Pro-Life Woman Faces 3 Years in Prison for Filming Video Outside Planned Parenthood

A pro-life activist with the group Survivors of the Abortion Holocaust faces up to three years in prison and a $21,000 fine after filming a short Instagram video on a public sidewalk outside a Planned Parenthood abortion facility.

Anastasia Rogers was arrested December 18 while peacefully handing out pregnancy resource pamphlets on the public sidewalk in front of the Planned Parenthood at 1522 Bush Street in San Francisco, California

She was joined by Robert Byrd of Pro-Life San Francisco.

A security guard photographed her as she waved, and about an hour later a sheriff’s deputy arrested her. She spent about seven hours in jail before being released.

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Prosecutors allege a 14-second Instagram reel Rogers posted two months earlier violated California Penal Code 423.2(g). The law prohibits intentionally videotaping within 100 feet of a reproductive health services facility without consent and with the specific intent to intimidate a patient, provider or assistant.

The video followed a popular “handshake” trend set to the song “Illegal” by PinkPantheress. It showed Rogers shaking hands toward the camera — symbolizing pro-life outreach offering help to women in crisis pregnancies — then toward a clinic escort to contrast the two approaches.

The reel has been viewed nearly 400,000 times. The escort did not object to being filmed at the time, according to Rogers and her group.

Rogers and her attorney received a phone call about a warrant for her arrest related to the video but were given no details despite repeated requests. The arrest occurred on a day when surgical abortions were scheduled at the facility.

“If Planned Parenthood thinks that throwing me in jail for 7 hours or 7 days is going to stop me from loving my neighbor — the preborn child — they’re wrong,” Rogers said.

Supporters called the charge an abuse of the law and a violation of her First Amendment rights to speak on public property. Rogers was not obstructing access or making threats, they said.

“Planned Parenthood is actively working to target and silence Survivors activists through false accusations and legal intimidation,” the group stated.

Rogers has described her sidewalk outreach as “the last chance to get life-affirming resources into the hands of women going in to make the worst decision of their life.”

She has continued offering women alternatives to abortion despite the case.

Her trial is scheduled for this week.