Media

National Group Condemns Violence and Political Persecution Towards Pro-Life Activists 

Washington, D.C. – On Friday, September 23, federal agents raided the home of and apprehended pro-life activist Mark Houck. On Tuesday, September 20, a pro-life activist was shot while canvassing in Michigan. Lila Rose, Founder and President of Live Action, released the following statement: 

“Two horrific crimes were committed against pro-life activists in just the last few days. First, on Friday, President Biden and his Department of Justice unjustly raided the home of and arrested pro-life activist Mark Houck in a lawless act of political persecution. Then on Saturday, an innocent, eighty-three-year-old pro-life activist was shot with a gun while she was canvassing information regarding Michigan’s upcoming vote on the pro-abortion ballot question known as ‘proposal three’. 

These attacks are galling attempts to deny the free speech protections of pro-life Americans guaranteed to us by our Constitution. 

In Pennsylvania, dozens of FBI agents came to Mark Houck’s house on Friday morning, pointed weapons at him in front of his young children, and took Mark to a federal building. The pretense of this dramatic arrest involved an interaction Mark had while counseling outside of Planned Parenthood in Philadelphia in October of 2021. 

First-hand reports suggest Mark defended his minor child who was at the facility with him from a Planned Parenthood volunteer who was shouting profanities at Mark’s child and violating his personal space. The present facts suggest that President Biden’s Department of (in)Justice picked up the charges against Mark and unjustly raided his home, terrifying his young family.

This is an act of political persecution that is antithetical to justice and the rule of law. Joe Biden’s illegitimate use of the destructive and coercive power of the federal government is reminiscent of how Vladimir Putin punishes political opponents and has absolutely no place in America. 

The circumstances of Mark Houck’s persecution must fully come to light. Attorney General Merrick Garland must give a full account of this witch hunt. If President Biden knows about this action, he must resign. If he is ignorant, then he must clear out his Department of Justice and open a full investigation into the rampant political persecution happening right now under his watch.

In Michigan, an eighty-four-year-old activist who chose to spend her Saturday peacefully advocating against the state’s upcoming vote to codify the ‘right’ to kill a preborn child into the Michigan state Consitution was lawlessly shot. This was a potential act of political violence that would become the defining issue of the 2022 elections if it had been targeted towards anyone else. But because our corporate media are beholden to the interests of the abortion industry, we are seeing shockingly little news interest in the story. 

This eighty-four-year-old volunteer was shot in cold blood. Likely a attempted assassination. Will our nation reckon with this violence? 

Along with this shooting, over the past 12 weeks, we have seen dozens of acts of vandalism and violence directed toward churches and pro-life pregnancy resource centers. Accompanying those attacks, we have seen zero indictments or arrests from the United States Department of Justice. This undeniable demonstration of pernicious bias in our system of justice is a danger to our way of life and the legitimacy of the institutions that govern us. 

Every American must stand up to demand justice. Demand justice for Mark Houck, facing political persecution from the highest echelons of our federal government. Justice for the pro-life volunteer shot in cold blood in Michigan to ensure that the perpetrator is held accountable and that the underlying causes of this violence are addressed. Justice for the more than two-thousand pre-born children killed through the violence of abortion every single day. Our nation must do better, and we must demand it.” 

About Lila Rose & Live Action – Lila Rose founded and serves as president of Live Action. Live Action is a 501(c)3 human rights non-profit and the leader of the global pro-life movement. With over 6 million social media followers and 1.7 billion lifetime video views, Live Action exists to shift public opinion on abortion and build a culture where abortion is unthinkable. Every day – through the power of storytelling, investigative journalism, and visual media – we expose the horrific human rights abuses committed by the abortion industry and give millions of people an encounter with the humanity of preborn children. After seeing Live Action content, 43% of individuals say they changed their position on abortion and are now against the killing of our most vulnerable. Our work changes minds, saves lives, and equips millions with the truth about abortion and the beauty of human life.

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