A pro-life advocate, Zack Knotts, was detained by police outside an Ohio abortion clinic where he and his wife, Lindsay Knotts, had been peacefully offering help and religious blessing for three Saturdays. The pair, advocates of saving unborn lives, rallied outside the Northeast Ohio Women’s Center offering free resources and proposed adoption of the unborn babies. Zack Knotts was taken into custody by police for disorderly conduct.
Zack and Lindsay were astonished by the police action, especially as Zack had contacted the police department prior to their clinic visits to confirm the legality of their activities, including the use of sound-amplification devices. The arrest has elicited concerns about possible selective enforcement of laws and the couple’s right to freedom of speech. The Knotts have said they plan to continue their pro-life outreach despite the legal challenges. The Christian couple claims they were exercizing their rights and offering support to women considering abortions by providing alternative solutions, including adoption.
The arrest reflects a broader pattern of unequal enforcement of public order laws against pro-life advocates. Christians who oppose abortions are being systematically targeted, while instances of aggressive behavior from pro-abortion supporters go unpunished. This trend can be traced to unequal enforcement of the FACE Act, which has been used on multiple occasions by the Biden administration to target pro-life advocates
The Knotts family strongly believes in the sanctity and preservation of life and will continue their advocacy despite the impending legal challenges. Zack Knott’s arrest has garnered attention from legal organizations and may potentially steer increased scrutiny towards the policing policies surrounding abortion clinic protests.