Pro-Life Advocate Lauren Handy Sentenced to Four Years in Prison

Lauren Handy's Sentencing

Lauren Handy, a pro-life advocate, was sentenced to four years in prison and fined $125 on Tuesday. This sentencing was part of the first round of hearings for pro-life activists who were convicted last year of obstructing access to a late-term abortion facility in Washington, D.C. Last year, a D.C. jury found Handy, along with Will Goodman, Heather Idoni, John Hinshaw, and Rosemary “Herb” Geraghty, guilty of violating the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances (FACE) Act and "conspiracy against rights." In the following months, Joan Andrews Bell, Jonathan Darnel, and Jean Marshall were convicted of the same charges, with Paulette Harlow's conviction occurring in November.

The Hearings and Convictions

The hearings, presided over by U.S. District Judge for the District of Columbia Colleen Kollar-Kotelly, began with Handy, the activism director of Progressive Anti-Abortion Uprising (PAAU). Hinshaw and Goodman were also sentenced on the same day. The pro-life activists were put on trial for blocking access to the Washington Surgi-Clinic in downtown Washington, D.C., in a "traditional rescue" in October 2020. These "rescues" involve physically entering abortion centers and refusing to leave in an effort to convince women to choose life for their babies.

The Aftermath of the Convictions

After the convictions, Handy and most of the co-defendants were denied release while awaiting sentencing. The U.S. Justice Department recommended that Handy serve between 5.25 and 6.5 years in prison, and that the rest of the defendants serve a minimum of two years. Judge Kollar-Kotelly agreed with multiple sentencing enhancements, including obstruction of justice for alleged perjury at trial and for their "victims" (abortion facility clients) being "vulnerable." Handy's actual sentence was four years and nine months, minus the nine months she has already served.

Reactions to the Sentencing

In response to her sentencing, Handy expressed that she refuses to be jaded and that she will continue to live life fully, even in jail. Martin Cannon, senior counsel of the Thomas More Society, which is representing Handy, expressed disappointment in the sentencing, stating that Handy and her co-defendants conspired to be peaceful. He added that they will pursue an appeal of Handy's conviction. Terrisa Bukovinac, the founder of PAAU, also expressed her disappointment, stating that no other social justice movement in the nation has activists subjected to years in federal prison for nonviolent resistance.

Alleged Mistreatment of the Convicted

Several of the convicted pro-life activists have reportedly endured mistreatment while in custody. For instance, Heather Idoni was allegedly placed in prolonged solitary confinement and deprived of sleep, while Jean Marshall was reportedly deprived of sufficient clothing and heat during extreme cold, leading to her contracting pneumonia. Paulette Harlow was allegedly refused permission to attend Catholic Mass while under house arrest.

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