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Pro-life grandfather put in ‘notoriously violent’ federal prison after peaceful protest
Catholic Vote ^ | October 17, 2024 | McKenna Snow

Posted on 10/17/2024 4:28:31 PM PDT by Morgana

CV NEWS FEED // A pro-life advocate and grandfather was put in “one of the most notoriously violent federal prisons in the country” this week, following the criminal prosecution over his participation in a peaceful protest outside an abortion facility, according to a recent The Daily Wire report.

The Daily Wire reported that Calvin Zastrow, 63, was set to enter the Federal Correctional Institute Thomson in Illinois on October 15.

The Daily Wire’s Leif Le Mahieu wrote that the prison “has made headlines in recent years with reports of rampant violence and abuse,” as there were five suspected homicides from 2019 to early 2023 in the special management unit. In the same unit during this time, there were also two suspected suicides. Further, in 2022, there were almost 300 reports of sexual misconduct against prison employees, according to the Daily Wire report.

In July, a federal judge sentenced Zastrow to six months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release. As CatholicVote previously reported, Zastrow was among several pro-life advocates who were prosecuted after they participated in a peaceful protest outside of a Tennessee abortion facility in 2021.

Zastrow was the only defendant to receive prison time. An Associated Press report on the sentencing stated that he was regarded as “one of the main organizers” of the pro-life demonstration.

In an exclusive interview with the Daily Wire before he entered the federal prison, Zastrow said that he was praying in preparation.

“I’m praying to be able to be able to witness for Christ,” he said. “If I’m miserable there and can’t sleep well then I’ll just suffer with honor for Jesus.”

Zastrow also commented on the cognitive dissonance of where the federal government directs its personnel’s efforts. “They don’t have enough federal agents protecting former presidents from getting shot in the head,” he said. “But they’ve got plenty of Marshals to go hunt down and find pro-lifers and put them in prison.”

In January, Zastrow and several co-defendants were convicted of violating the controversial Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances (FACE) Act and of “felony conspiracy charges,” according to CatholicVote. In August, CatholicVote reported that Texas Rep. Chip Roy’s office found that since the FACE Act was established in 1994, 97% of all FACE Act prosecutions have been brought against pro-life defendants.


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Front Page News; Government; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: abortion; aletatrauger; alsmith; alsmithdinner; faceact; freespeech; mdtennessee; politicalprisoners; prolife; romancatholicism
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FReepers Please Please Please pray for this man.

I have a feeling he will be okay and that this is a Daniel in the Lion's den kind of thing, please hear me out.

Many of you remember when I posted about Kermit Gosnell and that trial. Well when he was in jail, (and sent to prison) every day the other inmates would yet at him "BABY KILLER! BABY KILLER!". It was shocking that these men hated abortionist.

I am hoping that when they find out what this guy is in for and he talks to them about abortion he will give them a change of heart.

Still pray he will be okay

1 posted on 10/17/2024 4:28:31 PM PDT by Morgana
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To: Morgana

Criminals ought to be able to choose what prison they go to.


2 posted on 10/17/2024 4:31:22 PM PDT by babble-on
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To: Morgana

Hopefully in a little over 3 months, President Trump will pardon and release America’s political prisoners.


3 posted on 10/17/2024 4:40:39 PM PDT by DesertRhino (2016 Star Wars, 2020 The Empire Strikes Back, 2024... RETURN OF THE JEDI. )
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To: Morgana

I’ve been trying to find in that pesky constitution thingie where the fed was granted the right to regulate medical clinics.


4 posted on 10/17/2024 4:57:41 PM PDT by joe fonebone (And the people said NO! The End)
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To: Morgana

This gets tried periodically for decades. Many of the incarcerated wind up winning over a decent number of the other prisoners. Fr. Norm Weslin comes to mind.


5 posted on 10/17/2024 5:00:20 PM PDT by Dr. Sivana ("Whatsoever he shall say to you, do ye." (John 2:5))
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To: Morgana

>> It was shocking that these men hated abortionist.

No secret that prison populations despise pedos


6 posted on 10/17/2024 5:02:22 PM PDT by Gene Eric (Don't be a statist! )
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To: DesertRhino

I hope that happens too.


7 posted on 10/17/2024 5:03:43 PM PDT by No name given ( Anonymous is who you’ll know me as )
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To: joe fonebone

It’s not in there.


8 posted on 10/17/2024 5:04:06 PM PDT by No name given ( Anonymous is who you’ll know me as )
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To: Morgana

No shame in going to prison representing King Jesus!


9 posted on 10/17/2024 5:13:56 PM PDT by Dogbert41 (“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God” -Matthew 5:9)
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To: babble-on
Criminals ought to be able to choose what prison they go to.

Still the same old piece of cr@p you always were.

I see you've toned down your NeverTrumping for this election cycle...

10 posted on 10/17/2024 5:16:33 PM PDT by kiryandil (Kraft durch Freude! - The Kamunist and The Walzrus )
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To: Morgana

If pro-lifers flip the switch and seek to be arrested, it could be like the civil rights movement, when going to jail became a communal religious experience. A bit of hymn singing, and you might have the normal inmates becoming welcoming. Just get the right protestors involved, single young men and women and local pastors.


11 posted on 10/17/2024 5:21:02 PM PDT by Eleutheria5 (Every Goliath has his David. Child in need of a CGM system. https://gofund.me/6452dbf1. )
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To: Morgana

And the name of the federal judge is? He gets a job that he doesn’t even have to show up for and still gets paid. Then he gets is full retirement. What is his name? or is it a woman?


12 posted on 10/17/2024 5:21:15 PM PDT by ladyjane
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To: Morgana

ALL DEMOCRATS ARE PURE EVIL!!! DEMONIC!!!


13 posted on 10/17/2024 5:30:38 PM PDT by Ann Archy (Abortion....... The HUMAN Sacrifice to the god of Convenience.)
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To: babble-on

rarely is vincible ignorance proclaimed so unequivicolly.


14 posted on 10/17/2024 5:31:34 PM PDT by xoxox
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To: kiryandil

Yep, then they could choose the country club prisons the elite get to go to.


15 posted on 10/17/2024 6:05:52 PM PDT by Ronald77
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To: Dogbert41

AMEN. This man can testify about His glory to those that need to hear it. Then again, we all could do with that.


16 posted on 10/17/2024 6:35:00 PM PDT by Spacetrucker
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To: ladyjane
And the name of the federal judge is? He gets a job that he doesn’t even have to show up for and still gets paid. Then he gets is full retirement. What is his name? or is it a woman?

Rapin' Bill stooge Aleta Trauger of the Middle District of Tennessee.

SHe's just carrying on Big Bill and Hillary's Satanic legacy...

17 posted on 10/17/2024 6:36:25 PM PDT by kiryandil (Kraft durch Freude! - The Kamunist and The Walzrus )
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To: Morgana

Still okay to protest at pro-life places.


18 posted on 10/17/2024 7:09:35 PM PDT by SkyDancer ( ~ Am Yisrael Chai ~)
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To: kiryandil

She’s not only pro-abortion it seems

but also pro-same-sex marriage

Brilliant!!


19 posted on 10/17/2024 7:29:39 PM PDT by SaveFerris (Luke 17:28 ... as it was in the Days of Lot; They did Eat, They Drank, They Bought, They Sold ......)
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To: Dr. Sivana

The January 6th prisoners say the same thing. They are welcomed.


20 posted on 10/17/2024 7:31:09 PM PDT by roving (Deplorable Erectionists Listless Vessel )
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