Pregnancy centers face mounting backlash one year after Supreme Court ruling overturning Roe v. Wade on June 24, 2022, sparking protests outside the judge’s home and attacks on pro-life groups confronting.

Since the Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization ruling leaked in May 2022, there have been 87 attacks against pro-life groups and pregnancy centers. according to to the Catholic vote. Five center directors, who have each dealt with vandalism and intimidation of their facilities since the leak, told the Daily Caller News Foundation that animosity is growing as federal law enforcement remains largely at a distance this year. He said it was a year that forced him to spend precious money on security. .

Pregnancy centers that offer a range of free services to women facing unplanned pregnancies have been targeted by left-wing activists and Democrats, who call them “fake clinics” for abortion-seeking women. claims to deceive and mislead The centers say their mission is complicated by growing safety concerns.

“There are organized pregnancy centers that exist to provide free assistance to pregnant women,” said Becky Seat, CEO of Life First, which operates pregnancy centers in Woodbridge and Manassas, Virginia. I never imagined that I would be the target of violence,” he told the DCNF.

“We are not going to get lost”

Sheetz said Life First spent tens of thousands of dollars on security between the two centers. The organization’s Manassas facility destroyed In May 2022.

Janet Durig, director of the Capitol Hill Pregnancy Center in Washington, D.C., told the DCNF that she had spent nearly $160,000 on security guards, cameras, sound detectors and other equipment since the center was demolished last June.

Compass Care, which operates three centers in New York, said its Buffalo base was incendiary bombed last June, costing it $400,000 in new security and repairs. according to to WIVB.the same center destroyed March 16, 2023.

CEO Reverend Jim Harden told DCNF that the family was “experiencing considerable anxiety” after being identified.

A brand new center for New Life Family Services has opened in Phillips Community, Minnesota. Executive Director Tammy Kocher says opening the center has been “a dream of a decade.” destroyed Intimidation is often provoked by hostile politicians.

After Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison issued a warning to consumers, caveat Kochel warned the pregnancy center last August that the area around the new clinic was plastered with “threatening posters” that said, “If abortion is not safe, neither are you.” rice field.

“When threats like this happen, it’s our customers who really get hurt: single mothers, families struggling to make ends meet, young women forced to have abortions,” Kochel said. “We’re not going to waver, but we’ve certainly made a lot of sacrifices.”

Kochel testified At a hearing before the House Judiciary Committee in May, he spoke out about violence against pro-life groups. (Related: Pregnancy center CEO reacts to government ramping up efforts to identify perpetrators of pro-life attacks)

“The FBI didn’t even talk to us.”

A number of center directors expressed similar views. If people took the time to understand the care they provide to women, they wouldn’t be so opposed.

Dulig encourages college students who regularly show up to protest outside the center to visit the center. No one took up her offer until a few months ago when two young women finally did. “They haven’t been back since they went on that tour,” she told DCNF.

The attack drew sympathy, mostly from the local community. They increased donations and “revitalized” the pro-life constituency, Harden said. Local police have been proactive in providing post-attack assistance, earning praise from several police chiefs.

But what about the federal government?

“The FBI has never spoken to us,” Durig said. She said Homeland Security contacted them before December 2022, but banquet Many centers have heard only the crickets from federal law enforcement to warn protesters.

“The FBI conducted an investigation,” Kochel said. “As far as I know, no one has been identified. But they were very kind.”

“They’re moving slowly,” Harden said of the investigation into the incendiary bombing of his center, pointing to the FBI silencing all leads. “Worse, according to a whistleblower from the FBI, they actually seemed to be turning investigative and arrest powers against pro-life people.”

compass care hired An independent private investigator aims to find out who was responsible for January’s incendiary bombings.

“We are busier”

Beyond general hostilities, specific challenges and opportunities vary by region. North Carolina and Minnesota are both “destination” states for abortions, but directors said they’re adapting their marketing.

“since [North Carolina] “As the state has become a destination for abortions, we’re stepping up our marketing efforts to attract more women across state lines,” said Christy Brown, executive director of Asheville’s Mountain Pregnancy Services (MAPS). I fine-tuned it,” he said.

Still, most centers have steady or higher customer numbers. According to Brown, the total number of customers he’s increased by 38%, pregnancy tests he’s increased by 25%, and ultrasounds by 75%.

“2023 is busier than 2022,” she says.

“Our numbers since the turnaround are pretty consistent with the numbers for the previous calendar year,” Sheet told DCNF. “Considering the nationwide coordinated campaign to harm us through violence and coordinated lies across the media, the steady numbers are a plus.”

Harden worries that Google and Yelp censorship is holding back the center’s numbers, which were supposed to grow after the new service was introduced.

21 Democrats I have written In June 2022, it asked Google to “take steps to prevent fake anti-abortion clinics from appearing in search results.” Yelp announced In August 2022, it announced that it would flag endangered pregnancy centers in a consumer notice to prevent them from appearing in search results. Shortly after that, Google promised List only “verified” facilities on Google Maps when users search for abortion clinics.

Both did so despite the direction of 17 state attorneys general. threatened If a company censors a pro-life center, there will be an antitrust investigation.

“Case numbers are rising steadily, but we’re struggling,” Harden said. “Certain politicians are making concerted efforts to demonize and censor the activities of pro-life pregnancy centers.”

Despite this, Harden said he will continue to do what he has been doing: “spreading the truth that all men are made in God’s image and therefore are of equal value to mothers and children.” Told.

“Whatever people do or want to do to stop us, we won’t stop until God tells us,” he said.

All content produced by the Daily Caller News Foundation, an independent, non-partisan news distribution service, is available free of charge to legitimate news publishers capable of serving large audiences. All reissues must include our company logo, press byline, and DCNF affiliation. If you have any questions about our guidelines or partnering with us, please contact us at licensing@dailycallernewsfoundation.org.