Former U.S. President Donald Trump issued pardons for 23 anti-abortion activists on Thursday, as part of a series of executive actions signed from the Oval Office.
The individuals pardoned were convicted of obstructing access to abortion clinics, actions Trump defended during the signing. “They should not have been prosecuted. Many of them are elderly people. This is a great honor to sign this. Theyâll be very happy,” he stated.
Among those pardoned is Lauren Handy, the leader of Progressive Anti-Abortion Uprising (PAAU), according to U.S. media reports. Handy and her group were convicted in 2020 for conspiring to storm a Washington, D.C., reproductive health clinic. During the incident, the group forced entry into the Surgi-Clinic, injured a nurse, and intimidated patients and staff, remaining inside for several hours. Handy was found guilty in August 2023 and sentenced in May 2024.
The issue of abortion rights became a pivotal topic during the 2024 presidential race following the U.S. Supreme Courtâs 2022 decision to overturn Roe v. Wade. This landmark ruling had provided nearly 50 years of federal protection for abortion rights, thrusting the topic into the center of national debate.
Trumpâs pardons have drawn both applause and criticism, further highlighting the deep divisions in Americaâs ongoing battle over reproductive rights.
