CompassCare pregnancy resource organization in New York filed a lawsuit on October 5 against two abortion activists under the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances (FACE) Act.
CompassCare named Hannah Kamke and Jennifer L. Page in its suit, along with “John Doe 1” and “Jane Doe 2.” Kamke was arrested in March and charged with criminal mischief for vandalizing CompassCare’s Buffalo location early in the morning on March 16.
According to the lawsuit, Page is an “abortion enthusiast” and has organized pro-abortion protests in front of the center, blocking its driveway and making it difficult for staff and patients to enter. She organized a protest in which a police officer was hit with a bullhorn, a CompassCare supporter was punched, and nails and glass were placed on the public sidewalk. Page also stole a sign from the property. The lawsuit alleges that the actions of both women violate the FACE Act.
In a separate incident the year prior, in June 2022, CompassCare’s location in Buffalo was firebombed. Footage has revealed two masked males were responsible, and they remain unidentified. Harden previously stated, “… [O]ver 300 attacks on pro-life entities have occurred with zero convictions. Both federal House and Senate judiciary committees are investigating the DOJ and FBI’s refusal to thoroughly investigate and prosecute violent crimes against pro-life pregnancy centers like CompassCare.”
READ: CompassCare finally obtains firebombing footage from FBI and police after lawsuit
The FACE Act prevents both pro-abortion and pro-life protestors from obstructing or interfering with reproductive health facilities, including pro-life pregnancy centers, though it has primarily been used against pro-lifers. In a notable and troubling recent incident, eight pro-life individuals were found guilty of FACE Act violations and now face up to 11 years in prison. Months prior to this, pro-life sidewalk counselor Mark Houck was charged with FACE Act violations after he intervened in a situation between his 12-year-old son and an abortion facility escort. Despite the fact that local authorities saw no cause for charges, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) raided Houck’s home in the early morning hours of September 23, 2022, reportedly traumatizing Houck’s wife and seven children, to arrest him on violations of the FACE Act. Houck was later acquitted of the charges brought by the Biden DOJ.
Though there have been numerous prosecutions of pro-lifers for FACE Act violations, pro-abortion attacks have largely gone unpunished, despite the fact that attacks against PRCs and other pro-life facilities skyrocketed following the Supreme Court’s overturn of Roe v. Wade. Last November, FBI Director Christopher Wray admitted that “probably in the neighborhood of 70% of our abortion-related violence cases or threats cases are cases of violence or threats against […] pro-life organizations.” Despite this, PRCs like CompassCare have had to fight for help in identifying the vandals and putting an end to the violence.
“It is ridiculous that as pro-life citizens we are forced to do the job of both the FBI and DOJ,” said CompassCare’s CEO James Harden in a statement to The Washington Times. “The FBI refused to investigate so we hired private investigators. The DOJ refuses to indict, so we brought FACE charges.”
As the lawsuit states, “Despite the numerous attacks against pro-life groups, there have been appallingly few prosecutions of the attackers.”
