Following the recent leak of a draft Supreme Court opinion that would overturn the evil and indefensible 1973 decision in Roe v. Wade, some abortion supporters have responded with violence and harassment directed at pro-life organizations and individuals.
Early in the morning of May 8, 2022, the office of Wisconsin Family Action (WFA), the Badger State counterpart of New Yorkers for Constitutional Freedoms, was targeted by a pro-abortion domestic terrorist group. This group threw two Molotov cocktails into WFA’s offices, breaking windows and starting a fire. Thankfully, no one was hurt, but the pro-life organization’s building incurred damage. The arsonists also vandalized the exterior of the building with a message that read, “If abortions aren’t safe, then you aren’t either.” A group identified as “Jane’s Revenge” took credit for the attack. Chillingly, the group promised more attacks to come across the country. In a statement, Craig DeRoche, CEO and president of Family Policy Alliance, said, “Our dear friends in Wisconsin were targeted for a reason: they are effective. For more than three decades, they have stood at the helm of protecting life and families in the Badger State. And we know that they will continue that fight with even more courage and conviction following this attack.”
Later the same day, Oregon Right to Life in Salem was also subjected to a Molotov cocktail attack that set the organization’s building on fire. Per LifeNews.com, fire and police departments responded quickly and kept the damage to a minimum. No one was injured.
On May 8, members of the Old St. Patrick Cathedral in New York City gathered for a pro-life prayer procession and were subjected to vile pro-abortion harassment. According to The Western Journal, “a crowd came to block church members from their monthly trip to a nearby Planned Parenthood clinic” to pray for an end to abortion. A pro-abortion performer mimicked having an abortion on the church sidewalk as her fans cheered, “Thank God for abortion.” One pro-abortion protester reportedly danced with dolls that she identified as her “aborted babies.” On-scene New York Police Department officers told the pro-life participants that their safety could not be guaranteed and advised them not to take their monthly pro-life prayer walk. Heeding this counsel, most of the pro-lifers opted to pray inside the church instead.
In Manassas, Virginia, employees at First Care Women’s Health, a pro-life pregnancy center, arrived at their office on the morning of May 9 to find graffiti sprayed on the building. The graffiti included messages like “Abortion is a right,” “Fake Clinic,” and “Liars.”
To make matters worse, pro-abortion activists have publicly released the home addresses of conservative members of the Supreme Court of the United States. Since those addresses were disclosed, pro-abortion protesters have been gathering in front of justices’ homes. Justice Clarence Thomas’s resolve remains firm, however. “We are becoming addicted to wanting particular outcomes, not living with the outcomes we don’t like,” Thomas said during a recent judicial conference in Atlanta, Georgia. “We can’t be an institution that can be bullied into giving you just the outcomes you want,” he added. “The events from earlier this week are a symptom of that.”
In view of the recent uptick in violence against pro-life organizations, New Yorkers for Constitutional Freedoms has reviewed its safety protocols and strengthened its security. Jason J. McGuire, the organization’s executive director, said, “In the face of these desperate intimidation tactics, we remain unbowed, and more resolved than ever to see Roe delivered to the ash heap of history. We will not waver in this critical moment. Too much is at stake to do otherwise.” NYCF respectfully advises other pro-life organizations across New York to review and strengthen their own security measures for the protection of their clients, employees, and volunteers. We also urgently ask our brothers and sisters in Christ to pray for the safety of our organization, of our pro-life allies, and of the justices of the Supreme Court and their families. Also, please pray for our opponents, that they would come to experience the love and grace of Jesus Christ and repent of their support for abortion. Remember: Our struggle is not against deceived and hurting human beings; rather, our struggle is “against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places” (Ephesians 6:12).
Friends, let’s remember that the overturning of Roe v. Wade—whether it happens days from now or years from now—will only mark the end of the beginning of the great legal, legislative, and spiritual battle to restore a culture of life in the United States. While the end of Roe will be cause for great rejoicing, it will not end legal abortion in our land; rather, it will mean that the authority to set abortion policy will be restored to the elected branches of government. In some states, abortion will become illegal once Roe is no more. Here in New York, however, the mere possibility of an end to Roe has already motivated our stridently pro-abortion Governor, Kathy Hochul, and the extremist Democratic supermajorities in the State Legislature to look for ways to make our state’s abortion policies even worse than they already are.
Despite these challenges, let us not be found lacking in courage or resolve in the struggle for the sanctity of life. One day, by the grace of God, New York will become a pro-life state.