\u2018Red Rose Rescuers\u2019 appear in court, plead \u2018not guilty\u2019 to charges of entering abortion center <\/a><\/p>\n A Catholic priest pleaded \u201cnot guilty\u201d this morning to unlawful entry inside an abortion facility. The case moved forward, with a pre-trial hearing scheduled for May 23 and the actual trial on June 25.<\/p>\n The priest, Father Stephen Imbarrato, and two other pro-life activists, Julia Haag and Joan McKee (collectively the \u201cD.C. three\u201d<\/a>), will be tried together in June for their December 2 Red Rose Rescue<\/a>. They entered an abortion facility operated by Steven Bringham<\/a> at 6323 Georgia Ave NW, Suite 210 and gave roses and pro-life information to the women inside.<\/p>\n >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>><\/p>\n Imbarrato, Haag, and McKee are represented by Paul Kiyonaga, who is ranked by Washingtonian<\/em> magazine<\/a> as one of the area\u2019s top lawyers. (This magazine\u2019s lists have significant clout in the D.C. area.)<\/p>\n Kiyonaga informed Judge Frederick Weisberg that the pro-lifers intend to use a defense of necessity and\/or one related to acting on their consciences. The May 23 pre-trial hearing will be when Kiyonaga explains these arguments in more detail; Weisberg will then decide whether they can be used.<\/p>\n Weisberg indicated he doesn\u2019t think witnesses at that hearing will be necessary, but Kiyonaga said they may be. Kiyonaga will have to state his intentions about having witnesses at that hearing in a motion due April 17.<\/p>\n There have been six Red Rose Rescues in the U.S. so far. They took place in Virginia, Michigan, and New Mexico in September 2017 and Washington, D.C., Virginia, and Michigan on December 2, 2017.<\/p>\n The only Red Rose Rescue where the pro-life activists chose not to risk arrest was in Albuquerque, New Mexico in September 2017.<\/p>\n Today in Sterling Heights, Michigan, the trial of four Red Rose Rescuers, Will Goodman, Matthew Connolly, Abby McIntyre, and Monica Migliorino Miller<\/a>, began. The rescue for which they are being charged with trespassing was on September 15, 2017.<\/p>\nMichigan pro-lifers on trial today<\/strong><\/h4>\n