Two Michigan grandmothers are the face of Michigan’s extremely flawed justice system.
Heather Idoni is a Christian mother of 15 (10 of which were adopted) and grandmother who believes that children should be adopted and loved rather than aborted in a clinic. She made national news this week when she, along with other pro-life protesters, received a full pardon from President Trump for her involvement in protests at abortion centers.
Idoni was convicted under the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances Act for chaining herself to a door and blocking access to a clinic in Sterling Heights. She was sentenced to 24 months in federal prison.

While we celebrate her full pardon and return to family, we can’t forget about Joan Jacobson, a Right to Life volunteer who was shot in 2022 while collecting signatures opposing Michigan’s Proposal 3, which legalized abortion up through birth.
Jacobson was shot by Richard Harvey in rural Ionia County after she approached Harvey at his home and asked for a signature opposing Proposal 3. Harvey and his wife were reportedly hostile and asked Jacobson to leave.
While Jacobson was leaving the home, Harvey fired a shot that barely missed Jacobson’s spine. Harvey didn’t even call an ambulance or offer to help. Fortunately, Jacobson was able to drive to the nearest gas station and call an ambulance.
Harvey was charged with multiple felonies but ultimately entered a no-contest plea in exchange for 12 months of probation and community service.
Jacobson said in an interview that “some people in West Michigan think pro-lifers are violent and extremists.” She’s absolutely right, but it’s apparently not just some people in West Michigan—our justice system treats pro-lifers like violent extremists.
Protesting at an abortion clinic gets you two years in federal prison but shooting a pro-life volunteer gets you probation and community service. Heather Idoni and Joan Jacobson’s experiences show the injustice.
Anna Hoffman is a hockey mom of three living in Ann Arbor. Follow her on X @shoesonplease.