Just dealing with Sec 1 of the Prohibited Acts, since that deals with health centers, not churches:
a. by force or threat of force;
b. physical obstruction (rendering impassable ingress to or egress from a facility that provides reproductive health services);
c. intentionally injures;
d. interferes with or attempts to injure;
e. intimidate or interfere with any person because that person is or has been (place a person in reasonable apprehension of bodily harm to him- or herself or to another.)
f. obtaining or providing reproductive health services (reproductive health services provided in a hospital, clinic, physician’s office, or other facility, and includes medical, surgical, counselling or referral services relating to the human reproductive system, including services relating to pregnancy or the termination of a pregnancy.).
I used the Cornell Law LII for the Statue. The Wikipedia wording is a bit different from what's actually written in the law.
Seemingly the video presents a far different version of events than what was cited in the indictment. There was no force, no injuries and no attempt to interfere or injure. Seemingly the only thing that applies would be obstruction. But since law enforcement was able to move freely among the protestors who had their backs against the wall for the most part, obstruction would be hard to argue. There was a case of a priest who physically used bike locks (and proceed to glue the key holes shut) on a clinic. I can't find the damn thing now. That would qualify more "physical obstruction" than what these folks are charged with? Likewise intimidate is pretty vague. Singing hymns hardly qualifies there. The indictment states one person said "Here comes the mom to kill her baby" or something to that effect. But again, does that raise to the level of intimidation? As a defense, since only 2 of the 6 elements apply would it be easily argued? Did the action the 11 undertake violate the FACE Statute in its entirety?
I'd prefer this not turn into a pissing match among posters, so if you'd like to B-mail instead, I understand. I typed this up in great haste this morning, so forgive typos or other gaps. I AM GENUINELY INETERSTED in what a defense would look like here....
Danke!