In the latest update on the 2021 Tennessee clinic blockade incident, four anti-abortion activists were sentenced this week for their involvement in the incident. Despite being convicted on felony conspiracy charges earlier this year, the sentences handed down by U.S. District Judge Aleta Trauger were more lenient than what the prosecutors had asked for. The sentences ranged from six months in prison to three years of supervised release. Judge Trauger also acknowledged the defendants’ contributions to their respective communities and took that into consideration when deciding the sentences.
The judge acknowledged the sincerity of their religious beliefs, however, she firmly stated that it was not a valid justification for breaking the law. The defendants’ religious zeal led them to believe that it was acceptable to disregard the suffering they caused others and even their own humanity, Trauger pointed out.
Approximately 200 supporters, among them plenty of parents with their children, gathered outside the federal courthouse in Nashville to rally and pray before the sentencing hearings on Tuesday and Wednesday. The courtroom, where the proceedings were broadcasted via livestream, was also packed with supporters who filled the benches and overflowed into the hallway.
Nearly a year before the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, a blockade at the Carafem reproductive health clinic in Mount Juliet, Tennessee, resulted in convictions. The organizers utilized social media to promote and livestream their actions, in an attempt to prevent the clinic from performing abortions. Additionally, the video was intended to serve as a training tool for other activists, as per the testimony.
When the incident occurred, Tennessee still permitted abortions. However, the state now enforces a strict law that prohibits abortions at any point during pregnancy, with only a few exceptions.
A total of 11 individuals were found guilty of offenses connected to the blockade, with six individuals convicted of both the violation of the federal Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances Act and more severe felony conspiracy charges for their roles as organizers. The four individuals who were sentenced this week were part of this group. The defendants’ attorneys have contested the prosecutors’ decision to charge them with a felony that carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison and fines of $260,000, claiming that it was an overreach.
Trauger ultimately decided on significantly lighter sentences for the defendants. Paul Vaughn and Dennis Green were each sentenced to three years of supervised release, while Coleman Boyd was given five years of probation. Calvin Zastrow, who was deemed as one of the primary organizers, received a six-month prison sentence followed by three years of supervised release. Boyd, who was considered the most financially capable of the group, was ordered to pay a $10,000 fine by the judge.
In a recent development, Trauger has decided to delay the sentencing for the two remaining felony convictions until September. Meanwhile, Heather Idoni and Chester Gallagher are gearing up for an August trial in Michigan on charges that are similar in nature. It’s worth noting that Idoni is presently serving a 2-year prison term for participating in a clinic blockade in Washington, D.C. last year.
In October, Caroline Davis pleaded guilty to misdemeanor charges and cooperated with prosecutors. As a result, she was sentenced to three years of probation in April. Four other defendants were convicted of misdemeanor violations in April for blocking the main clinic door, preventing any patients from entering. Despite repeated requests from the police to leave or move, they refused and were eventually arrested. On July 30, they are scheduled to be sentenced and could face up to six months in prison, five years of supervised release, and fines of up to $10,000, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Tennessee.