We are urgently seeking 500 new Life Defenders (monthly supporters) before the end of October to help save babies from abortion 365 days a year. Your first gift as a Life Defender today will be DOUBLED. Click here to make your monthly commitment.
Bench trial begins for remaining pro-lifer charged with FACE Act violations in D.C.
The third and final remaining federal trial stemming from an October 2020 rescue action at the D.C.-based Washington Surgi-Clinic abortion facility began on Monday, October 23. Paulette Harlow is the sole remaining defendant. Like her 8 previously convictedco-defendants, she is charged with conspiracy against rights and FACE Act violations and is facing up to 11 years in federal prison. Unlike her co-defendants, Harlow has opted for a bench trial rather than a jury trial.
Harlow (age 75) was originally scheduled to be tried in mid-September with the second round of defendants, which included Harlow’s sister, Jean Marshall (73), Jonathan Darnel (41), and Joan Andrews Bell (74). However, her trial was delayed due to her hospitalization. Harlow has multiple health issues, including “debilitating diabetes, Hashimoto’s disease, and severe back pain requiring the use of a wheelchair,” according to LifeSiteNews. Proceedings in her trial have been paused several times to allow Harlow to rest and receive medical attention.
Witness testimony for the prosecution was heard on Monday and Tuesday. The same witnesses were called as in the two previous trials, including Caroline Davis, who participated in the D.C. rescue and was indicted for similar actions in other cities. Davis accepted a plea deal in which she agreed to testify against her fellow rescuers in exchange for a reduction in the charges against her.
Dear Reader,
Every day in America, more than 2,800 preborn babies lose their lives to abortion.
That number should break our hearts and move us to action.
Ending this tragedy requires daily commitment from people like you who refuse to stay silent.
Millions read Live Action News each month — imagine the impact if each of us took a stand for life 365 days a year.
Right now, we’re urgently seeking 500 new Life Defenders (monthly donors) to join us before the end of October. And thanks to a generous $250,000 matching grant, your first monthly gift will be DOUBLED to help save lives and build a culture that protects the preborn.
Will you become one of the 500 today? Click here now to become a Live Action Life Defender and have your first gift doubled.
Together, we can end abortion and create a future where every child is cherished and every mother is supported.
LifeSiteNews reported that Judge Kollar-Kotelly has permitted Harlow to call Jean Marshall and Joan Andrews Bell as defense witnesses. They are scheduled to appear on Wednesday. Marshall, Bell, and their six other co-defendants were immediately incarcerated following their convictions due to the jury’s finding that they had committed crimes of violence. Multiple sources have reported that Jean Marshall has developed pneumonia while behind bars.
Appeals have been filed on behalf of the eight incarcerated rescuers, according to Jonathan Darnel. In addition, Representative Chip Roy of Texas has introduced a bill to repeal the FACE Act, which, if passed, would undoubtedly assist the rescuers in their appeals process. Sentencing has yet to be scheduled for any of the incarcerated rescuers.
Live Action News is pro-life news and commentary from a pro-life perspective.
Contact editor@liveaction.org for questions, corrections, or if you are seeking permission to reprint any Live Action News content.
Guest Articles: To submit a guest article to Live Action News, email editor@liveaction.org with an attached Word document of 800-1000 words. Please also attach any photos relevant to your submission if applicable. If your submission is accepted for publication, you will be notified within three weeks. Guest articles are not compensated (see our Open License Agreement). Thank you for your interest in Live Action News!
Activism
