"I was praising God." That's how pro-life activist Bevelyn Williams reacted when she learned she would be pardoned by President Donald Trump. Williams, who was sentenced to 41 months in prison for an alleged violation of the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances Act (FACE Act), has gone viral in recent days after video footage showed her exiting prison and greeting her 2-year-old child and husband.

The clip, which was widely shared online and shows Williams giddily embracing her toddler, resonated with thousands — a response she called "emotionally overwhelming." "I knew Trump wasn't gonna let me sit in that prison," she said. "If he won, he was going to get me. I knew that." 

Within hours of Trump's inauguration, the president began the process of pardoning Williams and 22 others who were convicted of FACE Act violations. For Williams, the ability to exit prison after serving just over three months was incredible. "I was praising God," she said. "I was in the middle of my cell block, screaming, praying in the Spirit, and praising God, because, once again, He delivered."

A July 2024 press release from the United States Attorney's Office Southern District of New York cited a 2020 incident during which the government alleged Williams' "interference, including by threats and force, with individuals seeking to obtain and provide lawful reproductive health services at a reproductive health center in Manhattan." U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said Williams' actions were physical and reiterated the claim that she prevented people from getting the services they wanted. But she tells a different story.