The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is offering a $25,000 reward for information about those responsible for a series of attacks on pro-life pregnancy centers nationwide.
FBI Director Christopher Wray shared the information in a news release that focuses on finding the people responsible for the crimes as potential acts of domestic violent extremism, Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances Act (FACE Act) violations, or violent crime matters.
“Today’s announcement reflects the FBI’s commitment to vigorously pursue investigations into crimes against pregnancy resource centers, faith-based organizations, and reproductive health clinics across the country,” FBI director Christopher Wray said in a statement.
“We will continue to work closely with our national, state, and local law enforcement partners to hold responsible anyone who uses extremist views to justify their criminal actions,” he added.
The reward focuses on attacks at pregnancy centers that have occurred since March 2022 in eight states.
CatholicVote, a non-profit pro-life organization, has tracked at least 78 attacks on pregnancy care centers and offices since a draft of the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade was leaked in May.
Michigan has been the location of the most attacks tracked by the group, with eight, followed by Oregon and California, each with six attacks, and New York, Minnesota, and Washington each experienced five attacks.
In September, Mother and Unborn Baby Care pregnancy center in Southfield, Michigan, was vandalized with messages in red spray paint with broken windows.
“If abortions aren’t safe, neither are you. Jane,” the writing read.
On January 3, pro-life group CompassCare announced that it was launching its own private investigation into vandalism on its location in June, claiming that the FBI was not doing enough to stop targeted violence against pro-life pregnancy centers.
“If the FBI is interested in quelling the nationwide hate crimes against Christian pro-life organizations, they would offer a reward for information leading to the arrests of all 78 attacks, not just for the pro-abortion terrorists who firebombed our facility,” CompassCare CEO, Rev. Jim Harden, said in a statement.
“It is a sad day when private citizens are left to do the work of law enforcement. If the FBI is being used for political purposes, all investigative efforts should turn on them. The organization should be defunded and those involved indicted for conspiracy to deprive pro-life citizens of their rights,” he added.
One activist group, Jane’s Revenge, has claimed responsibility for many attacks. The group said they are at “war” with pro-life groups. Several vandalism attacks at pro-life locations have included graffiti reading “Jane was here” or similar messages.
Another group called Ruth Sent Us organized groups of protesters outside the homes of conservative Supreme Court justices. Twitter deleted the group’s account after it made the location of some justices’ homes public.
The group shared a map on its website listing the street names where Justices Amy Coney Barrett, John Roberts, Samuel Alito, Brett Kavanaugh, Clarence Thomas, and Neil Gorsuch live. Google removed the map in early May, saying they found it to be in “violation of our personal and confidential information policy.”