The nation’s largest Catholic civil rights organization, The Catholic League, sent a letter to the chairman of the House Judiciary Committee Monday requesting an investigation into those responsible for attacks on churches, pro-life activists and crisis pregnancy centers. The letter specifically called out Jane’s Revenge, a radical left-wing group, and their violent activities.
Led by president Bill Donohue, The Catholic League asked Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, to investigate the Department of Justice and the FBI’s reluctance to prosecute those guilty of such crimes. Donohue noted that with the exception of the recent indictment of two people charged with attacks on crisis pregnancy centers, very little has been done to prosecute these criminals.
[Raleigh, North Carolina]
GOP headquarters spray painted with "Jane's Revenge" slogan "If abortions aren't safe, then neither are you."https://t.co/enw8vRetUD pic.twitter.com/JYnhDY4PMb
— Emily (@Emily_Lykos) June 27, 2022
The Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances Act of 1994 was again brought to the public’s attention after Roe v. Wade was overturned. Jordan and Rep. Mike Johnson, R-La., launched an investigation into the use of the FACE Act against a pro-life activist while groups like Jane’s Revenge operated with no consequences.
In October, the FBI’s Portland Division offered a $25,000 reward for information in connection to a series of arson attacks against three pro-life centers. Words such as “IF ABORTION AIN’T SAFE NEITHER RU JR” and “JANES RVVGG” were spray-painted on the front of the Mother and Child Education Center.
Just last week, the DOJ announced the first arrests and indictments in connection to incidents targeting pro-life centers where Jane’s Revenge was implicated. Caleb Freestone, 27, and Amber Smith-Stewart, 23, were indicted by a federal grand jury for spray-painting threats on Florida reproductive health services facilities.
St. Paul, Minn.: On July 5, pregnancy resource center Birthright was vandalized and the messages "Blood on your hands" & "Abort America" were sprayed on the building. Far-left terror group Jane's Revenge claimed responsibility. https://t.co/NexK6dIZOP pic.twitter.com/kxz9UC3eIZ
— Andy Ngô 🏳️🌈 (@MrAndyNgo) July 7, 2022
Donohue noted that he wrote to U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland last year regarding the same issues, specifically asking the Biden administration’s Justice Department to focus on Jane’s Revenge, but “received no reply.”
The Catholic League asked that Garland “immediately deploy the full resources of the Department of Justice to apprehend and prosecute domestic terrorists who have recently attacked Catholic individuals, vandalized Catholic churches and torched Catholic-operated crisis pregnancy centers”.
Easthampton, Mass.: On Aug. 17 or 18, far-left pro-abortion terror group Jane's Revenge carried out an attack on the Bethlehem House Inc. Pregnancy Care Center. They left a threat on the property. Reporting by @Virginia_Allen5. #Antifa https://t.co/0g5OJ6QXUu pic.twitter.com/OYqHVYsFYa
— Andy Ngô 🏳️🌈 (@MrAndyNgo) August 19, 2022
The Department of Justice and the FBI must take action and investigate these crimes and prosecute those responsible for them. The American public deserves nothing less.
Erica Carlin is an independent journalist, opinion writer and contributor to several news and opinion sources. She is based in Georgia.