A new report from the Chicago Project on Security and Threats (CPOST) found that the number of people who support the use of violence in order to make abortion legal again nationwide is growing.
Last year, the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in the Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization decision, which left individual states to make their own laws regarding abortion. Since then, ongoing threats and violence have been directed towards the pro-life movement. Though the media often claims abortion facilities are targeted for violence, the FBI has acknowledged that 70% of abortion-related violence since that time has been perpetrated against pro-life groups.
The CPOST survey lends more credence to these findings. It pointed out that “radical, expressly violent support” to restore Roe has grown from 8% to 12%; the largest increase was among Democrats, doubling from 8% to 16% support. The survey specifically asked, “[The use of force is justified to restore the federal right to abortion.] To what extent do you agree or disagree with the following statements?”
The majority of respondents did say they strongly disagree. But at 12%, that could translate to 31 million Americans agreeing with the idea of using violence in support of abortion. An even higher percentage of respondents — 17% — agreed with using violence to “ensure members of Congress and other government officials do the right thing,” a number which has nearly doubled since January 2023. Again, CPOST said this increase is largest among Democrats.
Both findings are especially concerning, considering the Biden administration’s refusal to take action on either issue. A leaked e-mail from the Department of Justice downplayed the threat of pro-abortion violence, while Senator Katie Britt revealed training slides instructing U.S. Marshals not to arrest protesters who were illegally harassing Supreme Court justices outside of their homes.
According to 18 U.S.C. §1507, it is illegal to picket or parade near a residence occupied by a judge with the intent of “interfering with, obstructing, or impeding the administration of justice, or with the intent of influencing any judge, juror, witness, or court officer, in the discharge of his duty.” Yet near-constant protests took place after the Dobbs draft opinion leaked in 2022, and the justices were even doxxed. The children of Justices Amy Coney Barrett and Brett Kavanaugh were also targeted, with all of this ultimately culminating in a failed assassination attempt against Justice Kavanaugh.
All human beings deserves to be respected and, more importantly, protected. When one decides that it is acceptable to take the lives of some innocent human beings, it makes it easier to take the lives of others as well.
