As Hate Crimes Pile Up Against Churches and Pregnancy Centers, Hawley Cracks Down
17th July 2022
It began in Boulder, Colorado. On the night of May 3, one day after Politico leaked a draft of the Dobbs Supreme Court decision that would eventually overturn Roe v. Wade seven weeks later, criminals attacked Sacred Heart of Mary Catholic Church, smashing windows and spray-painting multiple anti-Catholic and pro-abortion slogans on the doors and walls of the building.
Thus began a country-wide wave of hate crimes and terrorist attacks against churches, pregnancy resource centers, and pro-life organizations unlike anything seen before in the U.S., with at least 85 attacks occurring in the 74 days since the May 2 leak. The Washington Stand has tallied an additional 21 incidents of assaults on pro-life individuals and police officers, disruptions of religious services, and other violent incidents committed by pro-abortion extremists over that same time frame.
In response, Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo., introduced the Pregnancy Resource Center Defense Act on Thursday with the goal of toughening criminal penalties for those who attack pregnancy centers and places of worship.