David Benham arrested outside abortion business

Police officers said they arrested pro-life activist David Benham on Saturday because he was violating North Carolina’s stay-at-home order. Benham and a small group of other activists were counseling women entering an abortion facility. Police also arrested seven others who refused to leave the area, WBTV in Charlotte reported. Benham and his twin brother Jason are known for almost hosting an HGTV reality TV show based on their successful real estate business, but HGTV scrapped the show because of their religious views.

Were they breaking the order? Benham said the group was staying 6 feet apart and taking health precautions. “We are offering essential services to these mothers, and you know this,” he is heard telling the police in a video of his arrest. “And we are practicing social distancing. We are doing everything well within the ordinance, well within the provisions.” Benham argued the officers were suppressing religious expression by selectively enforcing the order, meant to slow the spread of COVID-19.

Dig deeper: Read Leah Hickman’s report in Vitals about the arrests of other pro-life activists outside abortion businesses during the pandemic.