Key Takeaways:
– Zack and Lindsay Knotts, devout Christian pro-lifers, were detained by Ohio police outside an abortion clinic.
– The couple used amplified devices to offer to adopt the unborn children and provide resources for abortion-minded women.
– The police charged Zack Knotts with a minor misdemeanor for generating unreasonable noise and causing distress to passerby.
– Despite their encounter with law enforcement, the couple plans to return to the clinic for more outreach.
Ohio’s Pro-Life Advocates Meet Hurdles
In an unexpected turn of events, a pro-life Christian couple was recently held by the police outside an Ohio abortion clinic. The mission of Zack and Lindsay Knotts has seen them spend the last three Saturdays at the Northeast Ohio Women’s Center in Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio, an hour’s drive from their home in Youngstown. They use sound-amplifying devices to spread their message, share the Gospel, convince mothers to keep their babies, and even offer to adopt the women’s unborn children themselves.
Zack Knotts shared his commitment to this cause, stating his intention to preach the Gospel and warn people about the consequences of their actions. He emphasized that there is hope and good news in Christ. The couple has arrangements with an adoption agency and pregnancy resource centers to provide necessary support to these women.
A Brush with Law Enforcement
On their most recent Saturday spent at the clinic, police apprehended Zack Knotts charging him with disorderly conduct. Evidence points to the use of a megaphone as the main reason for this charge. Zack noted that he had previously checked with the police department about the use of sound-amplification devices and was informed that there were no sound ordinances in Cuyahoga Falls.
Despite this, four officers escorted Zack to a police car, threatening to arrest him if he resisted. The Cuyahoga Falls Police Department, however, has refrained from commenting on the incident. Despite the ordeal, the Knotts plan to continue their pro-life advocacy at the clinic.
The Uphill Legal Battle
Following the incident, Zack pleaded not guilty at his first court appearance. In the face of mounting legal charges, he has reached out to Christian legal aid groups for help. His next hearing is scheduled for January 9.
The Knotts are driven by a compelling desire to help expectant mothers, offering them all the support they need to carry their child to term and either raise the child themselves or put them up for adoption. They are also open to adopting these children themselves, seeing it as a reflection of the Christian belief of being adopted into God’s family.
Unfair Application of the Law?
Zack Knotts raised concerns about the unequal application of the law. He noted that he was charged, while the clinic escorts, who used loud kazoos to overpower their message, faced no repercussions.
This pattern of what could be seen as an unequal application of the law has become a common occurrence in recent years. It’s been noted that since 2021, the current administration’s Justice Department has brought cases against at least 50 pro-life advocates.
Despite the challenges, Zack Knotts and his wife Lindsay are determined in their fight, eager to stand up for their rights and those of unborn children. They see themselves as merely part of a bigger battle across the nation, one where the stakes are high, and the fight to uphold their belief in the sanctity of life is more paramount than ever.