Charges for pro-life activists over disruption at abortion clinic dismissed in plea deal

MEDIA, Pa. (OSV News) — Six pro-life activists, most of them Catholics, arrested last year for disrupting the activities of an abortion clinic in Pennsylvania as part of a Red Rose Rescue, have had their charges dismissed in a plea deal.

In order to get the dismissal on Jan. 12 in the Delaware County Court of Common Pleas in Media, all pleaded “nolo contendere,” or no contest. All had been charged with defiant trespass and disorderly conduct, both misdemeanors, that could have brought jail terms and fines.

The activists are Joan Andrews Bell, 77, of Montague, New Jersey; William Goodman, 55, originally from Madison, Wisconsin; ChristyAnne Collins, 70, of Texas City, Texas; Monica Miller, 72, of South Lyon, Michigan, who heads Citizens for a Pro-Life Society, a group affiliated with the Red Rose Rescues; Patrice Woodworth-Crandall, 61, of Winona, Minnesota; and William Holmberg, 71, of Steubenville, Ohio. Their charges were dismissed with no fines, probation or requirement for community service.

All the defendants except Collins are Catholic. She is evangelical.

Both Bell and Goodman were pardoned by President Donald Trump last year for earlier convictions under the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances Act, or FACE Act, for their participation in clinic blockades known as “rescues.”

The protest took place at the Delaware County Women’s Center in the Crozer Chester Medical Center.

The facility does not perform surgical abortions, but provides first-trimester abortions using mifepristone and misoprostol. The two drug-regimen is commonly used in first trimester abortions, as well as some early miscarriage protocols.

Abortion is legal in Pennsylvania up through the 23rd week of an unborn baby’s gestation.

The 90-minute event was not violent. According to a report from the Upland Borough police, three of the protesters who had made their way to the second floor of the center “began pouring an unknown liquid and salt-like substance” (which they identified as holy water and holy, or blessed, salt) all over the floor, and informed a staff member that they would “rather burn in hell than leave.”

Three others distributed roses and information on abortion pill reversal to women there.

All six were removed without incident and released on $2,000 bond, which had been reduced from $20,000.

A statement from Goodman provided to OSV News called the court outcome “a modest victory. But a victory nonetheless.”

Miller launched the activities of Red Rose Rescue in 2017.

On Jan. 22, the day before the national March for Life in Washington, the group planned to co-sponsor a sidewalk protest against abortion pills at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

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