FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Date January 27, 2025
Contact: press@reproaction.org

“This was an attack, not a peaceful protest”
Statement from Reproaction President, Co-Founder and CEO Erin Matson

In response to President Donald Trump’s pardon of 23 anti-abortion federal prisoners for violating the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances (FACE) Act, Reproaction Co-Founder, President and CEO Erin Matson issued the following statement:

“Contrary to the picture painted by the president and anti-abortion leaders, these individuals weren’t persecuted for expressing their opinions. They weren’t quietly praying on the sidewalk. Many of the people he pardoned violently stormed a Washington DC abortion clinic to prevent patients from receiving care.

Apart from Lauren Handy, who made a fake appointment to gain access to Washington Surgi-Clinic, the anti-abortion group entered the clinic by force, shoving open a door and knocking an employee over in the process. They blockaded the clinic’s entrances—keeping the doors closed with ropes and chains—to stop employees and patients from entering.

During their hours-long occupation of the clinic, they injured a nurse and caused a patient to have to climb through the reception window to access the patient care area. Another patient laid on the floor in pain until she was able to get the care she needed to end her non-viable pregnancy. When she attempted to get up, a member of the anti-abortion group shoved her back down,

This could not have been further from a peaceful protest. It was an assault.

For Lauren Handy and Jonathan Darnel, this wasn’t even their first time interfering with a clinic’s ability to offer abortion care. Both have been previously arrested for trespassing in abortion clinics.

If anti-abortion leaders and groups have their way, it could soon become easier for them to gain access to clinics and interfere with abortion care. They’ve repeatedly called for the FACE Act to be repealed. A bill to repeal the act was re-filed by Rep. Chip Roy earlier this month.

The FACE Act provides much-needed protection to abortion clinic patients and employees. People deserve the chance to seek abortion care without the threat of obstruction or bodily harm.”