Two Additional Arrests in Precedent Setting FACE Act Case and SLAPP Suits Filed Against Activists
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
3/31/2023
Contact:
Emma, South Florida Anti-Repression Committee
SFL_ARC@proton.me, 786-353-5729
Extreme Right Wing
Political Agenda Aims to Crush Pro-Choice Activism in Florida:
Two Additional
Arrests in Precedent Setting FACE Act Case and SLAPP Suits Filed Against
Activists
MIAMI, FLORIDA—Following months of FBI harassment, two
additional pro-choice individuals have been charged as co-defendants in the
first such use of the FACE Act (a law intended to protect abortion access and
abortion clinics). On the morning of Wednesday, March 29, law enforcement took
one individual into custody and demanded that another turn themselves into
federal authorities.
Doubling down on repressive tactics, both the State of
Florida and Heartbeat of Miami, a Christian pregnancy center, have filed separate
lawsuits against all four co-defendants and numerous "Jane Does."
This civil litigation is further evidence of a far-right political stunt
intended to further an extremist agenda. The two suits resemble a legal tactic
called SLAPP (Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation). The lawsuit
filed by Heartbeat of Miami intentionally and falsely conflates
constitutionally protected First Amendment activities with evidence of
racketeering and conspiratorial criminality. Both the State of Florida and
Heart of Miami intend to have a chilling effect on pro-choice activists,
frightening people from their lawful public participation across the country.
The person arrested on March 29 is a parent and caregiver to
two minor children. The arrest occurred in front of the two children, weeks
after a "no knock" raid on their home that led to an eviction and
damage to the home caused by flash bang grenades. Law enforcement continued to
harass the two minor children, attempting to coerce them to provide statements
to law enforcement without a guardian or attorney present. The second person
arranged with their attorney to turn themself in to federal authorities.
These are two more casualties in an ongoing political attack
on and harassment of pro-choice activists in Florida. At the behest of extreme
right-wing politicians, the Department of Justice has moved to grossly abuse
and misuse the FACE Act. The act was put into place with the express purpose of
preserving safe abortion access and safety for those who provide abortions.
There is no substantial evidence that the locations that
co-defendants are alleged to have spray painted with graffiti provide any
clinical reproductive care. In fact, they have been outed by pro-choice
organizations as part of a vast network of "fake clinics" that have
the sole purpose of misleading those seeking reproductive care and using scare
tactics to dissuade them from seeking it in the future.
One of the so-called clinics named in the indictment clearly
states on their website [1]:
"We do not offer or refer for abortion services. The
information on this website is intended for general education purposes only and
should not be relied upon as a substitute for professional counseling and/or
medical advice."
Fake clinics are not reproductive health care clinics. They
are a threat to the health and autonomy of women and those who have the
capacity to become pregnant. According to the National Women's Health Network [2]
"the counselors [at fake clinics] aren’t medical providers and they
aren’t required to give out medically accurate information—as long as they
don’t charge for their services, it’s ‘free speech.’" Vice Magazine
reported [3] that for every one abortion clinic in the U.S. there are
four fake clinics. These clinics pose a genuine threat to public health.
The South Florida Anti-Repression Committee stands by the
four people being unjustly and aggressively prosecuted and now sued in an
effort to stop pro-choice protest. Threatening people with 12 years in federal
prison for graffiti is a shocking abuse of power, especially when anti-abortion
activists harass and intimidate those seeking and providing reproductive
healthcare on a daily basis with little repercussion.
#12yearsforgraffiti
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