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Jane's Revenge

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Jane's Revenge is a militant,[1][2][3] extremist[4][5][6] abortion rights group that encourages and claims responsibility[7] for acts of firebombing, vandalism, and arson in the United States. The group's actions have targeted crisis pregnancy centers, a church, and a congressional office. The claimed attacks began in May 2022 following the leak of a draft of the Supreme Court's anticipated decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization; the draft indicated that the Court would soon overturn its 1973 abortion rights decision in Roe v. Wade, and the Court, in fact, did reverse Roe the following month when its final decision in Dobbs was released.

Jane's Revenge
FoundationMay 8, 2022 (2022-05-08)
Dates of operation2022 – present
CountryUnited States
MotivesAbortion rights
Notable attacksClaimed responsibility for firebombing, property-destruction, vandalism, arson
Websitejanesrevenge.noblogs.org

History

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On May 6, 2022, a draft of the Supreme Court of the United States decision Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization was leaked to the public.[8] The draft indicated that the Court intended to overturn two previous decisions, Roe v. Wade (1973) and Planned Parenthood v. Casey (1992), which had conferred constitutional protections upon abortion rights. Jane's Revenge formed in response to the leak,[9][better source needed] posting its "First Communiqué" on May 8, 2022.[10] (The name "Jane's Revenge" may refer to the pseudonymous "Jane Roe" of Roe v. Wade or to the Jane Collective, an underground organization founded by Heather Booth in 1969 that helped women obtain abortions prior to Roe v. Wade.[11]) Posted after the firebombing of a crisis pregnancy center in Madison, Wisconsin, the "First Communiqué" read, in part, as follows:

'This was only a warning. We demand the disbanding of all anti-choice establishments, fake clinics, and violent anti-choice groups within the next thirty days. This is not a mere "difference of opinion" as some have framed it. We are literally fighting for our lives… As you continue to bomb clinics and assassinate doctors with impunity, so too shall we adopt increasingly extreme tactics to maintain freedom over our own bodies. We are forced to adopt the minimum military requirement for a political struggle'.[12][13]

The main public mouthpiece of Jane's Revenge is an anonymous blog that lists actions taken that have been signed "Jane's Revenge", and sometimes claims credit for said actions.[14] The firebombing in Madison, Wisconsin was the first incident for which Jane's Revenge claimed credit.[15][16]

On June 15, 2022, Jane's Revenge posted the following on its blog:

'We were unsurprised to see thirty days come and thirty days pass with no sign of consilience or even bare-minimum self-reflection from you who impersonate healthcare providers in order to harm the vulnerable... You could have walked away. Now the leash is off... From here forward, any anti-choice group who closes their doors, and stops operating will no longer be a target. But until you do, it’s open season, and we know where your operations are'.[17]

Later, Jane's Revenge called for a "night of rage" to occur if the Court overturned Roe.[1]

After the June 24 Dobbs decision overturning Roe v. Wade was released, Jane's Revenge vandalized a crisis pregnancy center in Virginia,[18] and committed arson at a second center in Colorado.[19] The FBI was called in to investigate the instance of arson in Colorado.[20] Jane's Revenge has claimed responsibility for a series of other arson attacks and acts of vandalism, some of which occurred before Dobbs was released and some of which occurred afterwards.[7] Mary Ziegler, a law professor at University of California, Davis, has attributed the actions of the group to a growing distrust in government and democratic institutions.[6]

On June 28, The Intercept reported that Facebook had internally labeled Jane's Revenge a terrorist organization, making the topic subject to the most stringent content filtering.[21]

Major actions

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Date Target City Metro Area State Attack type Claimed? Ref
May 8, 2022 Wisconsin Family Action Madison Madison Wisconsin Firebombing, arson, property-destruction, vandalism Claimed [7][22][23]
May 14, 2022 Alpha Pregnancy Center Reisterstown Baltimore Maryland Property-destruction, vandalism Claimed [24][25][23]
May 22, 2022 St. Michael's Catholic Church Olympia Seattle Washington Vandalism Claimed [7][26][27]
May 25, 2022 Next Step Pregnancy Services Lynnwood Seattle Washington Vandalism Claimed [28][23]
May 30, 2022 Dove Medical Center Eugene Eugene Oregon Property-destruction, vandalism Claimed [23]
May 30, 2022 South Broward Pregnancy Center Hollywood Miami Florida Property-destruction, vandalism Claimed [23]
June 2, 2022 Agape Pregnancy Resource Center Des Moines Des Moines Iowa Property-destruction, vandalism Claimed [29][30][31]
June 7, 2022 CompassCare’s Buffalo (Pregnancy Resource Center) Amherst Buffalo-Niagara Falls New York Firebombing, property-destruction, vandalism (2 firefighters injured) Claimed [6][32]
June 7, 2022 Mountain Area Pregnancy Services Asheville Asheville North Carolina Property-destruction, vandalism Attributed [12]
June 8, 2022 Options360 Women's Clinic Vancouver Portland Washington Vandalism Claimed [23]
June 10, 2022 First Image (Crisis Pregnancy Center) Gresham Portland Oregon Firebombing, property-destruction, vandalism Attributed [33]
June 19, 2022 The Lennon Pregnancy Center Dearborn Heights Detroit Michigan Property-destruction, vandalism Claimed [34][23]
June 19, 2022 Pregnancy Care Center Redford Detroit Michigan Property-destruction, vandalism Claimed [23]
June 21, 2022 Office of Rep. Tim Walberg and Jackson Right to Life Jackson Metro Detroit Michigan Property-destruction, vandalism Attributed [35]
June 25, 2022 Life Choices Ministry Longmont Longmont Colorado Arson Attributed [19]
June 25, 2022 Blue Ridge Pregnancy Center Lynchburg Lynchburg Virginia Property-destruction, vandalism Attributed [18]
June 26, 2022 Tree of Life Pregnancy Support Center Paso Robles San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles California Property-destruction, vandalism Attributed [36][37]
June 26, 2022 LifeChoice Pregnancy Center Winter Haven Lakeland-Winter Haven Florida Vandalism Attributed [38][39]
June 27, 2022 Two Hearts Pregnancy Aid Everett Seattle Washington Arson, vandalism Attributed [7][23]
July 5, 2022 Birthright (Crisis Pregnancy Center) St. Paul Twin Cities Minnesota Property-destruction, vandalism Attributed [40]
July 8, 2022 Problem Pregnancy Worcester Worcester Massachusetts Vandalism Claimed [7][41]
July 8, 2022 Clearway Clinic Worcester Worcester Massachusetts Property-destruction, vandalism Claimed [41]
August 19, 2022 Bethlehem House Easthampton Springfield Massachusetts Vandalism Claimed [7][42]
April 15, 2023 HerChoice Bowling Green Toledo Ohio Vandalism Attributed [43][44]

Government response

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In May 2022, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) stated that Jane's Revenge is the target of an ongoing investigation. The Madison, Wisconsin police department also announced an investigation of their own in collaboration with the ATF.[16]

In June 2022, after the Dobbs v. Jackson decision was released, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) released a memo concerning the group. The memo described Jane's Revenge as "a network of loosely affiliated suspected violent extremists [which] has been linked to arson attacks against the buildings of ideological opponents", warning of risk of violence that "could occur for weeks following the release" of the Supreme Court decision.[45]

In March 2023, a superseding indictment from the U.S. Department of Justice named four members of Jane's Revenge, whom they announced were facing prosecution under the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances Act for conspiring to both vandalize and threaten multiple pregnancy resource centers in Florida.[46]

References

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  1. ^ a b Asher, Abe (June 24, 2022). "'Jane's Revenge' group appears to threaten violence if Supreme Court overturns Roe". The Independent.
  2. ^ Clayworth, Jason (June 13, 2022). "Jane's Revenge claims it vandalized Des Moines resource center". Axios. Retrieved June 13, 2022.
  3. ^ "Fire at New York anti-abortion facility investigated as suspected arson". The Guardian. June 9, 2022.
  4. ^ "Pro-abortion vandals threaten pregnancy group in Hollywood". CBS News. June 14, 2022.
  5. ^ "'Bring rifles': Extremist groups call for violence over abortion ruling". The Washington Post. June 24, 2022.
  6. ^ a b c "Pro-choice militants are targeting 'pregnancy crisis centers' across US". The Guardian. June 11, 2022.
  7. ^ a b c d e f g Norris, Jesse (December 30, 2022). ""If Abortions Aren't Safe, Neither Are You:" A Mixed-Method Study of Jane's Revenge and Other Post-Dobbs Militancy". Journal for Deradicalization (33): 125–126. ISSN 2363-9849.
  8. ^ "Exclusive: Supreme Court has voted to overturn abortion rights, draft opinion shows". Politico. May 2, 2022.
  9. ^ "What Is Jane's Revenge? Abortion Rights Group Vows 'Night of Rage' Over Roe". Newsweek. June 24, 2022.
  10. ^ Stuart, Tessa (January 29, 2023). "Jane's Revenge: Biden's Justice Department Uses Abortion Access Law to Indict Pro-Choice Vandals". Rolling Stone. Retrieved September 1, 2023.
  11. ^ "Beyond Revenge, What Does Jane's Revenge Want?". The Intercept. June 16, 2022.
  12. ^ a b "Terrorist group 'Jane's Revenge' claims credit for attack on Asheville pro-life center". Carolina Journal. June 16, 2022.
  13. ^ "First Communiqué". janesrevenge.noblogs.org. May 8, 2022. Retrieved November 18, 2023.
  14. ^ Sherman, Carter (July 28, 2022). "The Right Is Freaking Out About Jane's Revenge. But What Is It?". Vice.
  15. ^ Reid, Alice (May 11, 2022). "Report: Group claims credit for Madison pregnancy center attack, warns of more". WGBA.
  16. ^ a b Luscombe, Richard (May 10, 2022). "Pro-choice group claims arson attack on Wisconsin anti-abortion office". The Guardian.
  17. ^ "Another Communiqué". janesrevenge.noblogs.org. June 15, 2022. Retrieved November 18, 2023.
  18. ^ a b "'No room for this in Virginia' — Gov. Youngkin decries vandalism at crisis pregnancy center". WTOP-FM. June 26, 2022.
  19. ^ a b Whaley, Monte (June 25, 2022). "Employees say Longmont ministry torched by pro-abortion group". LongmontLeader.
  20. ^ Quinn, Allison (June 26, 2022). "Christian Pregnancy Center Scorched and Vandalized After Roe Ruling". The Daily Beast. Retrieved June 26, 2022.
  21. ^ Biddle, Sam (June 28, 2022). "Facebook Labels Abortion Rights Vandals as Terrorists Following Roe Reversal". The Intercept. Retrieved August 7, 2022.
  22. ^ Viviani, Nick (January 19, 2023). "$25,000 reward offered in firebombing of Madison anti-abortion office". nbc15.com.
  23. ^ a b c d e f g h i "H.R. 8926 of 2022 - A bill to require an Inspector General report on domestic violent extremism against pregnancy centers" (PDF). congress.gov. September 30, 2022. Retrieved November 18, 2023.
  24. ^ Melser, Lowell (May 16, 2022). "Vandals spray-painted threatening messages onto pregnancy center in Reisterstown". WBAL.
  25. ^ "Jane's Revenge - The Time Is Now – Stand Up – Take Action". July 8, 2022.
  26. ^ "Olympia: Attack on 4 anti-abortion churches". pugetsoundanarchists.com. May 23, 2022.
  27. ^ Foley, Ryan (June 24, 2022). "List: Churches, pro-life offices torched, vandalized by abortion activists since Supreme Court leak". The Christian Post.
  28. ^ Briscoe, Kienan (June 23, 2022). "Jane seeks revenge at Lynnwood pregnancy clinic". lynnwoodtimes.com.
  29. ^ "Pro-abortion group vandalizes Iowa pregnancy counseling center". KCRG. June 15, 2022.
  30. ^ Akin, Katie. "Jane's Revenge group claims responsibility for Des Moines pregnancy center vandalism". The Arizona Republic.
  31. ^ Magel, Todd (June 14, 2022). "Group claims responsibility for vandalism at Des Moines pregnancy counseling center". KCCI.
  32. ^ Janaswamy, Revathi (June 8, 2022). "Police investigating apparent arson at Getzville anti-abortion center". spectrumlocalnews.com.
  33. ^ "Officials investigate fire that damaged an Oregon 'pregnancy crisis center'". The Guardian. June 11, 2022. Retrieved June 12, 2022.
  34. ^ Herndon, Dave (June 22, 2022). "Jane's Revenge group appears to take credit for pregnancy center attack in Dearborn Heights". pressandguide.com.
  35. ^ Draugelis, Jake (June 22, 2022). "Congressman's campaign office, Jackson Right to Life building vandalized". wilx.com.
  36. ^ "Abortion rights group vandalizes pregnancy support center in Paso Robles". Cal Coast News. June 27, 2022.
  37. ^ "Paso Robles pregnancy center vandalized, police say". KSBY News. June 26, 2022.
  38. ^ White, Gary. "'We're coming for U': Winter Haven pregnancy center vandalized with graffiti". The Ledger.
  39. ^ "'We're coming for U': Winter Haven pregnancy center vandalized with graffiti". www.yahoo.com. June 27, 2022.
  40. ^ "'Crisis Pregnancy Center' vandalized in St. Paul". MPR News. Retrieved July 7, 2022.
  41. ^ a b Matthews, Tom (July 7, 2022). "'Jane's Revenge': 2 Worcester crisis pregnancy centers vandalized with spray paint, windows smashed". masslive.
  42. ^ Fieldman, Luis (August 19, 2022). "'Jane's revenge' graffiti reportedly defaces Easthampton pregnancy center". masslive.
  43. ^ "Person charged in Bowling Green pregnancy center vandalism incident". wtol.com. April 15, 2023.
  44. ^ Kremer, Nick (July 6, 2023). "Alleged BG pregnancy center vandal enters 'not guilty' plea". 13abc.com.
  45. ^ "Violence by extremists could occur 'for weeks' in wake of Supreme Court decision: DHS". ABC News. June 25, 2022.
  46. ^ "Two Additional Defendants Charged with Civil Rights Conspiracy Targeting Pregnancy Resource Centers". justice.gov. U.S. Department of Justice. Retrieved September 1, 2023.
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