Pro-Life Groups Urge Trump to Free Pro-Life Americans Biden Put in Prison

After President Joe Biden’s pardon of his son, Students for Life of America (SFLA) is calling on President-elect Donald Trump to fulfill his promise to pardon pro-life advocates convicted under the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances (FACE) Act.

In a controversial move, the president pardoned Hunter Biden, just days before a scheduled sentencing hearing. Trump, set to take office in January 2025, has spoken previously about his plans to pardon pro-life activists charged with violations of the FACE act.

“The Biden-Harris administration has wielded this antiquated, Clinton-era law to discriminate against peaceful pro-lifers who pray and peacefully protest outside of abortion vendors nationwide, with some already serving unjust prison sentences,” SFLA wrote.

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In June 2024, Trump addressed the issue during a speech at the Faith and Freedom Coalition, referencing Paulette Harlow, a 75-year-old grandmother sentenced to two years in prison under the FACE Act.

“Paulette is one of many peaceful pro-lifers who Joe Biden has rounded up, sometimes with SWAT teams, and thrown them in jail. Many people are in jail over this,” Trump said, vowing to “get that taken care of immediately” on his “first day” in office.

According to SFLA, Trump added that he would “rapidly review the cases of every political prisoner who’s unjustly victimized by the Biden regime, including Paulette, so we can get them out of the gulags and back to their families where they belong.”

The FACE Act convictions highlighted by SFLA include multiple pro-life advocates sentenced for peaceful protests:

• Washington, D.C. (October 2020): Eight individuals, including Harlow, were convicted in 2023 for violating the FACE act by peacefully protesting in front of an abortion clinic in 2020. Sentences ranged from 21 months to nearly five years in prison. One advocate, Heather Idoni, has since suffered severe mistreatment under U.S. Marshals.
• Nashville, Tennessee (2021): Six pro-life advocates were convicted for praying and singing inside an abortion facility. Some received supervised release, while others were sentenced to prison terms of up to 32 months.
• Detroit, Michigan (August 2024): Three individuals were convicted for protests at Northland Family Planning Clinic. A Michigian federal judge recently postponed their sentences until after Trump’s term begins, opening the possibility of charges being dismissed.
• Mt. Juliet, Tennessee (March 2021): Four advocates, including 89-year-old Eva Edl, received probation or home detention for peaceful demonstrations.

SFLA also highlighted the case of Steven Lefemine, a South Carolinian convicted under the FACE Act, who was sentenced to 60 days in prison in March 2024 for praying in front of a clinic entrance.

“We’re ready for President-elect and former President Donald Trump to put his words into action by releasing these peaceful pro-life advocates and protecting free speech online and on the ground,” SFLA stated.

They added, “Even further, he should encourage Congress to pass a repeal of the highly weaponized FACE Act, which has targeted pro-lifers for more than 20 years.”

LifeNews Note: Rachel Quackenbush writes for CatholicVote, where this column originally appeared.