The US Justice Department, under President Joe Biden’s administration, has sentenced pro-life advocate Lauren Handy to five years in federal prison for protesting at an abortion clinic. The department utilized the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances (FACE) Act, a law historically rarely enforced, to prosecute Handy and others who allegedly obstructed access to the clinic.
Handy, known as an activist for the Progressive Anti-Abortion Uprising, has been critical of the Biden administration in recent times, accusing it of wielding the law as a political instrument. In a statement prior to sentencing, Handy demonstrated resilience, stating that joy and peace remained in her spirit.
The consequences of the court’s ruling were met with backlash by pro-life advocates. Rep. Chip Roy, Executive Director of the Progressive Anti-Abortion Uprising, Caroline Smith, and the group’s Founder Terrisa Bukovinac were among those condemning the sentence.
Handy’s incarceration is viewed by some as an infringement on free speech rights, while others deem it a politically motivated attack on the pro-life cause. Stephen Crampton, senior counsel for the nonprofit legal firm Thomas More Society, accused the Biden administration of hypocrisy due to its lack of legal response to other contemporary protests.
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