Nearly four years after Mark Hawk, a Catholic father of seven and pro-life activist, was arrested at gunpoint, he and his wife won a settlement of more than $1 million from the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ).
The Hawk home, located in rural eastern Pennsylvania, was raided by 20 armed federal agents in the early hours of the morning on September 23, 2022. Hawke was arrested in front of his family and interrogated for six hours.
Hawk and his wife, Ryan-Marie, sued the DOJ and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) in November 2023, after Hawk was acquitted of the incident that led to the raid in January of that year.
While praying at a Planned Parenthood facility in October 2021, Hawk defended her 12-year-old son during an altercation with an aggressive, elderly Planned Parenthood volunteer.
Upon his arrest, Hawk was charged with alleged violations of the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entry (FACE) Act, a 1994 federal law that protects access to abortion services and places of worship. If convicted, Hawk faces up to 11 years in federal prison and a fine of up to $350,000. Under the Biden administration, several pro-life activists were charged with violating the FACE Act, which the Justice Department now claims. weaponization Of law.
In the lawsuit, the Hawks alleged that they and their children suffered post-traumatic stress, financial loss and loss of reputation following the incident. She also said that her children suffer from intense anxiety, a constant fear of losing their parents, and an inability to sleep, and that the stress of the trial caused Ryan-Marie to miscarry three times and receive a diagnosis of infertility.
Mark Hawk hugs and kisses his wife Ryan-Marie Hawk after being acquitted of federal charges by a jury in Philadelphia on Monday, Jan. 30, 2023. Hawk is also accompanied by his 14-year-old son Mark Hawk Jr. and his 12-year-old daughter Ava Hawk. Credit: Joe Bucuras/EWTN News
‘Big victory for freedom of expression’
The two organizations involved in the case are celebrating this victory as a victory for the pro-life movement and freedom of expression.
Shawn Carney, president of 40 Days for Life, called the victory “a huge legal victory not just for pro-life Americans, but for free speech” in a video. statement.
Carney said, “This is a huge victory for all Americans who want our right to peacefully express our views while abiding by the law without fear of our government.”
Peter Breen, executive vice president and head of litigation, Thomas More Society Said The organization was “thrilled with the result”.
“The Biden Justice Department’s threats against pro-life people and people of faith have been put in place,” Breen said.
“We took on the Goliath – the entire might of the United States government – and won,” Breen said. “The jury saw through and rejected the prosecution’s discriminatory case, which was harassment from day one. This is a victory for Mark and the entire pro-life movement.”
Carney said the victory was a “long effort”.
“His conviction rate at the DOJ is 98%, so he’s part of the 2% that get acquitted,” Carney said. “And then taking offense and saying we will not stand for this from our government, and suing them, and for them to settle and win is a huge victory.”
Carney said that, as pro-life, “we got a lot of harassment from the DOJ under Biden, and President Trump has fixed it.”
“It’s been absolutely night and day. Under Biden, at one point, we were getting one to two inquiries per week from the FBI at different 40 Days for Life locations,” Carney said. “This is absolutely ridiculous, and it has stopped, and we have been victorious in our lawsuit against the DOJ.”
Carney concluded, “So, don’t be afraid, go out, peacefully pray to end abortion.”
