{"id":317359,"date":"2024-08-17T09:35:19","date_gmt":"2024-08-17T14:35:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.liveaction.org\/news\/?p=317359"},"modified":"2024-08-21T19:16:59","modified_gmt":"2024-08-22T00:16:59","slug":"prolifer-bevelyn-wiliams-impassioned-plea-sentencing-hearing","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/archive.liveaction.org\/news\/prolifer-bevelyn-wiliams-impassioned-plea-sentencing-hearing\/","title":{"rendered":"From ‘broken’ to blessed: Bevelyn Williams makes impassioned plea at FACE Act sentencing hearing"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Pro-life advocate <\/span>Bevelyn Williams<\/span><\/a> was recently convicted of violating the <\/span>FACE Act<\/span><\/a> and was <\/span>sentenced<\/span><\/a> to serve 41 months in federal prison. The protest for which she was prosecuted happened over four years ago, and during the time that has passed since that event, Williams has gotten married and welcomed a child into her family. She is currently a stay-at-home mom and her two-year-old daughter\u2019s primary caregiver.<\/span><\/p>\n

Williams has a remarkable personal story. After having three abortions \u2013 the first at age 15 \u2013 her life spiraled out of control, and she was repeatedly arrested. While incarcerated, she had a powerful encounter with another inmate that ultimately resulted in her conversion to Christianity.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

According to Williams, it is her faith, shaped by her personal experiences, that drives her pro-life advocacy. During her sentencing hearing on July 24, she shared her story. It provides compelling testimony regarding the resilience which enables the human spirit to transform pain into purpose.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Live Action News has received permission to reprint Williams\u2019 statement. Minor edits have been made for clarity and length.<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

The abortion was done\u2026 except it wasn\u2019t<\/b><\/p>\n

I grew up in a broken home. I had a challenging life\u2026. After I had my first abortion, it took a toll on me. It was one thing to have sex outside of marriage with a knucklehead young boy, just like me\u2026. But I think the icing on the cake is when I had the abortion. I didn’t want it. It was three months and five days [into my pregnancy], and I didn’t know what to do.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

I think at the time my dad was trying to protect me, and so he told me I didn’t have a choice. He said, \u201cYou have to go and get an abortion.\u201d\u2026 He gave [his girlfriend] an envelope full of money, and then she took me to the clinic\u2026.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

I laid on the table. They gave me the sonogram. They told me how far along I was, but they wouldn’t let me see. I remember asking, \u201cCan I see?\u201d And they said no.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n