The Obama Administration’s Department of Justice has not hidden its disdain for the pro-life movement in America, and a recent incident involving the son-in-law of activist Jill Stanek proves just how far they’re willing to go to silence the free speech rights of American citizens.
Jill Stanek
In an article appearing on LifeSiteNews, Stanek recounts the story of her son-in-law, Andy Moore, who received an unannounced visit to his home on July 13 by two FBI agents. Moore is an activist who regularly prays and protests outside the Southwest Women’s Surgery Center in Dalles where late-term abortionist Curtis Boyd is employed.
As Stanek describes, the agents told Moore that three red flags prompted their visit: 1) that he used a megaphone (which he only did once and never again after police told him he was violating the local noise ordinance); 2) an unsubstantiated complaint by the clinic manager that Moore trespassed (which he never did); 3) complaints that Moore may be too aggressive, citing examples such as making threats of violence or obstructing vehicle access – none of which Moore had done.
As Stanek explains, even though the charges were all meaningless, “the FBI used them as an excuse to knock on the door, nerve-wracking to begin with, and followed by asking totally inappropriate questions clearly aimed at intimidating Andy, while also launching into a fishing expedition about me.”
Moore was asked if his famous mother-in-law was the inspiration behind his pro-life activity, if she taught him or otherwise “fired you up” to become so active in the cause.
Knowing he was an immigrant, they also posed a mild threat, telling him that if he committed a felony, it could get him deported. “You wouldn’t want to be apart from your wife and newborn,” they told him.
Thankfully, Moore has the assistance of the Life Legal Defense Fund, one of the pro-life legal firms that has successfully defended pro-lifers against prosecution by Obama’s Department of Justice. Senior Staff Counsel, Allison Aranda, shared her insights with Stanek in an email:
“The Obama administration is essentially engaging in a witch hunt. From the moment the new administration took office, the DOJ has been targeting peaceful pro-life sidewalk counselors. They have come out guns blazing on several occasions often bringing allegations that could later not be substantiated or in some cases clearly proven to be false. Their weapon of choice – the FACE act. The DOJ is using tactics that amount to legal extortion. They have filed these frivolous claims against innocent people who don’t have the finances to hire big shot attorneys. The DOJ then kindly offers to settle the case if the counselor simply agrees to stay so many yards away and pay a couple thousand dollar fine.”
Pro-bono legal foundations such as the LLDF, Alliance Defending Freedom and Liberty Counsel are all becoming involved in these cases in defense of pro-lifers. Thus far, they’ve seen several cases dismissed outright, with one judge issuing a scathing opinion in which he outright questioned motives of the DOJ for bringing such unsubstantiated charges in the first place.
“The judge suggested that there might have been a conspiracy between the government and the abortion clinic to violate the free speech rights of the pro-life advocates,” Aranda recounts.
“Targeted bullying by our government because of an individual’s viewpoint and willingness to share that message in the public square is intolerable.”
As for Stanek and her son-in-law, they refuse to be bullied. ” . . .(W)e will not back down, and we will not be threatened.”
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