Letitia James sues to stop pro-life ‘terrorists’ from protesting at abortion clinics

New York Attorney General Letitia James is seeking an injunction to stop a pro-life group from demonstrating within 30 feet of abortion clinics, calling the group’s activists “terrorists”.

Ms James has asked a federal court to create a 30-foot buffer zone around state abortion centers to prevent activists affiliated with Red Rose Rescue, who have a history of infiltrating clinics, from offering red roses to pregnant women and refuse to leave until they are arrested.

“We are also seeking civil penalties and damages because here in New York, access to abortion is legal and it will remain so,” the Democratic lawmaker said during a press conference Thursday at a clinic in Planned Parenthood in Hempstead.

“It is my duty, my honor and my responsibility to protect individuals from terrorists, and that is what they are,” she said.

She admitted after being questioned by a reporter that Red Rose Rescue had not been labeled a domestic terrorist organization.

“They haven’t been referred to as such,” Ms James said. “I call them terrorists because of their activities.”

The lawsuit named five members of Red Rose Rescue, two of whom are already serving time in Michigan for trespassing. The activists, Christopher Moscinski and Laura Gies, are also set to be sentenced in New York on June 30 on charges stemming from their protests against the abortion clinic.

“Only we have the right to make decisions about our own bodies – not anti-choice lawmakers, and not bigoted bigots,” Ms James said. “We will not allow Red Rose Rescue to harass and harass New Yorkers with their outrageous activism tactics.”

I am in Hempstead to announce a lawsuit against Red Rose Rescue, an anti-abortion group, for illegally invading reproductive health care clinics in New York City and disrupting services and terrorizing patients.

Every New Yorker has the right to safe access to reproductive care. pic.twitter.com/A5mKT3KcjR

— NY AG James (@NewYorkStateAG)https://twitter.com/NewYorkStateAG/status/1666869946943520768?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw“>June 8, 2023

Monica Migliorino Miller, director of Citizens for a Pro-Life Society and spokeswoman for Red Rose, called the attorney general’s “terrorist” accusation a “total propaganda lie – born out of pure pro-abortion politics.”

“Those who participate in Red Rose Rescues are calm, loving and completely peaceful,” Ms Miller said in a statement. “Terrorism does not save babies from abortion – love saves babies from abortion – and Red Rose rescuers are engaged in acts of love.”

She pointed to Red Rose Rescue’s code of conduct, which requires members to “refrain from any form of violence” and avoid “profanity, swearing, yelling, shouting or loud arguments.”

“James should read the code before spouting his false pro-abortion interpretation of those who want to help women and save innocent human beings from violent extermination!” said Mrs. Miller. “The abortion she supports is the real terrorism – the terrorism etched in the crushed bodies of aborted unborn children.”

Over the past two years, Ms James said protesters had “terrorized” patients at three New York abortion clinics. In April 2021, an activist posed as a patient to gain access to All Women’s Care in Manhasset, then let her colleagues in through a side door, including Moscinski.

“Moscinski brought a black duffel bag wearing his brother dresses. The patients panicked because they thought he had a gun,” Ms James said. “Red Rose Rescue members staged a die-in in the waiting room, refusing to leave, disrupting services and scaring patients and staff.”

Three of the activists were executed by police after going limp. They were eventually convicted of trespassing and second-degree obstruction.

Refusing to leave until they are arrested is a “primary mission of the group”, the New York lawsuit said.

“They explained they were doing this because ‘our experience is that as long as there is a pro-life presence in the abortion clinic, abortions are halted,'” the motion reads.

Ms Miller accused the attorney general of “trampling on the right to free speech”, while Ms James said the group “has repeatedly violated our national and state laws on access to clinics, and they are committed to continue to invade, intimidate, harass, interfere as long as abortion is practiced in any state.

The attorney general previously tossed out the “terrorist” charge, ripping the National Rifle Association as a “terrorist organization” in a 2018 interview.