(May 23, 2024 – Cleveland, Ohio) Thomas More Society attorneys representing pro-life advocates Lauren Handy and Monica Miller released the following statements responding to the latest civil FACE Act lawsuit filed by the Department of Justice, on May 20 in federal court in Ohio, against a group of peaceful pro-lifers:

 Martin Cannon, Thomas More Society Senior Counsel, stated:

 “Hardly one week has passed since Lauren Handy was sentenced to 57 months in federal prison, and the Biden Department of Justice is already coming after her again using the FACE Act. This time, the DOJ is seeking to impose crushing fines to the tune of the tens of thousands of dollars, and other penalties, on her and veteran pro-lifer Monica Miller—for utterly peaceable and compassionate pro-life conduct at an Ohio abortion business. ‘Red Rose Rescues’ are peaceful events where participants counsel outside the abortion business or walk in and sit with pregnant mothers in abortionists’ waiting rooms, giving them red roses and offering them the help and assistance they need to choose life—in the exact moment when they’re in dire need of compassionate support. These are not threatening or intimidating actions that violate the FACE Act, despite the caricature that the DOJ would like the public to believe.”

 Steve Crampton, Thomas More Society Senior Counsel, added:

 “The red roses given during ‘Red Rose Rescues’ are visible signs of life, peace, and love for the mothers and their babies at the abortion businesses. Peacefully sharing the pro-life message with these mothers in need is not a violation of the FACE Act. The charges brought in Ohio by the Biden Department of Justice against pro-life advocates Lauren Handy and Monica Miller are another outrageous attempt to weaponize the FACE Act to ruinously penalize peaceful and compassionate conduct. Once again, the Biden DOJ is reaching back years, to before the U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling in Dobbs, to drudge up something to use to prosecute peaceful pro-lifers. We look forward to vigorously defending our clients’ innocence against these charges.”