Following the overturning of Roe v. Wade, pro-life establishments have found themselves the targets of violent attacks perpetrated by radical pro-abortion activists. In fact, Family Research Council has listed more than 90 violent crimes against pregnancy resource centers (PRCs), pro-life organizations and churches since a draft of the Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization Supreme Court decision was leaked on May 2.
When asked how much her organization is spending on increased security, Beck Sheetz, CEO of Life First—which operates two PRCs in Virginia—revealed it’s “in the tens of thousands of dollars.”
Shortly after the Dobbs draft was leaked, someone defaced the outside of the organization’s First Care Women’s Health Center in Manassas with pro-abortion slogans. Sheetz knew then that security had to become a top priority for Life First in order to protect both staff and clients.
“We had a security firm in place as soon as the Roe v. Wade decision came down,” Sheetz told The Washington Stand. “That was a significant spend for us to have 24/7 coverage in both locations. Now we have alarm systems, enhanced door access controls … reinforcements to doors … shatter-proofing film on all our windows and our glass doors.” In addition, she noted that they installed extra security cameras to cover vulnerable spots behind their buildings.
Another pro-life organization on high alert is CompassCare. On June 7, the pro-abortion group Jane’s Revenge firebombed CompassCare’s Buffalo, New York, office. The damage was extensive, forcing operations to move to an undisclosed location.
But CompassCare vowed to rebuild.
Just 52 days after the attack, CompassCare CEO, the Reverend Jim Harden, announced that the office was ready to reopen—despite threats of additional attacks.
“These attacks must stop,” he said. “But, even if they don’t, we will continue to be every woman’s Good Samaritan, no matter what, because that is what Jesus did for us.”
According to The Washington Stand, CompassCare has spent at least $150,000 on securing their building, and will need to spend an additional $60,000 annually to maintain security measures.
In the Senate, Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Missouri) has introduced the Pregnancy Resource Center Defense Act, which would increase penalties for those that attack PRCs or houses of worship. A companion bill has been introduced by Rep. Claudia Tenney (R-New York) in the House.
“The Biden Administration has turned a blind eye while radical leftists attack pregnancy care centers and houses of worship,” said Hawley. “And now left-wing politicians are trying to shut them down. It’s time to put an end to the attacks and get tough on thugs who engage in violence, arson and other means of destruction.”
Above: First Image, a pregnancy resource center in Portland, Oregon, was vandalized on June 27.
Photo: John Rudoff/Sipa USA/Newscom