Vandals hit the office of an anti-abortion group, where a fire broke out and a Molotov cocktail was found
From the Associated Press
May 8, 2022, 11:33 p.m.
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Madison, Wisconsin – Vandals raided the office of an anti-abortion group, where a fire broke out and a Molotov cocktail was found, authorities said Sunday.
Madison Police spokeswoman Stephanie Fryer told the Wisconsin State Journal that the fire, reported shortly after 6 a.m. Sunday at the Wisconsin Family Action office in Madison, was suspicious in nature. He said someone also sprayed a message outside the building. Federal officials and the Madison Fire Department are assisting in the investigation.
No one was injured and officials are still working to determine what the fire was.
It was not immediately clear who vandalized the building, but the message “If abortion is not safe, so are you” was spray-painted on the building.
“It appears that a specific non-profit organization has been targeted to support anti-abortion measures,” Madison Police Chief Sean Barnes said in a statement.
Lobbyist President Juliane Alling said she considered the fire a “direct threat to us”, given that it came just days after a draft US Supreme Court opinion expired, suggesting the court could soon cancel Roe v. Wade’s decision to legalize abortion in this country. She said people could be injured if they worked in the office at the time.
“This is a local manifestation of people’s anger and lack of tolerance for abortion towards those of us who are for life,” said Aling, who said investigators had found the remains of at least one Molotov cocktail.
Aplin said her group would not be intimidated by the vandalism.
“We will renovate our offices, stay in work and build even stronger efforts for the mass population,” Aling said. “We will not back down. We will not stop doing what we do. There is too much at stake. ”
Wisconsin politicians from both parties, including Democratic Gov. Tony Evers and Republican Sen. Ron Johnson, were quick to criticize the vandalism on Sunday.
“We condemn violence and hatred in all its forms, including the Wisconsin Family Action in Madison last night,” Evers tweeted. “We reject violence against anyone for disagreeing with other people’s opinions. Violence is not the way forward. Hurting others is never the answer. “
Johnson said the action should not be tolerated.
“This attack is disgusting and should be condemned by all,” Johnson said.
U.S. Senate Democratic nominee Tom Nelson also condemned the vandalism.
“I am committed to protecting women’s rights, but we need to do it the right way,” Nelson said. “Violence and destruction are not the answer. I’m glad no one was hurt. “
Two Republican gubernatorial candidates, former Lieutenant Governor Rebecca Cliffish and Kevin Nicholson, took part.
Nicholson said the vandalism was “disgusting behavior on the left”, although he did not specify or provide more details.
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