The headquarters of a pro-life organization in Wisconsin was set on fire on Sunday morning in what appears to be a politically-motivated attack.
The attack on Wisconsin Family Action, located in Madison, came a week after an early draft of a United States Supreme Court majority opinion leaked last week that indicated the controversial Roe v. Wade decision would likely be struck down.
No one from the organization was in the building at the time of the attack, which included a Molotov cocktail that was thrown through a window and failed to ignite. Whoever was behind the attack set another fire nearby that burned part of a wall.
Local media reported that graffiti was left outside the building that stated, “If abortions aren’t safe then you aren’t either.”
Madison Police Department said, “We have made our federal partners aware of this incident and are working with them and the Madison Fire Department as we investigate this arson.”
Julaine Appling, president of the organization, said that the attack was “a direct threat against us.”
“Imagine if somebody had been in the office when this happened,” she said. “They would have been hurt.”
Wisconsin’s Democrat governor, Tony Evers, condemned the attack in a statement where he urged people to engage in politics without resorting to violence.
“We condemn violence and hatred in all forms, including the actions at Wisconsin Family Action in Madison last night,” Evers said. “We reject violence against any person for disagreeing with another’s view. Violence is not the way forward. Hurting others is never the answer.”
“We will work against overturning Roe and attacks on reproductive rights by leading with empathy and compassion,” he added. “We will defend what we believe in with our words and our voices—in the streets, in halls of government, and at the ballot box. In Wisconsin, we must lead by example.”
We will work against overturning Roe and attacks on reproductive rights by leading with empathy and compassion. We will defend what we believe in with our words and our voices—in the streets, in halls of government, and at the ballot box. In Wisconsin, we must lead by example.
— Governor Tony Evers (@GovEvers) May 8, 2022
Sen. Ron Johnson (R-WI) responded to the attack by writing on Twitter: “This attack is abhorrent and should be condemned by all.”
This attack is abhorrent and should be condemned by all. https://t.co/CGnPmMJUmo
— Senator Ron Johnson (@SenRonJohnson) May 8, 2022
“Terrifying to see the left attack @WiFamilyAction on Mother’s Day,” Republican gubernatorial candidate and former Lt. Gov. Rebecca Kleefisch said. “The radicals are trying to stop us but they know we won’t be intimidated from defending life.”
“Disgusting behavior from the left,” Republican gubernatorial candidate Kevin Nicholson said. “@JoeBiden has already refused to condemn it and both @GovEvers and @JoshKaulWI have shown they want to enforce mob rule and further degrade law & order in Wisconsin. This has to stop. @GovEvers cannot be silent.”
Disgusting behavior from the left. @JoeBiden has already refused to condemn it and both @GovEvers and @JoshKaulWI have shown they want to enforce mob rule and further degrade law & order in Wisconsin. This has to stop. @GovEvers cannot be silent. https://t.co/nsmORc8j7n
— Kevin Nicholson (@KevinMNicholson) May 8, 2022
Story cited here.
