Jean Marshall and Joan Bell were found guilty of violating the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances last week, after the pair participated in an abortion-clinic blockade in 2020. The women are 73 and 74, respectively.
BREAKING: Pro life activists Jean Marshall (73) and Joan Bell (74) were just convicted for blocking the entrance to an abortion clinic and now face 11 years in prison.
It's good to see the Biden DOJ removing these hardened criminals from our streets. pic.twitter.com/W4Pysg2xoy
— Greg Price (@greg_price11) September 18, 2023
Marshall and Bell were “among a group that forcefully entered the clinic and blockaded two clinic doors using their bodies, furniture, chains and ropes . . . The evidence also showed that the defendants violated the FACE Act by using a physical obstruction to injure, intimidate and interfere with the clinic’s employees and a patient because they were providing or obtaining reproductive health services,” according to the Department of Justice. Republican members of Congress are seeking to repeal the FACE Act, the Daily Signal reported today, which “prohibits threats of force, obstruction and property damage intended to interfere with reproductive health care services.”
The DOJ targets pro-life activists with the act, and convicted 26 pro-lifers in 2022. It’s a blatant political witch hunt designed to threaten and charge activists out of saving children. What was Marshall and Bell’s crime, worth up to 11 years in prison and a $350,000 fine? For a matter of hours, they prevented the clinic from tearing babies limbs from their mothers’ wombs.
If they receive the maximum sentence, Marshall and Bell will be well into their 80s by the time they’re released from prison. In the District of Columbia, burglary, attempted robbery, theft, aggravated assault, stalking, drug distribution (except narcotic/abusive), firearm possession by a felon, misdemeanor sexual abuse, third- and fourth-degree sexual abuses, a DUI, unlawful publication of revenge pornography, arson, fraud, destruction of property, perjury, and more are all crimes with lesser prison sentences and fines than what Marshall and Bell face. Bell’s children were reportedly shaking and crying at her trial.
It’s a disgusting attack on brave pro-lifers. Bell has been behind bars before — and no matter how intense the threat of imprisonment, she would, I’m sure, accept any sentence if it meant exposing the horrors of abortion and potentially saving one life. People like Marshall and Bell are the ones we want on our side. They’re the ones with the strength and humanity to defend the unborn, at unbelievable costs. As Kathryn Jean Lopez said of Bell and other activists: “The rescuers have the courage of their convictions.” Praise God for such courage.