(Dmytro “Henry” Aleksandrov, Headline USA) Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody and the Christian legal group First Liberty Institute sued two members of Antifa and the pro-abortion domestic terrorist group Jane’s Revenge for allegedly vandalizing three pro-life pregnancy centers in the south- and central parts of Florida.
In January, a federal grand jury indicted Caleb Freestone, 27, and Amber Smith-Stewart, 23, with violations of the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances Act, according to the Daily Signal. This act allows state attorneys general and the victims of vandalism and other attacks to sue for damages. First Liberty Institute is suing on behalf of one of the pregnancy centers that were terrorized.
Catholic Vote reported that vandals have targeted at least 83 pro-life pregnancy centers and 144 Catholic churches since the Dobbs decision was leaked in May 2022, in which the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade.
“We commend Attorney General Ashley Moody for her determination to hold these vandals, along with the broader network associated with Jane’s Revenge, accountable for the over 100 attacks on life-affirming reproductive health facilities across the country since someone leaked the Dobbs decision,” Jeremy Dys, special counsel at First Liberty, said.
In her March 30 statement, Moody criticized pro-abortion terrorists, too.
“Antifa and Jane’s Revenge are criminal organizations and must answer for their crimes in Florida,” Moody said. “I am taking action to hold their members accountable for attempting to intimidate and threaten law-abiding citizens in our state.”
In her lawsuit, Moody stated that Freestone and Smith-Stewart spray-painted threats such as “If abortions aren’t safe then neither are you” and “YOUR TIME IS UP!!” at the South Broward Pregnancy Help Center in Hollywood on May 28, the LifeChoice crisis pregnancy center in Winter Haven on June 26 and the Heartbeat of Miami pregnancy center in Hialeah on July 3.
Moody asks the federal court to assess damages and fines of $170,000 each for Freestone and Smith-Stewart, while First Liberty, which represents Heartbeat of Miami, seeks to recover penalties imposed by the FACE Act and from other legal theories. Both lawsuits refer to Freestone and Smith-Stewart as members of Antifa and Jane’s Revenge.
Dys praised assistant U.S. attorneys in Florida for defending pregnancy centers against pro-abortion terrorists and noted that First Liberty will update its complaint to include Gabriella Oropesa and Annarella Rivera, whom the grand jury indicted on March 29 for allegedly working with Freestone and Smith-Stewart to violate the FACE Act.
He also predicted that more lawsuits will follow as law enforcement identifies suspected vandals.
