A group of individuals who are opposed to abortion has been found guilty of violating federal law after staging a blockade at the Washington Surgi-Clinic in October 2020. The leader of the group, Lauren Handy, along with four other members of Progressive Anti-Abortion Uprising, were convicted on two felony counts each. The charges included conspiracy against rights and violating the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances Act, a federal law enacted in 1994 to protect individuals seeking reproductive health services or providers from physical obstruction or threats.
The other defendants involved in this case were John Hinshaw, Heather Idoni, William Goodman, and Herb Geraghty. In police body camera footage, one patient testified under a pseudonym and revealed that they had to climb through a window into the clinic’s reception area because the group had barricaded the entrance with furniture from the waiting room. The defendants also used chains, ropes, and bike locks to tie themselves to chairs and each other. They shouted at incoming patients, hurling offensive remarks about “killing babies” and damnation.
According to reports, another woman who had traveled from Ohio to receive an abortion collapsed in pain outside the clinic while her husband begged the activists to stop. A nurse working at the clinic that day also suffered a severe ankle injury when the activists stormed the clinic following Handy’s instructions.
During the trial, Assistant U.S. Attorney John Crabb argued that the defendants had carefully planned their actions to disrupt access to reproductive services and violate the rights of others. The defendants live-streamed their three-hour blockade on Facebook, and now face possible prison sentences of up to 11 years, three years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $350,000. Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly ordered their immediate detention ahead of their sentencing.
Steve Crampton of the Thomas More Society, part of the defense team representing Handy, assured the group’s supporters that they would launch an appeal, emphasizing that the case was far from over. The trial for another group of four co-defendants arrested in connection with the blockade is set to begin next week.
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