Today, we’re diving into a hot topic that’s making waves.
Imagine this: a 75-year-old woman named Paulette Harlow finds herself facing a two-year prison sentence. Why, you ask? For praying outside a Washington D.C. abortion clinic four years ago and you can’t imagine what a judge said to her at sentencing.
First off, Paulette Harlow, a pro-life activist, was sentenced by Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly. According to the Washington Examiner, this all stems from an incident on October 22, 2020, when Harlow and other activists gathered outside the Washington Surgi-Clinic. Their mission? To pray for the unborn children of expecting mothers who were seeking abortions. However, their actions led to arrests, including Harlow’s, under the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances Act (FACE Act).
Here is a video of the protest this poor woman is going to prison for. pic.twitter.com/xDcchPfQ7R
— Joel Berry (@JoelWBerry) June 3, 2024
Now, what is the FACE Act, you might wonder? It’s a law that prohibits “violent, threatening, damaging, and obstructive conduct intended to injure, intimidate, or interfere with the right to seek, obtain, or provide reproductive health services.” Basically, it’s meant to protect the rights of individuals seeking reproductive healthcare and ensure their safety.
On that October day, a total of nine people were arrested. Fast forward to May 15th of this year, and the Department of Justice (DOJ) had already sentenced seven of Harlow’s fellow activists. According to the DOJ’s statement, these activists executed what they called “an extensive blockade” of the clinic, even going as far as faking a patient appointment to gain entry. The blockade wasn’t just disruptive; it reportedly led to the physical injury of a nurse.
When it was time for sentencing Harlow’s husband, John, delivered an emotional statement to the court, expressing his fear that his wife might die behind bars without his care. Judge Kollar-Kotelly’s response, as reported by Live Action, came across as chilling to many. She said she hoped Harlow would “make an effort to remain alive” as it was a “tenet of [Harlow’s] religion.”
The sentencing was passed by Judge Kollar-Kotelly. After Harlow’s husband begged for mercy, expressing his fear that his wife would die alone in prison, the judge taunted that maybe Harlow would “make an effort to remain alive” because that is a “tenet of [Harlow’s] religion.” pic.twitter.com/Bs4xwiycJh
— Joel Berry (@JoelWBerry) June 3, 2024
