A federal jury convicted seven defendants today of federal civil rights offenses stemming from their blockade of a reproductive health care clinic in Sterling Heights, Michigan, on August 27, 2020. The defendants were each found guilty of a felony conspiracy against rights and a Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances (FACE) Act offense. Two defendants faced additional convictions for a second FACE Act offense related to another blockade at a clinic in Saginaw, Michigan.
“These defendants orchestrated an unlawful clinic blockade and physically obstructed patients seeking access to their doctors, without regard to the serious medical needs of the women they blocked from accessing reproductive health care,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “These defendants intentionally broke the law. One woman’s fetus experienced fatal abnormalities and the defendants' coordinated campaign of physical obstruction posed a grave and real threat to her health and fertility. Make no mistake: every American enjoys the right to obtain and provide reproductive health services free from physical obstruction, and the Justice Department will continue to hold accountable those that oppress the free exercise of that right. We thank the jury for the time, attention, and careful consideration of the facts of this case.”
“My office is committed to protecting all of the legal rights of our district’s citizens, including the right to access reproductive health care,” said U.S. Attorney Dawn N Ison for the Eastern District of Michigan. “The defendants convicted today sought to interfere with that right by physically blocking the doors of clinics providing such services. These defendants are entitled to their views, but they are not entitled to prevent others from exercising the rights secured to them by the laws of the United States. This case is about the rule of law, and today’s verdict is a victory for that principle.”
According to evidence presented at trial, Calvin Zastrow, Chester Gallagher, Heather Idoni, Caroline Davis, Joel Curry, Justin Phillips, Eva Edl, and Eva Zastrow conspired to prevent clinic employees from providing—and patients from receiving—reproductive health services; this civil right is protected under the FACE Act. As part of their plan known as "Michigan Holiness Revival Tour," organized by Calvin Zastrow with an explicit goal to blockade a reproductive health clinic during its second week.
During this blockade in Sterling Heights on August 27th, 2020, evidence showed that participants sat or stood in front of entrances preventing patient S.S., who had scheduled an appointment due to her fetus suffering fatal abnormalities which carried serious risks if pregnancy continued. The act resulted in S.S.'s inability to access necessary medical services.
Further evidence indicated Calvin and Eva Zastrow followed a clinic employee around attempting entry via emergency exits while Gallagher and Edl stalled police efforts prolonging obstruction duration.
Additionally presented was evidence showing Edl & Idoni's involvement on April 16th last year where Edl blocked one entrance using doorstops preventing internal opening whilst Idoni chained herself outside another doorway at Saginaw-based facility similarly breaching FACE regulations through obstructive actions aimed towards service providers & seekers alike.
Sentencing hearings will be scheduled later; investigation led by FBI Detroit Field Office alongside Bay City Resident Agency while prosecution handled by Trial Attorney Laura-Kate Bernstein plus Assistants Frances Carlson/Sunita Doddamani representing Eastern District jurisdiction respectively highlighting justice dept.'s commitment ensuring lawful adherence safeguarding individual healthcare accessibilities nationwide reiterating community responsibility reporting any related threats/violence via designated channels including www.tips.fbi.gov supported through informational resources available online addressing enforcement measures combating illegal activities targeting reproductive establishments/providers therein stated explicitly.