Zastrow Reports To Prison For Sentence
Calvin Zastrow, a 63-year-old Christian evangelist and veteran of the pro-life movement, is about to embark on a mission unlike any other in his long history of activism. On Tuesday, Zastrow will enter Federal Correctional Institute Thomson in Illinois, one of the nation’s most violent federal prisons, to begin serving a six-month sentence for participating in a peaceful protest at a Tennessee abortion facility in March 2021. His case, like many others, has drawn national attention, shining a spotlight on the Biden-Harris administration's aggressive use of federal laws to prosecute pro-life demonstrators.
The charges against Zastrow stem from a protest where he and others sang hymns and peacefully blocked the entrance to the abortion clinic, urging women not to go through with the procedure. Despite the peaceful nature of the protest, Zastrow was convicted of violating the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances (FACE) Act and conspiracy against rights, a charge historically used to target members of hate groups like the Ku Klux Klan.
As he prepares for his time in prison, Zastrow remains resolute in his faith and mission. Before turning himself in, he plans to pray and sing with friends and family outside the prison walls, holding to his belief that he will continue his evangelistic work behind bars. "I’m praying to be able to witness for Christ," Zastrow told The Daily Wire. "If I’m miserable there and can’t sleep well then I’ll just suffer with honor for Jesus... But if I’m able to get sleep and be healthy, I’m just going to see who the Lord wants me to minister to."
Thomson prison, where Zastrow will serve his sentence, has been plagued by violence and abuse in recent years. Reports indicate that from 2019 to 2023, its special management unit saw five suspected homicides and two suicides. The year 2022 alone brought 275 allegations of sexual misconduct by prison employees. Zastrow is entering this environment fully aware of the dangers but remains committed to his faith.
Zastrow’s case is part of a broader crackdown on pro-life protesters by the Biden administration. The use of conspiracy charges in these cases has drawn criticism, with many pointing out that the statute was originally intended to curb violent hate groups, not peaceful demonstrators. Zastrow’s conviction follows a troubling pattern, as pro-life activists across the country, from Michigan to Washington, D.C., have faced similar charges.
The legal battle over the FACE Act and the conspiracy charges is ongoing. The Thomas More Society, a legal organization defending pro-life activists, is leading efforts to challenge the government's application of these laws.
Appeals are currently making their way through the courts, and Zastrow remains hopeful that a ruling in favor of the pro-life movement could reverse what he sees as a dangerous precedent. "A decision would stop this freight train from hell from persecuting all these peaceful pro-life Christians around the country," Zastrow said.
As he prepares to enter prison, Zastrow is clear about his disappointment with the current administration's priorities. "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."
Zastrow’s co-defendant, Chet Gallagher, was sentenced last month to 16 months in prison. He is expected to report in February, pending sentencing on related convictions in Detroit. Despite the hardships ahead, Zastrow remains steadfast in his belief that his mission continues, even behind bars. As he walks through the gates of Thomson, Zastrow says he will be singing “All Hail the Power of Jesus’s Name,” declaring his faith and putting "all the demons in hell on notice."