Eva Edl, an 89-year-old pro-life activist, was sentenced to three years probation after being convicted under the FACE Act for her peaceful protest at a Tennessee abortion clinic in March 2021. During her sentencing hearing, Edl, a survivor of a Yugoslavian death camp, shared how her Christian faith and traumatic childhood experiences shaped her commitment to pro-life activism. She was charged after participating in a sit-in at the Carafem Health Center in Mt. Juliet, where she sang hymns and prayed, urging women not to proceed with abortions.
Edl, who has been rescuing babies since 1988, told the court that her work is motivated by “the love of Jesus alone” and expressed sorrow over being misunderstood. She referenced her Bible, calling it her guide and emphasizing that human life is made in God’s image. Recalling her own experience of being imprisoned as a child by Communist dictator Josip Tito, she described how her family was taken to die in concentration camps and wished Christians had stood in protest to stop the trains.
The Biden-Harris administration charged Edl with violating the FACE Act, which criminalizes blocking access to abortion facilities. Although eligible for up to six months in prison, Edl received probation after federal Judge Chip Frensley acknowledged her beliefs but emphasized that religious conviction does not excuse breaking federal law. The judge sided with Justice Department lawyer Kyle Boynton, who argued that the case was about legal compliance rather than personal beliefs. Edl’s supporters gathered with her outside the courthouse, singing hymns as she expressed her wish for “the Lord to speak through me.”
Another protester involved in the sit-in with Edl is also set to be sentenced.
