Blocking DC Abortion Clinic Leads To Conviction For Alexandria Woman

ALEXANDRIA, VA — An Alexandria woman was among five defendants convicted for blocking access to an abortion clinic in Washington, DC.

Lauren Handy, 28, of Alexandria and four others were convicted of felony conspiracy against rights and a Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances Act violation in relation to blocked access at a reproductive health clinic that provides abortions in DC on Oct. 22, 2020. Others convicted in DC federal court are John Hinshaw, 67, of Levittown, New York; Heather Idoni, 61, of Linden, Michigan; William Goodman, 52, of Bronx, New York; and Herb Geraghty, 25, of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

A judge ordered the defendants to be detained. Each defendant could face a maximum prison sentence of 11 years, three years of supervised release and a fine up to $350,000. Sentencing has not yet been scheduled.

According to prosecutors, Handy and the four other defendants created a blockage at the reproductive health clinic to prevent patients from accessing services. Handy and four others forcefully entered the clinic and blocked the doors with their bodies, furniture, chains and ropes. Handy reportedly led the blockage, which was also livestreamed on Facebook.

The defendants' actions violated the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances Act "by using a physical obstruction to injure, intimidate and interfere with the clinic’s employees and a patient, because they were providing or obtaining reproductive health services," a news release from DC federal prosecutors said.

Handy is involved with the Progressive Anti-Abortion Uprising as director of activism. In 2022, Handy and Progressive Anti-Abortion Uprising's executive director Terrisa Bukovinac found medical waste services taking what allegedly contained fetuses at DC's Washington Surgi Center. After burying many of the remains, the activists got DC police to pick up five fetuses the group claimed were nearly full-term fetuses.

Handy was also one of the defendants who received jail time for trespassing at an Alexandria women's health clinic. In the November 2021 at the Alexandria Women’s Center, activists had been handing out materials against abortion and pink roses, according to the Progressive Anti-Abortion Uprising.