Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin, a Republican, pledged to use the state’s power to protect Supreme Court justices from rioters who may threaten them at their homes in the wake of a major abortion ruling.
“I am in regular contact with the Supreme Court Justices and my administration is in coordination with our mayors, and local and state police to ensure we are ready to take appropriate action if need be. Virginia will not stand for lawlessness or violence,” Youngkin said in a statement shortly after the release of the court decision overturning Roe v. Wade.
“Today’s ruling is a landmark decision for our country. While I understand that people across the nation have strong beliefs about this ruling, Virginians must always respect the rule of law and I appeal to their civility on this historic day. Our administration is committed to protecting individuals’ constitutional rights and ensuring Virginians are safe,” he added.
Multiple justices live in the Northern Virginia suburbs, and far-left protesters have targeted them — with one group even advertising when and where Justice Amy Coney Barrett attends church and putting signs up where her daughter goes to school.
Posters around D.C. have, for the last week, encouraged people to riot when the Supreme Court issued its decision, while others called for a “night of rage.”
The Code of Virginia prohibits “picketing before or about the residence or dwelling place of any individual … in a manner which disrupts or threatens to disrupt any individual’s right to tranquility in his home,” though others have questioned such laws on constitutional grounds.
But far-left politicos from Fairfax County rejected Youngkin’s entreaties that local police “establish an expanded security perimeter” and limit “unauthorized vehicle and pedestrian access” around the residences of Justices Barrett, Clarence Thomas, and Samuel Alito, Fairfax Now reported May 12.
After an armed man traveled to the home of Justice Brett Kavanaugh in Maryland and was indicted for attempted murder of a justice, Youngkin introduced an amendment to the state’s budget that would make it a felony to try to influence or intimidate a judge with protests. Lawmakers blocked the amendment.
Youngkin, a Republican who last year won election in a generally blue-leaning state, signaled Friday that he will pursue a 15-week abortion ban. “We can build a bipartisan consensus on protecting the life of unborn children, especially when they begin to feel pain in the womb and importantly supporting mothers and families who choose life,” he said in a statement. He added that he has asked legislators to prepare a bill for “when the General Assembly returns in January.”