Pro-life activist seeks to appeal prison sentence for blockading abortion clinic

July 29, 2024

A pro-life activist, sentenced to 41 months in prison for obstructing the entrance to a New York City abortion clinic, is seeking to appeal her sentence.

The Christian Post reports that Bevelyn Beatty Williams was found guilty earlier this year of violating the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances (FACE) Act for standing at the entrance of a NYC clinic for two consecutive days in 2020.

The U.S. Dept. of Justice had charged Williams for violating the three decade old FACE Act saying that, “Williams initially blocked the main entrance used by patients, causing the Health Center to have to divert patients to enter through the staff entrance. Williams responded by moving to block the staff entrance and directing others to do the same.”

According to the Christian Post, Williams intends to appeal her sentence, contending that she “was persecuted as a Christian standing for my beliefs when it comes to life.” Williams has established a GiveSendGo fundraiser and is seeking to raise $250,000 in support of what she calls “a fight for freedom.”

Williams intends to use the money raised from the fundraiser to hire “a skilled lawyer and assembling a team to fight for justice and uphold our religious liberties,” and she called upon supporters to “join me in prayer and action as we seek to petition Heaven and stand boldly for righteousness.”

Pro-life activists have renewed calls for Congress to repeal the FACE Act, which they classify as a legal tool to discourage pro-life activism.

Photo: top, Credit: Getty Images