Anti-Abortion Activist Sentenced to 57 Months in Prison for Clinic Blockade

A prominent anti-abortion activist, Lauren Handy, has been sentenced to 57 months in prison for her involvement in a blockade of a reproductive health clinic in Washington, D.C. The sentence was pronounced by Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly of the U.S. District Court in Washington. Ms. Handy, a 30-year-old resident of Virginia, was found guilty of civil rights conspiracy and violating the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances Act during the blockade in 2020.

The Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances Act prohibits any form of interference with access to reproductive health clinics. Ms. Handy and her co-defendants were convicted for conspiring to use force to obstruct lawful activities of citizens seeking access to the clinic. The U.S. attorney for the District of Columbia, Matthew Graves, emphasized that using force and intimidation to impede others from engaging in legal activities is unacceptable.

What are the consequences?

As a result of her actions, Ms. Handy now faces a significant term of imprisonment. The court’s decision to impose a 57-month sentence sends a clear message about the serious repercussions of violating the law in the context of reproductive healthcare.

This case serves as a reminder of the legal protections in place to safeguard access to reproductive health services and the consequences for those who attempt to impede such access.