Calvin Zastrow, a 63-year-old pro-life activist and Christian evangelist, will begin a six-month prison sentence on Tuesday. This follows his conviction for a peaceful protest outside an abortion clinic in March 2021.
Zastrow, who has spent decades advocating for pro-life causes, was found guilty of violating the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances (FACE) Act and conspiracy charges brought by the current administration.
During the protest, Zastrow and fellow activists sang hymns, counseled women against abortion, and sat in front of the clinic’s entrance, blocking access. The charges stemmed from their actions, which prosecutors argued were a violation of the FACE Act.
Zastrow’s conviction has drawn significant attention, especially as the current administration intensifies its efforts to prosecute pro-life activists. The conspiracy charge, historically used against groups like the Ku Klux Klan, has now been applied to peaceful pro-life demonstrators, a move that has sparked debate across the country, as reported by The Daily Wire.
Zastrow’s legal team, alongside the Thomas More Society, has been challenging the application of the FACE Act and conspiracy charges, pushing for appeals that could overturn the convictions of pro-life activists across the nation.
Zastrow is also critical of the government’s priorities, lamenting that more resources are being directed toward prosecuting peaceful protests than addressing other serious issues, such as border security and violent crime.
