Friday 7 October 2022 04:22 PM Eleven activists hit with federal charges for 'physically' blockading Nashville ... trends now
Eleven pro-life activists have been indicted for physically blockading a Tennessee abortion clinic and using force to intimidate the staff and patients, according to the DOJ.
They have been charged with violating the FACE Act when they entered Carafem Health Center Clinic in Mount Juliet on March 5 last year and prevented employees of the clinic and at least one prospective patient from entering the building.
The FACE Act is a 1994 law signed by Bill Clinton that prohibits protestors from blocking abortion clinics. Seven of the protesters have been charged with a civil rights conspiracy for organizing the events.
Among those indicted are ringleader Chester Gallagher, 73; and Coleman Boyd, 50, a pro-life physician who has been known to go to abortion clinics and read scripture and convince women to change their mind.
Those charged with conspiracy face up to 11 years in prison if convicted and a $350,000 fine, while the others could spend a year behind bars and be fined $10,000.
Seven of the indicted: (from top left) Chester Gallagher, Heather Idoni, 58, Calvin John Zastrow, 61, Paul Vaughn, 55, Dennis Earl Green, 56, Eva Edl, 87, and Eva Darlene Zastrow, 24
Protesters entered Carafem Health Center Clinic in Mount Juliet on March 5 and blockaded it by sitting in hallways
They were arrested and removed peacefully, but now 18 months on they face federal charges for violating the FACE Act
One of the group livestreamed the protest as the group loitered in the corridors of the clinic, blocking the doors and stopping people from coming and going
The Carafem clinic had become accustomed to protesters on the streets outside the complex
'The 11 individuals, aided and abetted by one another, used force and physical obstruction to injure, intimidate and interfere with employees of the clinic and a patient who was seeking reproductive health services,' the DOJ allege.
Chester Gallagher is alleged to have conspired to organize a series of anti-abortion events in the Nashville area on Facebook for early March, which would violate the FACE Act.
Gallagher described the blockade as a 'rescue' in the post, which was scheduled for the following day.
Boyd livestreamed the protest as the group loitered in the corridors of the clinic, blocking the doors and stopping people from coming and going.
The protest had began initially as a 'peaceful assembly' outside the clinic, but it got uglier after the demonstrators went inside and refused to leave, according to Mt Juliet police, who were called about 8am.
'We wanted to make sure they don't feel welcome to kill babies in this city,' said protestor David Zastrow to NewsChannel5, who stayed outside and did not enter the clinic.
'We understand there were some mothers who wanted to kill their babies inside the abortion clinic on the second floor, so a group of Christians decided they were able to stop that from happening.'
'We wanted to make sure they don't feel welcome to kill babies in this city,' said protestor David Zastrow (left) to NewsChannel5
Ringleader Chester Eugene speaks with officers from Mount Juliet police department
An unidentified man who went inside said he did it to put 'ourselves between an abortion provider and women seeking abortion.'
The protest was peaceful and no one resisted arrest, Mt. Juliet Police Captain Tyler Chandler said at the time.
'There wasn't any force used, we didn't have to forcefully remove anyone,' Chandler said.
'And then they began to pass out papers saying they were already arrested, so it appears this group showed up today with the intent on being arrested by our
