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Instances of violence against pro-life groups and churches increased in the U.S. this weekend in the wake of the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v Wade.
On Friday, June 24, the Supreme Court overturned the landmark 1973 decision on Roe v Wade. Soon after, pro-choice champions organized demonstrations, with calls for violent action emerging from some extreme pro-abortion groups. Aleteia previously reported that the group Jane’s Revenge posted fliers in DC calling their supporters to “hit the streets,” and suggesting that they riot.
While incidents violence were not as widespread as some had feared, select locations around the country were the victims of vandalism over the weekend. These included protests turning violent, as well as the destruction of pregnancy centers and churches. Several fires are now being investigated as possible cases of arson.
Church attacks
KRGV reported a weekend attack on a Texas church that saw damages and the theft of statues. Two statues were stolen from churches, while one depicting the Blessed Mother was toppled and damaged. Authorities say they have no leads on the crime and urge anyone with information to come forward.
On Sunday, at a church in Fairfax, Virginia, police and fire departments were called when the building was found to be tagged in multiple places with graffiti and smoldering mulch was discovered on the property. Authorities reported that they discovered traces of an accelerant used to help spread the fire. They said the messages spray-painted were in relation to the SCOTUS decision on Roe.
The above report from WUSA9, also covers an incident in Lynchburg, VA, where four masked individuals were recorded defacing a crisis pregnancy center. The footage shows the building’s windows smashed in, as well as the entryway tagged with red and black paint bearing pro-choice slogans and anarchist symbols.
Pregnancy centers
In Longmont, Colorado, the fire department was dispatched to the Life Choices pregnancy Center, where the building sustained fire and significant smoke damage. On the department’s Facebook page, images show the building was spray-painted with slogans like “If abortions aren’t safe then neither are you,” and “Bans off our bodies,” placed alongside anarchist symbols.
The Paradise reported that a similar scene was discovered at Tree of Life pregnancy support center, in California. Police say that Tree of Life was sent a warning letter by Jane’s Revenge that stated their intent to attack the clinic if they did not shut their doors. The center can be seen with broken windows and spray-painted slogans in the video below.
Demonstrations
In Portland, Oregon, a protest that began peacefully became violent when a group of about 75 people, mostly dressed in black, began tearing up the town. Streets were lined with spray-painted slogans and several banks and coffee shops had their windows broken. It took police an estimated five hours to disperse the crowd, after arresting 10.
Deadline reported on a California protest that became even more violent, with demonstrators attacking police officers. On the night of the Supreme Court decision, June 24, protesters threw projectiles and shot fireworks at the police. According to the report, one man threw a makeshift flame thrower at an officer who had to be treated for burns. The night ended with four officers needing medical attention.
In Arizona, a massive demonstration at the state capitol had lawmakers in fear, as the protestors banged on doors and windows, preventing state legislators from leaving the building. The crowd, reported at over 7,000, was so rowdy that police needed to use tear gas to disperse them. The gas then seeped back into the capitol building, forcing the elected officials to continue their session at a different location.
