Nonviolent pro-life activist Herb Geraghty on Monday slammed the Biden administration for using the Department of Justice as a “weapon against political dissidents.”
Geraghty is one of numerous pro-life activists who have been hit with federal FACE (Freedom of Access to Clinic) Act charges for demonstrating against abortion. The activist, charged over an encounter in Washington, D.C., in 2020, is facing up to 11 years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $260,000.
“This past weekend I learned I was indicted on charges related to nonviolent pro-life advocacy,” Geraghty posted to Twitter. “Much has already been said about the unjust and political nature of the recent arrests and charges brought against myself and other pro-life activists and leaders. It is clear that the Biden administration intends to use the DOJ as a weapon against political dissidents.”
Much has already been said about the unjust and political nature of the recent arrests and charges brought against myself and other pro-life activists and leaders.
It is clear that the Biden administration intends to use the DOJ as a weapon against political dissidents.
— Herb (@HerbGeraghty) October 18, 2022
“Thank you to those who are speaking up in our defense and calling for justice,” the activist continued. “However, as you do that please never lose sight of the fact that no matter what the state does to me or the other defendants — it will never compare to what they allow abortionists to do to children.”
“The unborn babies still being killed every day in this country, despite the [Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization] decision, are the real victims,” Geraghty wrote. “These children do not even get a trial before they are put to death. As you pray and demand justice for us, do NOT stop working for justice for them.”
The unborn babies still being killed every day in this country, despite the Dobbs decision, are the real victims.
These children do not even get a trial before they are put to death.
As you pray and demand justice for us, do NOT stop working for justice for them.
— Herb (@HerbGeraghty) October 18, 2022
“If convicted, I am facing up to 11 years in federal prison,” the Twitter thread notified followers. “That is obviously terrifying. However, 11 years is nothing compared to having your life snuffed out before you are even old enough to take your first steps or speak your first words.”
“Solidarity forever with nonviolent political prisoners and targets of the state. Solidarity forever with the unborn victims of state sanctioned violence,” the activist closed the post.
Solidarity forever with nonviolent political prisoners and targets of the state.
Solidarity forever with the unborn victims of state sanctioned violence.
☮️❤️
— Herb (@HerbGeraghty) October 18, 2022
Geraghty quickly earned support online from fellow pro-lifers, and a crowdfunding account on platform GiveSendGo has been set up to help with fees related to the legal battle.
“So far, at least 22 anti-abortion activists have been charged with the FACE Act this year,” the fundraiser emphasized. “This is even more shocking because there have been no arrests or charges brought against any of the individuals who firebombed, vandalized, and otherwise attacked pro-life churches and pregnancy centers this summer.”
A.J. Hurley, director of Survivors of the Abortion Holocaust, criticized the targeting of Geraghty, claiming that the activist refused to hand over communication with other pro-life activists to the feds.
A press release from the DOJ on Friday connected Geraghty to allegedly “forcefully” entering an abortion clinic and “blockading two clinic doors” on October 22, 2020.
“A federal grand jury in the District of Columbia today returned a two-count superseding indictment charging a 10th defendant, Herb Geraghty, 25, of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, with conspiracy against rights and FACE Act offenses in connection with an alleged reproductive health care clinic blockade in Washington, D.C., on Oct. 22, 2020,” the press release said.
“The original indictment returned by a federal grand jury on March 24, alleges that the nine defendants – Lauren Handy, Jonathan Darnel, Jay Smith, Paulette Harlow, Jean Marshall, John Hinshaw, Heather Idoni, William Goodman and Joan Bell – engaged in a conspiracy to create a blockade at the reproductive health care clinic to prevent the clinic from providing, and patients from receiving, reproductive health services,” the DOJ continued. “Several of the defendants traveled from other states to participate in the blockade, including Idoni, of Michigan; Smith and Hinshaw, of New York; and Harlow and Marshall, of Massachusetts.”
“According to the superseding indictment, as part of the conspiracy, Geraghty communicated with Handy to plan the blockade,” the DOJ said. “The superseding indictment further alleges that Handy, Smith, Harlow, Marshall, Hinshaw, Idoni, Goodman, Bell and Geraghty forcefully entered the clinic and set about blockading two clinic doors using their bodies, furniture, chains and ropes. Once the blockade was established, Darnel live-streamed footage of his co-defendants’ activities. The indictment also alleges that all 10 defendants violated the FACE Act by using a physical obstruction to injure, intimidate and interfere with the clinic’s employees and a patient, because they were providing or obtaining reproductive health services.”
Related: New Details In The Biden DOJ Targeting Of Pro-Life Activist, Father Of Seven Mark Houck
