Pro-Lifers Arrested Nationwide for Providing Women Alternatives Inside Abortion Clinics and Refusing to Leave

National   |   Steven Ertelt   |   Nov 20, 2017   |   3:59PM   |   Washington, DC

In three different cities across the United States, pro-lifers simultaneously entered abortion centers to talk to women scheduled for abortions. In each instance they refused to leave the clinics when told to do so by law enforcement and offered an act of non-violent defense of unborn children about to be aborted.

Now they are headed to court.

Once inside the clinics, small teams of pro-lifers peacefully approached mothers seated in the waiting rooms and offered them red roses as a symbol of life. Attached to each rose was a card which on one side read,”You were made to love and to be loved … Your goodness is greater than the difficulties of your situation. Circumstances in life change. A new life, however tiny, brings the promise of unrepeatable joy.” The card also contained phone numbers of local pregnancy help centers.

These rescues did not involve the blockading of abortion center entrances or procedure rooms. When police officers arrived on the scene, pro-lifers attempted to continue conversation with women or sat on the floor praying quietly or singing hymns until they were placed under arrest, organizers said.

Today, six pro-lifers will stand trial in Virginia for their defense of the unborn—facing a possible jail term of up to 90 days.

Altogether 10 pro-lifers were arrested—six who entered the Alexandria Women’s Health Clinic, 101 S Whiting St. #215, Alexandria, Virginia and four who entered Northland Family Planning, 3810 17 Mile Rd., Sterling Heights, MI. Those arrested at the Virginia clinic included two Catholic priests, Fr. Stephen Imbarrato associated with Priests for Life, Fr. Fidelis Moscinski with the Franciscan Friars of the Renewal as well as pro-life heroine Joan Andrews Bell—with three other women: Julia Haag, Bonnie Borel Donahue and Joan McKee.

Those arrested at the Michigan clinic are Monica Migliorino Miller, director of Citizens for a Pro-Life Society, Will Goodman, Matthew Connolly and twenty-year-old Abby McIntyre who attends Indiana State University and interned with Bryan Kemper of Stand True. These rescuers are scheduled for a jury trial on February 14. They are represented by Robert Muise of the American Freedom Law Center.

The Virginia-based pro-life advocates were charged with one state count of trespass which carries a maximum 90 day sentence. They are represented by Attorney Chris Kacharoff.

Monica Miller told LifeNews that the pro-life advocates should understand that no one who defended unborn children in the September 15th Red Rose Rescue has been charged with the federal law of Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances Act.

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Fr. Imbarrato states: “If nothing else comes of the Red Rose Rescues—this alone would be a great victory for the babies and the pro-life movement—that this type of rescue is “FACE proof.” The FACE law passed by Congress in 1994, with possible consequences of federal prison time may not be applicable to the Red Rose Rescue as this rescue does not involve the blockading of clinic doors—no one’s ingress and egress is prevented.” Furthermore, thus far there have been no state or local city initiatives to pass buffer zones as a consequence of the Sept.15th rescue.”

Miller said “Those involved in the Red Rose Rescue talked to women scheduled for abortions, extending to them words of encouragement and offering material help. In addition to reaching out to the mothers, the rescuers chose to remain in the clinic as an act of solidarity with the unborn children scheduled to be killed by abortionists, while a support team assembled outside—sidewalk counselors and those in prayer support.”

Miller explains: “The Red Rose Rescue is an act of charity for women who feel, for whatever reason, that they must abort their innocent unborn children. Those who perform the rescues are willing to embrace risks for these women and their babies. They will go into the very places where the unborn are put to death and extend help to the moms. Should this help be refused—they will not leave the abortion centers but remain in solidarity with the helpless victims oppressed by the injustice of abortion. Saint Mother Teresa of Calcutta said that her work was ‘to go into the dark holes of the poor.’ The Red Rose Rescue is an action of going into the dark holes of the poor—namely abortion centers where the innocent are rejected—and in these dark holes we seek to bring hope, true peace and the presence of God.” ​

She told LifeNews the next Red Rose Rescue is in the planning stages.