A Tennessee woman has been sentenced to over three years in prison for using threats and violence to interfere with the operation of a New York City reproductive health center in the early days of the pandemic in 2020

A Tennessee woman was sentenced Wednesday to over three years in prison for using threats and violence to interfere with the operation of a New York City reproductive health center in the early days of the pandemic in 2020.

Bevelyn Beatty Williams, 33, of Ooltewah, Tennessee, was sentenced in Manhattan federal court to three years and five months behind bars by Judge Jennifer L. Rochon.

She noted that Williams organized the June 2020 protest at a Planned Parenthood clinic in Manhattan and livestreamed it, bragging about it afterward, even though the hand of a worker at the clinic was injured when Williams tried to push a door closed as the worker attempted to let a volunteer enter.

  • tal@lemmy.todayEnglish
    751·
    5 months ago

    An indictment said Williams boasted on her livestream of the protest: "This is going to be a wonderful day. We are going to terrorize this place. And I want the manager to hear me say that.

    I bet a lot of defense lawyers spent a lot of time in their careers trying very hard not to facepalm.

  • Optional@lemmy.world
    32·
    5 months ago

    She noted that Williams organized the June 2020 protest at a Planned Parenthood clinic in Manhattan and livestreamed it, bragging about it afterward, even though the hand of a worker at the clinic was injured when Williams tried to push a door closed as the worker attempted to let a volunteer enter.

    The judge cited seven other criminal convictions for Williams as a factor in the sentence. Williams was convicted in February at a two-week trial of violating the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances Act.

    Maybe dial back the crime there, jesus lady.

  • PrincessLeiasCat@sh.itjust.works
    11·
    5 months ago

    Williams had tearfully requested leniency, saying she was traumatized by a bad childhood and an abortion she underwent in New York City when she was 15 but had since found religion as a source of inspiration.

    “If I wasn’t saved, I would have punched that woman in the face,” she said of the woman whose hand was injured.

    Goddamn, lady - calm the fuck down.

    • Sidyctism2
      8·
      5 months ago

      i honestly dont understand how people can be so dumb. does she genuinly not have any situational awareness? did she really not realize that maybe telling the judge that under different circumstances she would have punched her in the face isnt gonna play well for her?