A weekend has passed since the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, and some protesters opposing the decision have reacted with violence.
When the Supreme Court released its opinion overturning the landmark abortion precedent on Friday, protests broke out around the country. Amid the protesting, some buildings, such as pregnancy centers and banks, were vandalized in states such as Virginia, Colorado, and Oregon. President Joe Biden has spoken out against the Supreme Court’s decision, though he stressed on Friday the importance of protesting peacefully.
“Violence is never acceptable,” Biden said. “Threats and intimidation are not speech. We must stand against violence in any form, regardless of your rationale.”
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Arizona
Rioting after the Supreme Court abortion ruling caused “significant criminal damage” to the Arizona State Capitol on Friday night, according to authorities.
The mobs of about 7,000 to 8,000 people, who were dispersed by Arizona State Troopers using tear gas, created a “direct threat” to the Senate, which was in session at the time, and prompted occupants of the building to seek cover, the Arizona Department of Public Safety said Saturday.
A statement from the Senate Republicans said people inside the building returned to the Senate chambers once the premises were secured but noted, “Unfortunately, the system that circulates the air through the facility pulled some of the smoke or tear gas into the Senate chambers, making the air quality unhealthy for anyone to return.” Therefore, the proceedings were moved to another room.
California
Los Angeles Police Department officers were reportedly assaulted by projectiles, fireworks, and a makeshift blowtorch on Friday evening, resulting in two arrests and four officers injured, according to Deadline.
Michael Ortiz, 30, is accused of throwing a makeshift flamethrower at an officer, who was treated for burns, according to a Saturday press release.
Juliana Bernado, 23, allegedly attempted to steal an officer’s baton in another incident. A “less-lethal” bullet was fired at her, and she was taken into custody, police said.
“The vast majority of those involved were peaceful and law-abiding, however, a much smaller group of individuals took to the streets with the intention of creating chaos and destruction,” Police Chief Michel Moore said in a statement.
Colorado
Colorado authorities and the FBI are investigating a fire at a pregnancy center that was damaged after the Supreme Court voted to overturn Roe v. Wade as arson.
Authorities responded to a reported fire at Life Choices, a pregnancy care center in Longmont, Colorado, a little after 3 a.m. on Saturday and found that the building had sustained fire and heavy smoke damage. The front of the property had also been vandalized with black paint, police wrote in a Facebook post.
One message on the side of the building read: “If abortions aren’t safe neither are you,” while another, written on the sidewalk, read, “BANS OFF OUR BODIES,” according to photos included in the post.
Oregon
Ten people were arrested in Oregon on Friday following pro-abortion protests that clashed with a police barricade. The Eugene Police Department became aware of a demonstration outside Dove Medical Center, a free pregnancy diagnosis clinic, at 10 p.m. and set to block the building “due to the potential for property damage,” according to police.
About 75 protesters arrived in hoods and masks, with several wearing gas masks and throwing smoke bombs at police, who had established a barrier around the building. Police warned the crowd that protesters were committing disorderly conduct before arresting 10 people between the ages of 18 and 29.
Officers reported minor injuries at the scene. The Springfield Police Department and Department of Homeland Security also got involved to help clear the crowd.
On Saturday, a group of black-clad marchers turned violent in Portland, smashing windows and scrawling graffiti on downtown businesses. Some members of the group vandalized Mother and Child Education Center, a nonprofit organization that says on its website it has offered “practical help to thousands of pregnant women in the greater Portland area since its founding in 1971,” according to OregonLive.
The Portland Police Bureau said the group damaged numerous businesses, but it could not intervene.
Rhode Island
Jennifer Rourke, a Democratic state Senate candidate, shared a video Saturday that she claimed showed police officer Jeann Lugo, her Republican opponent, slapping her several times while she was speaking at a rally.
Police later confirmed Lugo was shown in the video. He dropped out of the race on Saturday but did not give a reason, stating only it was not “the right time to seek office.”
The Providence Police Department, where Lugo has served for three years, placed the officer on paid leave Saturday “pending a criminal investigation and administrative review,” according to officials, adding Lugo was off-duty at the time.
Virginia
Surveillance footage released by the Lynchburg Police Department shows a group of four individuals walking away from the Blue Ridge Pregnancy Center at 1:30 a.m. Saturday. Lynchburg authorities also released photos showing multiple broken windows and graffiti on the outside of the building. The vandals left distinct messages with their graffiti, including “If abortion ain’t safe you ain’t safe!” and a tag reading, “Jane’s Revenge,” a reference to the pro-abortion rights extremist group that has taken credit for similar attacks on pregnancy centers nationwide.
In response to news of the attack, Republican Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin condemned the vandalism and pledged that state police resources would respond if needed.
“There is no room for this in Virginia, breaking the law is unacceptable,” the Republican governor tweeted. “This is not how we find common ground. Virginia State Police stands ready to support local law enforcement as they investigate.”
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Washington, D.C.
The U.S. Capitol Police say officers arrested two protesters Saturday for throwing paint over the protective fence surrounding the Supreme Court Building. Both were charged with destruction of property.
The protesters were among the hundreds protesting the court’s decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization.
Police also reported that 12 protesters suffered from heat-related issues. The nation’s capital reported a high temperature of 87.8 degrees Fahrenheit during the day.
