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Lee Comments On Edl Conviction

Lee Comments On Edl Conviction

There’s some intense political drama unfolding as Utah Senator Mike Lee and other prominent Republicans are blasting the Biden-Harris administration over the recent conviction of 89-year-old pro-life activist Eva Edl and six other activists in federal court. The situation is drawing national attention, especially as it involves the use of the controversial FACE Act, a law that has long been a point of contention between pro-life advocates and federal authorities.

So, what exactly happened? On Tuesday, Eva Edl and six fellow pro-life activists were found guilty in a Detroit federal court of charges related to a peaceful protest outside the Northland Family Planning Clinic in Sterling Heights, Michigan. The charges include conspiracy against rights and violations of the FACE Act, which is intended to protect access to reproductive health services by prohibiting violent or obstructive conduct. These charges are serious, with the activists potentially facing over a decade in prison and hefty fines.

Eva Edl’s story is particularly compelling. As a young child, she was forced into a concentration camp by Yugoslavian communist dictator Josip Broz Tito in the chaotic aftermath of World War II. After surviving those harrowing experiences, Edl eventually made her way to the United States, where she became an ardent pro-life activist. Now, at 89 years old, she finds herself once again facing the possibility of imprisonment—this time in her adopted country, for her involvement in what she and her fellow activists describe as a peaceful demonstration motivated by their Christian faith.

Senator Mike Lee didn’t hold back in his response to the convictions, taking to social media to sharply criticize the Biden-Harris administration. Lee accused the administration of targeting pro-life advocates disproportionately, especially using the FACE Act, which he and others have long sought to repeal. His words were pointed: “Kamala Harris and Joe Biden are sending an elderly survivor of communist prison camps back to prison using the FACE Act against pro-lifers. Evil.”

Lee’s comments reflect a broader frustration among many in the pro-life community, who feel that the FACE Act is being unfairly used to silence their activism. The law, which dates back to the Clinton administration, has been a focal point of criticism for years, with figures like Lee and Representative Chip Roy of Texas leading the charge to have it repealed.

Rep. Chip Roy also chimed in on the situation, highlighting the absurdity of prosecuting someone like Edl, who survived a communist prison camp, for participating in what he described as a “peaceful protest of abortion.” His reaction underscores the deep sense of injustice felt by many who oppose the FACE Act and the recent verdict.

The other activists convicted alongside Edl include Chester Gallagher, Heather Idoni, Joel Curry, Justin Phillips, Cal Zastrow, and Eva Zastrow. Their charges stem from the same demonstration, as well as another protest at the Women’s Health Clinic in Saginaw, Michigan, where Edl and Idoni were also involved. All of the defendants have pointed to their faith as the driving force behind their actions, emphasizing that their intent was to persuade women to reconsider abortion.

Written by Mark Stevens - August 21, 2024