| Bevelyn
Williams Gets 41 Months in
Freedom of Access to Clinic
Entrances Act Case
by
Matthew Russell Lee, Patreon Book
Substack
SDNY
COURTHOUSE,
July 24 – In late 2022 Bevelyn
Beatty Williams and Edmee
Chavannes were indicted for
conspiracy to violate the
Freedom of Access to Clinic
Entrances Act.
On February
2, 2024 their final pre-trial
conference was held before
U.S. District Court for the
Southern District of New York
Judge Jennifer L. Rochan.
Inner City Press was there,
the only media in the
courtroom. Thread
On February 12,
Inner City Press covered the
selection, past 6 pm, of a
jury of seven men and five
women (of the four alternates,
three are men). At least one
donor to Planned Parenthood,
it is noted, made it only the
jury.
On February 14,
after a snow day and a juror's
late arrival, the prosecutors
put on the stand Lauren
Betters and a Mr. Liman about
the June 19-20, 2020 protest
at Bleecker and Mott Streets,
and the non-engagement policy
as a business record.
On February 16, a
witness described protests in
Fort Myers and Naples,
Florida. He said he thought
protesters had guns.
[Shaky video
shown of Bevelyn Williams
saying she didn't want to get
arrested that day because she
was pregnant]
On February 22,
Williams was found guilty -
but Chavannes was found not
guilty.
More details on
Substack here
On July 23, 2024,
Inner City Press live tweeted
the sentencing of Bevelyn
Williams to 41 months in
prison, thread:
Judge: Will any
victims speak?
Assistant US
Attorney: Planned Parenthood
is not here yet... On the
substance, we note she crushed
a victim's hand with the door.
Defense: We
dispute it was a violent
assault. She was boisterous-
it was a protest by disparate
groups Judge: It was an
assault with a dangerous
weapon - here, the door. She
pushed it while singing "We
Shall Not Be Moved." So the
Guideline is 37 to 46 months
in prison.
Defense: We ask
for a downward departure. Ms.
Williams is a stay at home
mother in Tennessee.
AUSA: We oppose
any downward departure. These
are just ordinary family
responsibilities. Judge: I
will not be departing downward
on this. AUSA: There was
a 9 day trial. She blockaded
and invaded Planned Parenthood
in Fort Myers, Florida, the
guard thought they might be
armed so he ordered a lock
down. At the Atlanta Women's
Center, another lockdown. And
Nashville in 2022...
AUSA: She
bragged on social media. She
posed as a patient in
Nashville. She invaded 2
facilities in Brooklyn. This
is her 8th conviction. She has
served only 30 days. 1000s
were watching, many are
watching the outcome of this
case. Others need to be
deterred.
AUSA: We request
a guidelines sentence.
Judge: Do any
victims wish to speak? AUSA:
They are not here.
Defense:
She has a 2 year old daughter.
It has changed her. She cried
after the verdict. She grew up
in poverty. She has sustained
convictions. Defense:
She has turned down media, CNN
and FOX. She could have
criticized the jurors. She
waited until today, to explain
herself to the Court. [Drum
roll]
Defense: We
ask for no incarceration.
Judge: What about deterrence?
Defense: She
won't do it again. General
deterrence is unproven.
Bevelyn Williams:
Can I use the bathroom? Judge:
Of course. In the jury room
[Williams rushes]
Bevelyn Williams: I had my
first abortion when I was 15
[sobs] It took a toll. It was
one thing to have sex outside
of marriage, with a
knucklehead boy like me. There
were picketers at the
clinic
Bevelyn Williams:
It was cut out of me... Two
abortions later, and in jail
in Rikers Island for scamming
like my mother, I met a lady
in jail. She ministered to me.
I gave my life my
Christ.
Bevelyn Williams:
I am loud, yeah. But I am
saved. I wanted to preach the
Gospel. I know what it's like,
to lay with a random guy and
get stuck with a baby. God
knows what I did. He's washed
me.
Bevelyn Williams:
I'm sorry for that lady's
hand. I fear God more than
this courthouse. Someone drops
a wallet, the old me woulsa
kept it. Not now... I feel I'd
get less if I stayed a
criminal. I feel like I'm "a
Negro out of line, stay in
your lane"
Judge: I am going
to take a break to think about
this
All rise!
Judge: Ms. Williams says she
wants to be a good person. But
this is serious misconduct.
She obstructed, she pulled a
barricade away. She yelled in
people's faces, during COVID.
She pressed the door closed on
a victim's hand to stop legal
medical service
Judge: She
live-streamed her flouting of
the law. A significant
sentence is needed. Places of
worship are also protected
under this Act. In DC there
was a 57 month sentence. I've
considered the JSIN data.
Other people are following
this sentencing Judge:
The appropriate sentence here
is 41 months in prison.
More on X for
Subscriber here & Substack
here
The case is US v.
Williams, et al., 22-cr-684
(Rochon)
***
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