(Grand Rapids, MI – September 17, 2021) – Today, a jury returned a verdict of “not guilty” for each defendant in the criminal trespass trial of four courageous pro-lifers, Dr. Monica Miller, Heather Idoni, Anne Norton, and Robert Kovaly, who entered the property of the Heritage Clinic, an abortion center located in the City of Grand Rapids, Michigan, to counsel women in an effort to save them and their unborn babies from the harm caused by abortion.
The Red Rose Rescuers went to the Heritage abortion center on May 13, 2020. They went to this place of killing not with an intent to do harm, but with an intent to do charity. They did not possess weapons. Rather, they were armed with red roses and a message of love. They were there to provide information, counselling, and financial assistance—whatever was necessary to help the mothers choose life and to avert the harm caused by abortion.
Police video of two rescuers, Monica Miller and Robert Kovaly, counselling in the Heritage parking lot.
The abortion center did not want these rescuers near their place of killing because the rescuers’ message of love would turn women away from abortion and thus reduce the profits the abortion center would receive from its killing business.
After hearing the testimony of six witnesses (the prosecution presented the testimony of the abortion center manager and two police officers and the defense presented the testimony of three of the pro-life rescuers), the jury deliberated for a little over an hour and returned the “not guilty” verdicts.
AFLC Co-Founder and Senior Counsel Robert Muise, who represented the pro-life rescuers in the trial, commented:
“Praise God for this is a victory not only for these rescuers but for the unborn as well. Roe v. Wade is the unjust law of our time. These brave rescuers are like those brave Americans who by their direct action helped end the unjust Jim Crow laws, which existed for about 100 years in this Country. Roe v. Wade has been around since 1973. It is time for that unjust law to go as well.”
Attorney Muise with the four Red Rose Rescuers following the jury verdict.