Published on August 20, 2024, 12:31 am

In Detroit, two vocal pro-life activists who stood trial for their protest outside a Michigan abortion clinic last year, expressed their firm Christian beliefs as the case drew to its closing arguments. Chester Gallagher and Heather Idoni invoked their faith on the concluding day of the legal proceedings that started on August 9th and involved a total of seven pro-life activists. They were implicated by the Justice Department under the Biden administration on allegations of violating the FACE Act and participating in a “conspiracy against rights”.

The duo opted to represent themselves thus giving them an opportunity to present their defense with assistance from standby lawyers. Gallagher was aided by Steve Crampton from the Thomas Moore Society.

Idoni, who has already served several months in prison due to convictions on similar charges, quoted Proverbs 24:10-12 which encourages Christians to “rescue those being led away to death.” She stated that her life greatly embodies these verses and revealed that their actions were driven by love and reverence for God’s word. Denying any accusations suggesting a “martyrdom complex”, she emphasized no inclination towards imprisonment.

Gallagher, formerly serving as a police officer, shed light on the group’s demeanor at Northland during his statement. He stressed that this case transcends beyond “sincerely held religious beliefs”. For him, it’s about commitment instilled by a creator invoking action rooted in love for Jesus. He is motivated by his staunch opposition against families being destroyed by the act of abortion.

Others facing trial include Joel Curry, Justin Phillips, Cal Zastrow with daughter Eva Zastrow and Eva Edl: an 89-year-old survivor of communist concentration camps. The charges stem from peaceful demonstrations popularly termed “Rescue” at Northland Family Planning Clinic in Sterling, Michigan along with other protests attended by Edl and Idoni at Women’s Health Clinic in Saginaw, Michigan. Convicted individuals may face over 10 years in prison and roughly $250,000 in fine.

The jury, comprising of five men and seven women, will initiate their deliberations tomorrow at Theodore Levin Federal Courthouse in Detroit overseen by Judge Matthew Leitman, an Obama appointee. U.S. Attorney Frances Carlson and Assistant U.S. Attorney Sunita Doddamani presented closing arguments for the Justice Department.

During her defense, Carlson affirmed that protestors’ peaceful demeanor or religious beliefs cannot excuse their alleged infringement of law. The defense lawyers foregrounded the intention of their clients which was primarily to prevent the “slaughter of babies” rather than intimidation.

David Peters, attorney representing Phillips faced criticism from Leitman for a statement construed as a Sunday sermon rather than a legal argument during a heated exchange. Later again, he invoked John Adams’ remark arguing in favor of morality and religion which prompted Leitman to accuse him of promoting jury nullification—a pretext where a jury member rejects the convict based on moral disapproval against the law.

This case forms part of the Biden administration’s efforts to utilize its adapted interpretation of the “conspiracy against rights” statute to sue pro-life activists. Such lawsuits have resulted in convictions in places like Tennessee and Washington D.C, leading to severe penalties including jail time.