FBI Charges Multiple Individuals For Peaceful Protests At Abortion Facility In Mt. Juliet
Image Credit: Twitter@MiaCathell
The Tennessee Conservative [By Jason Vaughn] –
As part of a “rescue” in March of 2021, a group of individuals committed to saving the lives of pre-born children visited the Carafem abortion center in Mt. Juliet, Tennessee. This event was meant to reach women seeking abortions trying to persuade them to choose life for the unborn children instead. Although this event took place over a year ago, the FBI visited the homes of at least one of the activists.
Individuals who were present or participated in the movement that day were ordered to report to local authorities to be charged under the federal FACE Act along with conspiracy charges.
Participants lined the inside hallways of a general medical office building, where the Carafem abortion facility is located. Researchers gathered for the event where they prayed and sang. The event was declared to be nonviolent. Some of the events were recorded on the day of the protest. Several participants were arrested that day and were later released after posting bail for misdemeanor trespass charges.
AJ Hurley, a pro-life activist, spoke to Live Action News regarding activities of the FBI, stating that according to the neighbors of pro-life activist Chester Gallagher was out of state when guns were drawn by the FBI at his home.
Afterward, the FBI attempted to gain information about Gallagher’s whereabouts. The Mt. Juliet rescue reportedly was one of three led by Gallagher at different abortion facilities.
Other individuals were “called by the FBI telling them they had arrest warrants and had to turn themselves in” according to Hurley. The Department of Justice released a press release that named 11 individuals in all who are facing the charges of “conspiracy against rights secured by the FACE Act, and committing FACE Act violations.
Chester Gallagher, 73, of Lebanon, Tennessee; Heather Idoni, 58; Calvin Zastrow, 57; and Caroline Davis, 24; all of Michigan; Coleman Boyd, 51, of Bolton, Mississippi; Dennis Green, 56, of Cumberland, Virginia; and Paul Vaughn, 55, of Centerville, Tennessee.
The press release notes the following individuals were also charged with FACE Act violations:
Eva Edl, 87, of Aiken South Carolina; Eva Zastro, 24, of Dover, Arkansas; James Zastro, 25, of Eldon, Missouri; and Paul Place, 24, of Centerville, Tennessee.
The release states that “All defendants will have appearances scheduled in U.S. District Court in Nashville at a later date.”
The charges in the indictment are as follows:
The indictment alleges that, beginning in February 2021, Chester Gallagher utilized social media to promote a series of anti-abortion events scheduled for March 4-7, 2021, in the Nashville area. Other co-conspirators then utilized Facebook to coordinate travel and logistics and to identify other participants for the blockade. On March 4, 2021, Coleman Boyd and Chester Gallager advertised the blockade of the Carafem Health Center Clinic, in Mount Juliet, Tennessee, which was planned for the following day. In his social media post, Gallagher referred to the blockade as a “rescue.”
Boyd also began a Facebook livestream broadcast of the clinic blockade at 7:45 a.m. on March 5, 2021. This livestream broadcast was titled, in part, “Mt. Juliet, TN Rescue March 5, 2021,” and live streamed the blockade event as his co-conspirators and others blocked the clinic’s entry doors and prevented a patient and an employee from entering. The livestream also broadcast members of the group attempting to engage a patient and her companion as Boyd told his livestream audience that the patient was a “mom coming to kill her baby.”
“The DOJ is doing their own investigations and using the FBI as their arm of that organization,” Hurley said. “Normally the FBI does an investigation, and if they find someone guilty of federal crimes, they issue warrants.” He says, instead, “the DOJ is…sending local branches of the FBI with arrest warrants to be their strong arm.”
Hurley added, “This is a new tactic the DOJ has been throwing at pro-lifers to see if the charges stick.”
The DOJ released a claim, “This case was investigated by the FBI and is being prosecuted by the Civil Rights Coordinator of the U.S. Attorney’s Office and trial Attorneys of the Department’s Civil Rights Division,” adding, “An indictment is merely an accusation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.”
FBI arrests are most recent in relation to targeted attacks against individuals who participated in activities at or outside of abortion facilities in the U.S. The recent raid on the home of Mark Houck, Philadelphia sidewalk counselor is one of the most notable. When his home was visited in late September, there were 15-20 agents in tactical gear, with guns drawn.
Hurley told Live Action News that he and some other individuals, just weeks ago, visited the building of the Mt. Juliet Carafem abortion facility. Officers came out and spoke to them, and just three days later, Hurley and the other individuals were served with civil FACE Act charges despite the fact that they never entered the facility.
About the Author: Jason Vaughn, Media Coordinator for The Tennessee Conservative ~ Jason previously worked for a legacy publishing company based in Crossville, TN in a variety of roles through his career. Most recently, he served as Deputy Director for their flagship publication. Prior, he was a freelance journalist writing articles that appeared in the Herald Citizen, the Crossville Chronicle and The Oracle among others. He graduated from Tennessee Technological University with a Bachelor’s in English-Journalism, with minors in Broadcast Journalism and History. Contact Jason at news@TennesseeConservativeNews.com
Eva Edl, age 87 is a survivor of a death camp. Her story is chronicled in the book: “She looks like my little girl, written by James Johnston. She survived the holocaust, now she faces the draconian charges of the Federal government, while those who bomb pregnancy centers, and attack pro-lifers roam our streets.
Clearly, we have a two sided justice system in America.
Christians need to awaken from their slumber. Prepare your hearts for persecution.
They broke the law. They did not turn themselves in. they were arrested.
Why Nov 8 is so critical. We must have a major Republican, Conservative , MAGA win so Congressional hearings can be held, DOJ/FBI investigated and litigated for violation of at least First Amendment violations , the FACE act terminated and Garland and Wray impeached and fired.
If you work for the FBI and you are part of the criminalization of patriotic Americans you’re working for the wrong side. I’d rather lose my job than arrest someone for standing up for life. Shame on the US government for weaponing agencies against her citizens.
It was a felony. You people need to follow the law
And so it begins. The entire Federal Government needs to be dismantled starting at the top. Democrat voters think it’s fine for people that disagree with them to be arrested on trumped up charges. They think it fine to ignore the Constitution when it suit their needs to do so. When your gestapo gets down with us, you’ll be next on the list because only total control of our lives will suffice.
They commited the crime of Conspiracy. FELONY!!! do the crime, do the time!
More Weaponization of the Biden Adm. against conservatives. VOTE like you have never voted before!
Conservatives breaking the law need to be arrested. Blocking access to a LEGAL abortion clinic is a crime. Conspiracy to commit that crime is a felony!