Tennessee pro-life protester Bevelyn Beatty-Williams reported to the Federal Correctional Facility (FCI) in Aliceville, Alabama on Wednesday after she was sentenced to more than three years in prison for her role in a 2020 abortion protest in New York.
Williams was sentenced to 3.5 years in prison after she and other pro-life activists were accused of blocking the entry to a Planned Parenthood location in Manhattan, in violation of the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances (FACE) Act of 1994, following a federal jury trial in New York prosecuted under the Biden-Harris Department of Justice.
In a statement posted to the social media platform X on Tuesday, Williams (pictured above) revealed a last-minute appeal to remain out on bail through her appellate process was denied, and urged her supporters to vote in November.
“Please don’t forget to vote and do all you can to elect leaders who stand for justice,” Williams wrote. “Keep praying for me. I love you all and appreciate your continued support.”
Williams maintained her innocence in a video attached to the post.
“It’s not justice,” said Williams. “They tried to put it on Trump, but this is exactly what they’re doing. They’re putting people they don’t like politically into prison.”
Hello Everyone,
I wanted to give you all an important update. My legal team worked tirelessly to submit a stay of appeal so I could be home on bail while appealing this case for the sake of my daughter and husband. Unfortunately, the judge, who also sentenced me, denied the… pic.twitter.com/fSCSkxS255
— Bevelyn Williams (@MrsBevelynW) October 15, 2024
In her fundraiser on the Christian platform GiveSendGo, Williams wrote, “I was persecuted as a Christian standing for my beliefs when it comes to life,” and confirmed she is appealing the decision. Williams had raised more than $300,000 at press time.
Williams’ case drew the attention of Mike Davis, who is speculated to be a candidate for U.S. Attorney General should former President Donald Trump regain the White House next month.
“The Biden-Harris DOJ politicized and weaponized the FACE Act to persecute Christians,” wrote Davis in a post to X.
He accused the Biden-Harris DOJ of targeting activists like Williams while simultaneously, “giving amnesty to abortion-industry activists, trans-terrorists, and Hamas supporters terrorizing churches, synagogues, and crisis-pregnancy centers.”
“Justice must come on January 20th,” wrote Davis.
The Biden-Harris DOJ politicized and weaponized the FACE Act to persecute Christians.
While giving amnesty to abortion-industry activists, trans-terrorists, and Hamas supporters terrorizing churches, synagogues, and crisis-pregnancy centers.
Justice must come on January 20th. https://t.co/NZwyPtcPd5
— 🇺🇸 Mike Davis 🇺🇸 (@mrddmia) October 17, 2024
The Biden-Harris administration has elevated prosecutors who previously worked on high-profile cases against pro-life activists, including Molly Gaston, who is now assisting special counsel Jack Smith in the federal election case against Trump.
Gason worked on the early stages of the prosecution of Lauren Handy, who was similarly sentenced for violating the FACE Act after she was accused of blocking an abortion clinic in Washington, D.C.
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Tom Pappert is the lead reporter for The Tennessee Star, and also reports for The Pennsylvania Daily Star and The Arizona Sun Times. Follow Tom on X/Twitter. Email tips to [email protected].
Photo “Bevelyn Beatty Williams” by Bevelyn Beatty Williams.