2022 Violence and Disruption Stories
The United States has a long history of anti-abortion violence directed at both patients and providers. And 2022 was another difficult year for abortion providers, marked most notably by the assault on the reproductive freedoms of people across the country when the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade. As clinics across the country reacted to changes in laws in their specific states, anti-abortion extremists were emboldened: they traveled from states where clinics were forced to shutter to states where abortion remained legal to inflict harassment and violence on providers and patients there. National Abortion Federation has been tracking statistics on violence and disruption against abortion providers since 1977, and has reported these incidents in their 2022 Violence and Disruption report.
In this map, providers and clinic staff from restrictive states and protective states alike tell their stories of coming face-to-face with violence, disruption, and intimidation–all while trying to simply do their jobs. From dealing with a global pandemic, to Texas’s SB 8, to the fall of Roe, providers have had to overcome countless challenges just to provide patients with compassionate, necessary health care. We invite you to click through your home state and others to hear their stories.
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1
Amanda Kifferly
Director of Security for The Women’s Centers: Atlanta Women’s Center in GA, Delaware County Women’s Center in PA, Hartford GYN Center in CT, Cherry Hill Women’s Center in NJ, Philadelphia Women’s Center in PA
2
Julie Burkhart
President of Wellspring Health Access located in Casper, WY.
3
No information provided
4
Melissa Grant
Co-founder and Chief Operations Officer of Carafem. Carafem has locations across the country, but our interview predominantly focused on clinics that are located in Atlanta, GA and in Nashville, TN.
5
Marva Sadler
Senior Director of Clinical Services for Whole Woman’s Health: Alexandria, VA, Charlottesville, VA, Baltimore, MD, and South Bend, IN.
6
Larissa Lindsay
Senior Director of Security and Facilities of Planned Parenthood Gulf Coast in Houston, TX
7
“Dr. B”
Medical Director at numerous clinics in the Pacific Northwest
8
Joy and Delia
Clinic Manager & Medical Assistant at the Lilith Clinic in Portland, OR
9
Alissa Perucci
Counseling and Administrative Manager at the Women's Options Center in SF General Hospital in San Francisco, CA.
10
Clinic in CA
“Someone set fire to [our] building.” (3/8/22)
11
Clinic in MI
“Officials said the suspect breached the fence outside the clinic then used a fuel to ignite bushes surrounding the building before lighting a fireplace starter log that he threw onto the building's roof.” (7/31/22) (Source: ABC )
12
Clinic in CA
“Two unknown suspects were captured on surveillance video throwing a Molotov cocktail at the front door of a medical building used by Planned Parenthood in Costa Mesa, California.” (3/13/22) (Source: FBI )
13
Clinic in OH
A NAF member in Ohio received a suspicious package in the mail. The small envelope caused alarm when a staff member noticed it appeared to have white power leaking from it, and upon closer inspection saw the word “anthrax”. The building was evacuated while a HAZMAT team tested the powder for toxic substances. While the power was determined to be pizza flour, the team found a note that read: “You had your time to repent and quit killing babies. To late [sic] late now”. (3/2/22)
14
Clinic in NM
Three PPVotes coalition partners received envelopes containing a white powder the FBI believed to be inert Ricin. (10/2022)
15
Clinic in TX
Anti-abortion extremists cut all the wires to the electrical boxes attached to a clinic and the electrical panel and meter were pulled off the wall by a truck. This was a premeditated attack, with the lights outside the center cut off two days before the damage to the electrical boxes. (3/24/22)
16
Clinic in TX
An anti-arbortion extremist was charged with trespassing for coming onto clinic property with a drone and proceeded to stand in the shrubs, hiding to record the entrance of the clinic. They later returned and destroyed all the shrubs. This same individual was later charged with harassing a clinic staff member repeatedly, including following her home, writing her letters, filing bogus lawsuits, and making direct threats to her safety. (10/24/22)
17
Clinic in NY
A protester followed a patient into a clinic elevator and pushed all of the buttons to cause a delay in their care. The same person tried to break into the clinic by pushing open the front door while staff had to hold it shut to protect other patients. (3/22/22)
18
Clinic in CA
“‘It was a bomb threat made over the phone,’ stated sheriff’s spokeswoman Tricia Blake. Blake said the facility was evacuated and the sheriff’s department Bomb and Arsons team came and cleared the building. ‘No devices were found,’ stated Blake.” (6/27/22) (Source: VVNG)
19
Clinic in GA
A clinic administrator was notified there were 3 individuals screaming and causing a disturbance in the waiting room. They left after the police were called and said they would be back to finish what they started. The clinic found out they had targeted another clinic that morning as well, but had been unsuccessful in gaining access. (7/14/22)
20
Clinic in NY
Two anti-abortion extremists were able to gain access to the inside of a clinic by posing as patients. They began screaming at patients, speaking in tongues, and gesturing wildly while moving throughout the waiting room. (8/19/22)
21
Clinic in FL
Numerous anti-abortion extremists, including several minors, participated in a blockade and were arrested for trespassing. (1/27/22)
22
Clinic in MI
A large group of extremists entered the clinic and harassed patients and staff. Meanwhile, additional people were outside shouting through megaphones in the parking lot. They were physically removed by the police and charged with trespassing and resisting arrest. (3/30/22)
23
Clinic in NY
An extremist locked the doors of a clinic with several bike locks for hours. He was removed by police and arrested. (7/7/22)
24
Clinic in MI
Dozens of extremists blocked a clinic driveway and employee entrance, while others harassed staff as they arrived at work.
25
Clinic in NC
Extremists opened the car doors of patients driving into a clinic parking lot and got into the cars.