Dozens of pro-life facilities and organizations have been attacked and vandalized since a draft Supreme Court opinion overturning Roe v. Wade was leaked in early May, in a trend that is particularly troubling given the lack of arrests made by authorities, pro-life leaders say.
Life Choices, a member of the National Institute of Family and Life Advocates (NIFLA), has helped more than 27,000 women and families over 37 years.
“We’ve pretty much lost everything but our ultrasound machines,” said Kathy Roberts, the clinic’s director.
Some pregnant women don’t want abortions, and many Christian pregnancy care centers are eager to give these women another option, she said.
Despite the attacks, there have been no arrests at the federal or state level, pro-life leaders say.
The NIFLA, a group that trains, protects, and equips more than 1,600 pregnancy care centers across the country, said it knows of no cases against even vandals, its vice president of legal affairs, Anne O’Connor, said in an email.
“While we are unaware of any arrests related to these incidents, we know that in some cases, the FBI is investigating potential hate crimes and violations of the FACE Act,” she said. “In others, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security has been brought in to help.”
Efforts Appreciated
The law creates penalties for attempts to injure or intimidate people to prevent them from obtaining or providing “reproductive health services.” It also punishes attempts to destroy reproductive health service facilities.Centers provide reproductive health services too and are now benefitting from the act’s provisions.
“Although violent acts against life-affirming pregnancy centers and medical clinics are on the rise, we appreciate the efforts of local and national law enforcement to maintain order and safety in our communities,” O’Connor said.
She also condemned violence against any human being.
Many of the attacks have been attributed to the radical pro-abortion group Jane’s Revenge, which has called for escalated attacks against pro-life groups since the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade. No one knows the exact structure or numbers of Jane’s Revenge, but the group has taken ownership of attacks across America.
“We will hunt you down and make your lives a living hell,” its online page reads. The group has announced that it is at “war” with pro-lifers, and that it’s willing to take their lives.
Nationwide Violence
Some pro-life leaders have described the months since the leaked Supreme Court draft on Roe v. Wade as the “pro-abortion Kristallnacht.” Many, including Roberts, say they are concerned about repeat attacks because of the lack of arrests.“There is some concern,” she said. “We were actually threatened again by phone. And there are groups that want to pursue continuing to harass different centers.”
Roberts has hired 24-hour security guards since the attack, which left $250,000 in damage.
She added that attacks might be enough to raise the cost of insurance as well.
“That has been at the top of my list of thoughts,” Roberts said. “It would be very possible for that to happen.”
Amid the uncertainty and risk of more attacks, Roberts said her clinic has to keep working to help pregnant women.
“We cannot ever let a bully on the block stop us from doing a good work,” she said.
Justice Department officials didn’t respond by press time to a request by The Epoch Times for comment.
