A Minneapolis pregnancy resource center was vandalized early Saturday morning, marking yet another in the list of many attacks against pregnancy resource centers (PRCs) and pro-life organizations since the overturn of Roe v. Wade last June.
The vandalism occurred at the First Care center in the Phillips section of the city. A video posted by Carl Nelson, president of First Care’s parent company, New Life Family Services, highlights the damage, which included broken windows and the messages “If abortions arn’t safe neither r u” and “Jane was here” graffitied on the building.
In the video, Nelson notes that this particular center has only been open for a few months. He also notes that the First Care center houses a separate, non-profit medical center, where two doctors provide low-cost medical services to the community.
“Our First Care centers provide 100,000 diapers, baby clothes, car seats, strollers, and other supplies every year to families in need,” explained Tammy Kocher, Executive Director of New Life Family Services in a statement. “Our licensed social workers support more than 2,000 women each year through the challenges of motherhood, including many who are experiencing homelessness, domestic violence, or mental health crises. All of this is provided at no cost to the families we serve and is funded entirely by private donations. ”
A police spokesperson told the StarTribune that a transit bus driver flagged down police officers after noticing two suspects fleeing the building just after 1 a.m. Saturday morning. The center’s surveillance video confirmed that two suspects wearing masks and gloves were defacing the building, but no arrests have yet been made.
“We are exploring all possibilities [about who is behind the vandalism], and we are hoping to get to the bottom of it,” the police spokesman said.
According to the StarTribune, Kocher also said that the police told her “this is considered an act of domestic terrorism and they’ve turned it over to the [U.S.] Department of Justice.” Kocher says her organization has reported the vandalism to the FBI.
Later Saturday, Kocher noted that about 25 protesters stood outside the center, though none admitted to the vandalism that had occurred earlier in the day.
“We are deeply saddened by the vandalism that occurred and trust those responsible will be held accountable,” Kocher said. “We are fully committed to continue serving the Phillips community, as well as at all our centers, with the holistic compassion and care families deserve.”
