Jane's Revenge

Last updated

Jane's Revenge
FoundationMay 8, 2022 (2022-05-08)
Dates of operation2022 – present
Country United States
Motives Abortion rights
Notable attacksClaimed responsibility for firebombing, property-destruction, vandalism, arson
Website janesrevenge.noblogs.org

Jane's Revenge is a militant, [1] [2] [3] extremist [4] [5] [6] abortion-rights group that encourages and claims responsibility [7] for acts of firebombing, vandalism, and arson in the United States. The group's actions have targeted crisis pregnancy centers, a church, and a congressional office. The claimed attacks began in May 2022 following the leak of a draft of the Supreme Court's anticipated decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization ; the draft indicated that the Court would soon overturn its 1973 abortion rights decision in Roe v. Wade , and the Court, in fact, did reverse Roe the following month when its final decision in Dobbs was released.

Contents

History

On May 6, 2022, a draft of the Supreme Court of the United States decision Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization was leaked to the public. [8] The draft indicated that the Court intended to overturn two previous decisions, Roe v. Wade (1973) and Planned Parenthood v. Casey (1992), which had conferred constitutional protections upon abortion rights. Jane's Revenge formed in response to the leak, [9] [ better source needed ] posting its "First Communiqué" on May 8, 2022. [10] (The name "Jane's Revenge" may refer to the pseudonymous "Jane Roe" of Roe v. Wade or to the Jane Collective, an underground organization founded by Heather Booth in 1969 that helped women obtain abortions prior to Roe v. Wade. [11] ) Posted after the firebombing of a crisis pregnancy center in Madison, Wisconsin, the "First Communiqué" read, in part, as follows:

'This was only a warning. We demand the disbanding of all anti-choice establishments, fake clinics, and violent anti-choice groups within the next thirty days. This is not a mere "difference of opinion" as some have framed it. We are literally fighting for our lives… As you continue to bomb clinics and assassinate doctors with impunity, so too shall we adopt increasingly extreme tactics to maintain freedom over our own bodies. We are forced to adopt the minimum military requirement for a political struggle'. [12] [13]

The main public mouthpiece of Jane's Revenge is an anonymous blog that lists actions taken that have been signed "Jane's Revenge", and sometimes claims credit for said actions. [14] The firebombing in Madison, Wisconsin was the first incident for which Jane's Revenge claimed credit. [15] [16]

On June 15, 2022, Jane's Revenge posted the following on its blog:

'We were unsurprised to see thirty days come and thirty days pass with no sign of consilience or even bare-minimum self-reflection from you who impersonate healthcare providers in order to harm the vulnerable... You could have walked away. Now the leash is off... From here forward, any anti-choice group who closes their doors, and stops operating will no longer be a target. But until you do, it’s open season, and we know where your operations are'. [17]

Later, Jane's Revenge called for a "night of rage" to occur if the Court overturned Roe. [1]

After the June 24 Dobbs decision overturning Roe v. Wade was released, Jane's Revenge vandalized a crisis pregnancy center in Virginia, [18] and committed arson at a second center in Colorado. [19] The FBI was called in to investigate the instance of arson in Colorado. [20] Jane's Revenge has claimed responsibility for a series of other arson attacks and acts of vandalism, some of which occurred before Dobbs was released and some of which occurred afterwards. [7] Mary Ziegler, a law professor at University of California, Davis, has attributed the actions of the group to a growing distrust in government and democratic institutions. [6]

On June 28, The Intercept reported that Facebook had internally labeled Jane's Revenge a terrorist organization, making the topic subject to the most stringent content filtering. [21]

Major actions

DateTargetCityMetro AreaStateAttack typeClaimed?Ref
May 8, 2022 Wisconsin Family Action Madison Madison Wisconsin Firebombing, arson, property-destruction, vandalismClaimed [7] [22] [23]
May 14, 2022Alpha Pregnancy Center Reisterstown Baltimore Maryland Property-destruction, vandalismClaimed [24] [25] [23]
May 22, 2022St. Michael's Catholic Church Olympia Seattle Washington VandalismClaimed [7] [26] [27]
May 25, 2022Next Step Pregnancy Services Lynnwood Seattle Washington VandalismClaimed [28] [23]
May 30, 2022Dove Medical Center Eugene Eugene Oregon Property-destruction, vandalismClaimed [23]
May 30, 2022South Broward Pregnancy Center Hollywood Miami Florida Property-destruction, vandalismClaimed [23]
June 2, 2022Agape Pregnancy Resource Center Des Moines Des Moines Iowa Property-destruction, vandalismClaimed [29] [30] [31]
June 7, 2022CompassCare’s Buffalo (Pregnancy Resource Center) Amherst Buffalo-Niagara Falls New York Firebombing, property-destruction, vandalism (2 firefighters injured)Claimed [6] [32]
June 7, 2022Mountain Area Pregnancy Services Asheville Asheville North Carolina Property-destruction, vandalismAttributed [12]
June 8, 2022Options360 Women's Clinic Vancouver Portland Washington VandalismClaimed [23]
June 10, 2022First Image (Crisis Pregnancy Center) Gresham Portland Oregon Firebombing, property-destruction, vandalismAttributed [33]
June 19, 2022The Lennon Pregnancy Center Dearborn Heights Detroit Michigan Property-destruction, vandalismClaimed [34] [23]
June 19, 2022Pregnancy Care Center Redford Detroit Michigan Property-destruction, vandalismClaimed [23]
June 21, 2022Office of Rep. Tim Walberg and Jackson Right to Life Jackson Metro Detroit Michigan Property-destruction, vandalismAttributed [35]
June 25, 2022Life Choices Ministry Longmont Longmont Colorado ArsonAttributed [19]
June 25, 2022Blue Ridge Pregnancy Center Lynchburg Lynchburg Virginia Property-destruction, vandalismAttributed [18]
June 26, 2022Tree of Life Pregnancy Support Center Paso Robles San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles California Property-destruction, vandalismAttributed [36] [37]
June 26, 2022LifeChoice Pregnancy Center Winter Haven Lakeland-Winter Haven Florida VandalismAttributed [38] [39]
June 27, 2022Two Hearts Pregnancy Aid Everett Seattle Washington Arson, vandalismAttributed [7] [23]
July 5, 2022 Birthright (Crisis Pregnancy Center) St. Paul Twin Cities Minnesota Property-destruction, vandalismAttributed [40]
July 8, 2022Problem Pregnancy Worcester Worcester Massachusetts VandalismClaimed [7] [41]
July 8, 2022Clearway Clinic Worcester Worcester Massachusetts Property-destruction, vandalismClaimed [41]
August 19, 2022Bethlehem House Easthampton Springfield Massachusetts VandalismClaimed [7] [42]
April 15, 2023HerChoice Bowling Green Toledo Ohio VandalismAttributed [43] [44]

Government response

In May 2022, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) stated that Jane's Revenge is the target of an ongoing investigation. The Madison, Wisconsin police department also announced an investigation of their own in collaboration with the ATF. [16]

In June 2022, after the Dobbs v. Jackson decision was released, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) released a memo concerning the group. The memo described Jane's Revenge as "a network of loosely affiliated suspected violent extremists [which] has been linked to arson attacks against the buildings of ideological opponents", warning of risk of violence that "could occur for weeks following the release" of the Supreme Court decision. [45]

In March 2023, a superseding indictment from the U.S. Department of Justice named four members of Jane's Revenge, whom they announced were facing prosecution under the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances Act for conspiring to both vandalize and threaten multiple pregnancy resource centers in Florida. [46]

Related Research Articles

Roe v. Wade, 410 U.S. 113 (1973), was a landmark decision of the U.S. Supreme Court in which the Court ruled that the Constitution of the United States protected a right to have an abortion. The decision struck down many abortion laws, and it sparked an ongoing abortion debate in the United States about whether, or to what extent, abortion should be legal, who should decide the legality of abortion, and what the role of moral and religious views in the political sphere should be. The decision also shaped debate concerning which methods the Supreme Court should use in constitutional adjudication.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Abortion in the United States</span>

In the United States, abortion is a divisive issue in politics and culture wars, though a majority of Americans support access to abortion. Abortion laws vary widely from state to state.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Crisis pregnancy center</span> Organization that persuades pregnant women against having abortions

A crisis pregnancy center (CPC), sometimes called a pregnancy resource center (PRC) or a pro-life pregnancy center, is a type of nonprofit organization established by anti-abortion groups primarily to persuade pregnant women not to have an abortion.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">United States anti-abortion movement</span> Movement in the United States opposing abortion

The United Statesanti-abortion movement is a movement in the United States that opposes induced abortion and advocates for the protection of fetuses. Advocates support legal prohibition or restriction on ethical, moral, or religious grounds, arguing that human life begins at conception and that the human zygote, embryo or fetus is a person and therefore has a right to life. The anti-abortion movement includes a variety of organizations, with no single centralized decision-making body. There are diverse arguments and rationales for the anti-abortion stance. Some allow for some permissible abortions, including therapeutic abortions, in exceptional circumstances such as incest, rape, severe fetal defects, or when the woman's health is at risk.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances Act</span> U.S. legislation protecting access to reproductive health clinics

The Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances Act is a United States law that was signed by President Bill Clinton in May 1994, which prohibits the following three things: (1) the use of physical force, threat of physical force, or physical obstruction to intentionally injure, intimidate, interfere with or attempt to injure, intimidate or interfere with any person who is obtaining an abortion, (2) the use of physical force, threat of physical force, or physical obstruction to intentionally injure, intimidate, interfere with or attempt to injure, intimidate or interfere with any person who is exercising or trying to exercise their First Amendment right of religious freedom at a place of religious worship, (3) the intentional damage or destruction of a reproductive health care facility or a place of worship.

Abortion in Illinois is legal up to the point of fetal viability. Laws about abortion dated to the early 1800s in Illinois; the first criminal penalties related to abortion were imposed in 1827, and abortion itself became illegal in 1867. As hospitals set up barriers in the 1950s, the number of therapeutic abortions declined. Following Roe v. Wade in 1973, Illinois passed a number of restrictions on abortion, many of which have subsequently been repealed. Illinois updated its existing abortion laws in June 2019. The state has seen a decline in the number of abortion clinics over the years, going from 58 in 1982 to 47 in 1992 to 24 in 2014.

Abortion in Idaho is illegal from fertilization. Following the overturning of Roe v. Wade on June 24, 2022, abortion in Idaho was criminalized by the trigger law which states that a person who performs an abortion may face two to five years of imprisonment. The ban allows exceptions for maternal health, rape and incest within the first trimester. The law took effect on August 25, 2022. Minors need parental consent to travel out of state for an abortion.

As of 2024, abortion is illegal in Indiana. It is only legal in cases involving fatal fetal abnormalities, to preserve the life and physical health of the mother, and in cases of rape or incest up to 10 weeks of pregnancy. Previously abortion in Indiana was legal up to 20 weeks; a near-total ban that was scheduled to take effect on August 1, 2023, was placed on hold due to further legal challenges, but is set to take place, after the Indiana Supreme Court denied an appeal by the ACLU, and once it certifies a previous ruling that an abortion ban doesn't violate the state constitution. In the wake of the 2022 Dobbs Supreme Court ruling, abortion in Indiana remained legal despite Indiana lawmakers voting in favor of a near-total abortion ban on August 5, 2022. Governor Eric Holcomb signed this bill into law the same day. The new law became effective on September 15, 2022. However, on September 22, 2022, Special Judge Kelsey B. Hanlon of the Monroe County Circuit Court granted a preliminary injunction against the enforcement of the ban. Her ruling allows the state's previous abortion law, which allows abortions up to 20 weeks after fertilization with exceptions for rape and incest, to remain in effect.

Abortion in Michigan is legal throughout pregnancy. A state constitutional amendment to explicitly guarantee abortion rights was placed on the ballot in 2022 as Michigan Proposal 22–3; it passed with 57 percent of the vote, adding the right to abortion and contraceptive use to the Michigan Constitution. The amendment largely prevents the regulation of abortion before fetal viability, unless said regulations are to protect the individual seeking an abortion, and it also makes it unconstitutional to make laws restricting abortions which would protect the life and health, physical and/or mental, of the pregnant individual seeking abortion.

Abortion in Ohio is legal up to the point of fetal viability as a result of abortion rights being placed into the Ohio State Constitution by November 2023 Ohio Issue 1.

Abortion in Oregon is legal at all stages of pregnancy. The Center for Reproductive Rights classifies Oregon as highly protective of abortion rights.

Abortion in Tennessee is illegal from fertilization except to "prevent the death of the pregnant woman or to prevent serious risk of substantial and irreversible impairment of a major bodily function of the pregnant woman". Tennessee is one of four states which prohibit abortion in their state constitution; alongside Alabama, Louisiana, and West Virginia.

Abortion in Wisconsin has been legal since September 18, 2023, before which its legal status had been unclear since the overturn of Roe v Wade, and is performed in Madison, Milwaukee and Sheboygan through 22 weeks gestation. However, elective abortions in Wisconsin are under dispute after the overturning of Roe v. Wade by the Supreme Court of the United States on June 24, 2022. Abortion opponents cite an 1849 law that they claim bans the procedure in all cases except when the life of the mother is in danger. However, lower level courts have argued that the law only applies to infanticide and not consensual abortions. The enforceability of the law is disputed and being considered by the state courts. Planned Parenthood of Wisconsin announced that they would resume abortion services in Madison and Milwaukee on September 18, 2023. Planned Parenthood of Wisconsin later announced that they would resume abortion services in Sheboygan on December 28, 2023.

Abortion in California is legal up to the point of fetal viability. An abortion ban was in place by 1900, and by 1950, it was a criminal offense for a woman to have an abortion. In 1962, the American Law Institute published their model penal code, as it applied to abortions, with three circumstances where they believed a physician could justifiably perform an abortion, and California adopted a version of this code. In 2002, the California State Legislature passed a law guaranteeing women the right to have an abortion "prior to viability of the fetus, or when the abortion is necessary to protect the life or health of the woman". In 2022, 67% of California voters approved Proposition 1, which amended the Constitution of California to explicitly protect the right to abortion and contraception.

Abortion in New Hampshire is legal up to the 24th week of pregnancy as of January 1, 2022, when a new law went into effect. Prior to this, the gestational limit was unclear. Abortion was criminalized in the state by 1900. In June 2003, the state passed a parental notification law, repealing it four years later before passing a new one in 2011. New Hampshire then passed a law in 2012 which required minors to wait 48 hours after requesting an abortion but no longer required parental consent. New Hampshire law regarding abortion has been heard before the US Supreme Court in the case Ayotte v. Planned Parenthood of Northern New England in 2006. The number of abortion clinics in New Hampshire has declined over the years, with 18 in 1982, 16 in 1992 and four in 2014. In 2010, there were three publicly funded abortions in the state; all three were federally funded. There are both active abortion rights and anti-abortion rights activists in the state.

Abortion in Maryland is legal at all stages of pregnancy. The first laws regulating abortion in the state were passed in 1867 and 1868, banning abortion except by a physician to "secure the safety of the mother." Abortion providers continued to operate both within and outside of the law. Legal enforcement became more strict from the 1940s through 60s, with numerous police raids on abortion providers. In 1968, Maryland passed a liberalized abortion law that clarified the wording of the previous law, allowing abortion in hospital settings in cases of rape, severe fetal deformity, or when life and health were endangered.

Abortion in Florida is generally illegal after six weeks from the woman's last menstrual period, This law came into effect in May 2024, being approved by Republican Governor Ron DeSantis following its passage in the Florida House of Representatives and the Florida Senate, with only Republican state legislators supporting. Additionally, pregnant women are generally required to make two visits to a medical facility 24 hours apart to be able to obtain an abortion, in a law approved by Republican Governor Rick Scott in 2015.

Wisconsin Family Council (WFC) is an American 501(c)(3) group that advocates for Christian fundamentalist policy. WFC's Madison, Wisconsin headquarters also house its 501(c)(4) government lobbying arm, Wisconsin Family Action. It was founded as Family Research Institute of Wisconsin by Marvin Munyon in 1986, patterned on the Family Research Institute.

Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization, 597 U.S. 215 (2022), is a landmark decision of the U.S. Supreme Court in which the court held that the Constitution of the United States does not confer a right to abortion. The court's decision overruled both Roe v. Wade (1973) and Planned Parenthood v. Casey (1992), returning to the federal and state legislatures the power to regulate any aspect of abortion not protected by federal statutory law.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">United States abortion protests (2022–present)</span> 2022 protests following the ruling of Dobbs v. Jackson Womens Health Organization

A series of ongoing protests supporting abortion rights and anti-abortion counter-protests began in the United States on May 2, 2022, following the leak of a draft majority opinion for the U.S. Supreme Court case Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization, which stated that the Constitution of the United States does not confer any reproductive rights, thus overturning Roe v. Wade and Planned Parenthood v. Casey. On June 24, 2022, the Supreme Court officially overturned Roe and Casey in Dobbs, resulting in further protests outside of the U.S. Supreme Court building and across the country, eventually to major cities across the world both in favor of and against the decision.

References

  1. 1 2 Asher, Abe (June 24, 2022). "'Jane's Revenge' group appears to threaten violence if Supreme Court overturns Roe". The Independent.
  2. ↑ Clayworth, Jason (June 13, 2022). "Jane's Revenge claims it vandalized Des Moines resource center". Axios. Retrieved June 13, 2022.
  3. ↑ "Fire at New York anti-abortion facility investigated as suspected arson". The Guardian. June 9, 2022.
  4. ↑ "Pro-abortion vandals threaten pregnancy group in Hollywood". CBS News. June 14, 2022.
  5. ↑ "'Bring rifles': Extremist groups call for violence over abortion ruling". The Washington Post. June 24, 2022.
  6. 1 2 3 "Pro-choice militants are targeting 'pregnancy crisis centers' across US". The Guardian. June 11, 2022.
  7. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Norris, Jesse (December 30, 2022). ""If Abortions Aren't Safe, Neither Are You:" A Mixed-Method Study of Jane's Revenge and Other Post-Dobbs Militancy". Journal for Deradicalization (33): 125–126. ISSN   2363-9849.
  8. ↑ "Exclusive: Supreme Court has voted to overturn abortion rights, draft opinion shows". Politico. May 2, 2022.
  9. ↑ "What Is Jane's Revenge? Abortion Rights Group Vows 'Night of Rage' Over Roe". Newsweek. June 24, 2022.
  10. ↑ Stuart, Tessa (January 29, 2023). "Jane's Revenge: Biden's Justice Department Uses Abortion Access Law to Indict Pro-Choice Vandals". Rolling Stone. Retrieved September 1, 2023.
  11. ↑ "Beyond Revenge, What Does Jane's Revenge Want?". The Intercept. June 16, 2022.
  12. 1 2 "Terrorist group 'Jane's Revenge' claims credit for attack on Asheville pro-life center". Carolina Journal. June 16, 2022.
  13. ↑ "First Communiqué". janesrevenge.noblogs.org. May 8, 2022. Retrieved November 18, 2023.
  14. ↑ Sherman, Carter (July 28, 2022). "The Right Is Freaking Out About Jane's Revenge. But What Is It?". Vice.
  15. ↑ Reid, Alice (May 11, 2022). "Report: Group claims credit for Madison pregnancy center attack, warns of more". WGBA.
  16. 1 2 Luscombe, Richard (May 10, 2022). "Pro-choice group claims arson attack on Wisconsin anti-abortion office". The Guardian.
  17. ↑ "Another Communiqué". janesrevenge.noblogs.org. June 15, 2022. Retrieved November 18, 2023.
  18. 1 2 "'No room for this in Virginia' — Gov. Youngkin decries vandalism at crisis pregnancy center". WTOP-FM. June 26, 2022.
  19. 1 2 Whaley, Monte (June 25, 2022). "Employees say Longmont ministry torched by pro-abortion group". LongmontLeader.
  20. ↑ Quinn, Allison (June 26, 2022). "Christian Pregnancy Center Scorched and Vandalized After Roe Ruling". The Daily Beast. Retrieved June 26, 2022.
  21. ↑ Biddle, Sam (June 28, 2022). "Facebook Labels Abortion Rights Vandals as Terrorists Following Roe Reversal". The Intercept. Retrieved August 7, 2022.
  22. ↑ Viviani, Nick (January 19, 2023). "$25,000 reward offered in firebombing of Madison anti-abortion office". nbc15.com.
  23. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 "H.R. 8926 of 2022 - A bill to require an Inspector General report on domestic violent extremism against pregnancy centers" (PDF). congress.gov. September 30, 2022. Retrieved November 18, 2023.
  24. ↑ Melser, Lowell (May 16, 2022). "Vandals spray-painted threatening messages onto pregnancy center in Reisterstown". WBAL.
  25. ↑ "Jane's Revenge - The Time Is Now – Stand Up – Take Action". July 8, 2022.
  26. ↑ "Olympia: Attack on 4 anti-abortion churches". pugetsoundanarchists.com. May 23, 2022.
  27. ↑ Foley, Ryan (June 24, 2022). "List: Churches, pro-life offices torched, vandalized by abortion activists since Supreme Court leak". The Christian Post.
  28. ↑ Briscoe, Kienan (June 23, 2022). "Jane seeks revenge at Lynnwood pregnancy clinic". lynnwoodtimes.com.
  29. ↑ "Pro-abortion group vandalizes Iowa pregnancy counseling center". KCRG. June 15, 2022.
  30. ↑ Akin, Katie. "Jane's Revenge group claims responsibility for Des Moines pregnancy center vandalism". The Arizona Republic.
  31. ↑ Magel, Todd (June 14, 2022). "Group claims responsibility for vandalism at Des Moines pregnancy counseling center". KCCI.
  32. ↑ Janaswamy, Revathi (June 8, 2022). "Police investigating apparent arson at Getzville anti-abortion center". spectrumlocalnews.com.
  33. ↑ "Officials investigate fire that damaged an Oregon 'pregnancy crisis center'". The Guardian. June 11, 2022. Retrieved June 12, 2022.
  34. ↑ Herndon, Dave (June 22, 2022). "Jane's Revenge group appears to take credit for pregnancy center attack in Dearborn Heights". pressandguide.com.
  35. ↑ Draugelis, Jake (June 22, 2022). "Congressman's campaign office, Jackson Right to Life building vandalized". wilx.com.
  36. ↑ "Abortion rights group vandalizes pregnancy support center in Paso Robles". Cal Coast News. June 27, 2022.
  37. ↑ "Paso Robles pregnancy center vandalized, police say". KSBY News. June 26, 2022.
  38. ↑ White, Gary. "'We're coming for U': Winter Haven pregnancy center vandalized with graffiti". The Ledger.
  39. ↑ "'We're coming for U': Winter Haven pregnancy center vandalized with graffiti". www.yahoo.com. June 27, 2022.
  40. ↑ "'Crisis Pregnancy Center' vandalized in St. Paul". MPR News. Retrieved July 7, 2022.
  41. 1 2 Matthews, Tom (July 7, 2022). "'Jane's Revenge': 2 Worcester crisis pregnancy centers vandalized with spray paint, windows smashed". masslive.
  42. ↑ Fieldman, Luis (August 19, 2022). "'Jane's revenge' graffiti reportedly defaces Easthampton pregnancy center". masslive.
  43. ↑ "Person charged in Bowling Green pregnancy center vandalism incident". wtol.com. April 15, 2023.
  44. ↑ Kremer, Nick (July 6, 2023). "Alleged BG pregnancy center vandal enters 'not guilty' plea". 13abc.com.
  45. ↑ "Violence by extremists could occur 'for weeks' in wake of Supreme Court decision: DHS". ABC News. June 25, 2022.
  46. ↑ "Two Additional Defendants Charged with Civil Rights Conspiracy Targeting Pregnancy Resource Centers". justice.gov. U.S. Department of Justice. Retrieved September 1, 2023.
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