Rebecca Lavrenz, the 71-year-old great-grandmother charged by the Department of Justice for her peaceful participation in the January 6, 2021, rally in Washington DC, plans to appeal the Thursday verdict that could see her locked up for three years, in a statement sent to The National Pulse.
“I am in utter disbelief by [the] verdict. Never in my life did I imagine that my own government would charge me as a criminal for exercising my religious liberties and rights to free speech, which are guaranteed by the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution,” Lavrenz said.
“While I disagree with the jury’s decision today, I plan to appeal this verdict at the U.S. Court of Appeals.
Lavrenz is a mother of four, grandmother of seven, and great grandmother of one. She maintains her attendance at the January 6, 2021 was to “peacefully assemble” and pray for our nation. She spent about ten minutes inside the Capitol building, which is usually open to the public, after police moved aside and allowed protesters in.
Almost two years after the rally, Lavrenz — who has no criminal record or any history of violence — was charged by Joe Biden’s Department of Justice on four federal criminal misdemeanor counts:
- Entering and remaining in a restricted building;
- disorderly and disruptive conduct in a restricted building or grounds;
- disorderly conduct in a capitol building;
- parading, demonstrating, or picketing in a capitol.
With sentencing in August, Lavrenz face up to three years in prison and over a quarter of a million dollars in fines.
