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Washington, D.C. - An anti-abortion activist was sentenced to two years incarceration in D.C. federal court Friday, marking the final sentencing among nine others charged in a 2020 blockade at a reproductive health clinic.

U.S. District Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly emphasized during the nearly two-hour hearing that the case against Paula Paulette Harlow, 75, was focused on her actions, not her religious or political beliefs.

"This is not an abortion case," Judge Kollar-Kotelly stated. "It's a civil rights case."

Judge Kollar-Kotelly asserted that the blockade was neither peaceful nor nonviolent. She noted that Harlow was aware of the possibility of arrest when she participated in the October 2020 blockade at the Washington Surgi-clinic.

According to court filings, Harlow entered the clinic with a bike lock around her neck and shoved a clinic employee. Prosecutors detailed that she then chained herself to a co-conspirator to block access to the treatment area and refused to unlock herself when police arrived, necessitating officers to cut off the bike lock.

Harlow "faced clear choices in this blockade," Judge Kollar-Kotelly said, including the option to remain outside with other activists.

"What you did is unlawful, in terms of impeding people, in terms of putting your views over what is legally required," the judge added.

During the hearing, Harlow contended that video footage of the blockade did not capture the full context, claiming she was shouting for someone to call 911 for a patient in distress. However, Judge Kollar-Kotelly remained unswayed, pointing out, "The care was on the other side of the door."

Harlow was found guilty following a November bench trial of violating the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances Act and conspiracy against civil rights.

Harlow's attorney, Allen Orenberg, argued for a sentence of home confinement due to Harlow's health conditions and her close ties to her church and community, emphasizing that she had "led an otherwise exemplary life."

Orenberg told Law360 via email after the hearing that Harlow plans to appeal her convictions and sentence. He stated the judge's "sentence is fair and just, under all of the facts and circumstances."

Prosecutors had sought a term of incarceration at the low end of a 33- to 41-month guideline range. Although short of that range, Harlow's two-year prison term is consistent with the sentences received by others involved in the blockade.

Lauren Handy, identified as one of the main organizers, received the longest sentence of nearly five years on May 14. Other co-conspirators sentenced in May received prison terms ranging from 21 to 34 months, and the sole defendant to plead guilty was sentenced to 10 months.

The government is represented by Rebecca G. Ross and John Crabb Jr. of the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Columbia and Sanjay H. Patel of the U.S. Department of Justice's Criminal Section.

Harlow is represented by Allen H. Orenberg of The Orenberg Law Firm LLC.