters who blocked entrances to abortion clinics only faced local trespassing charges instead of federal charges. But this has completely changed since Roe vs. Wade was overturned.”

Marjorie Dannenfelser, president of Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America, said, “Biden’s abuse of the DOJ shows Democrats will do anything to protect an industry that spends millions to elect them. Biden’s DOJ is demonizing pro-life advocates and turning a blind eye to violence against them.”

“I’ve noticed that everyone who is for abortion has already been born.” – Ronald Reagan

Since the Supreme Court overturned Roe vs. Wade, pregnancy centers have been firebombed and pro life organizers have been beaten, attacked, shot and even killed. And the pro-life advocates’ calls for equal protection have been ignored by Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris, the FBI and the DOJ.

“Our country has a history of claiming ownership over human bodies.” – Kamala Harris

Less than a month ago, the DOJ announced it had arrested pro-life activist Mark Houck at his home in Bucks County, Pennsylvania. Houck’s indictment accused him of assaulting a man who was “a volunteer abortion clinic escort” outside of the Planned Parenthood clinic in Philadelphia.

Houck’s attorney explained that he was peacefully praying outside the Philadelphia clinic when the escort began to harass his son. Mark and his son walked down the street to avoid confrontation but the escort went after them. When the escort got in the face of Mark’s son, he just pushed him away.

Now Houck faces a possible $350,000 fine and 11 years is prison for a violation of the FACE act.

This is from the DOJ website: “The FACE Act is not about abortions. The law protects all patients, providers, and facilities that provide reproductive health services. This includes pro-life pregnancy counseling services and any other pregnancy support facility providing reproductive health care.”

If this is the letter of the law, why are the FBI, the DOJ, Kamala Harris and even Joe Biden ignoring the bombing, acts of violence, and the harassing of pregnancy support centers? Why are they only prosecuting pro-life protesters under the FACE Act while most are peacefully protesting?

According to the U.S. Finance Commission, Planned Parenthood, NARAL Pro-Choice America, Population Connection Center for Reproductive Rights, Washington Women for Choice, New York Choice PAC, and the Boulder Abortion Clinic gave Democrats $5,042,623 last election. The total given to Republicans was $0. This explains the Democrats double standard with the FACE Act.