The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has issued a warning that they expect violent extremist activity to carry on for weeks in reaction to the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision on Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization overturning the 1973 Roe v. Wade ruling that extended some protections to abortion access.
On Friday night, the DHS Office of Intelligence and Analysis released a memo stating federal and state officials, including judges, are the most likely to be targeted by domestic violent extremists (DVEs), but that extremists may also target pregnancy resource centers and houses of worship.
“We expect violence could occur for weeks following the release,
particularly as DVEs may be mobilized to respond to changes in state laws and ballot measures on abortion stemming from the decision,” the memo said. The Office of Intelligence and Analysis said it reached this conclusion after noticing an uptick in violent behavior following a leak of the court’s draft decision in the Dobbs v. Jackson case in May.
“Federal and state government officials—including judges—and
facilities probably are most at risk for violence in response to the decision. In late May, a network of loosely affiliated suspected violent extremists, known as ‘Jane’s Revenge’ — which has been linked to arson attacks against the buildings of ideological opponents — shared a post online encouraging a ‘night of rage’ following the Supreme Court announcement, stating, ‘we need the state to feel our full wrath’ and ‘we need them to be afraid of us.'”
The memo noted one suspect is now awaiting trial after admitting to plotting to assassinate Justice Brett Kavanaugh earlier this month. The memo also noted “Jane’s Revenge” claimed responsibility for a second vandalism incident on a building that houses a U.S. Representative’s campaign office and a pro-life advocacy group.
An individual is now awaiting trial for a plot in June to kill a US Supreme Court Justice in response to the draft opinion. A separate incident in Michigan involved vandalism claimed by “Jane’s Revenge” on a building that houses a U.S. Representative’s campaign office and a pro-life advocacy group.
“Faith-based organizations across the United States continue to report numerous criminal incidents against religious institutions connected to
abortion rights,” the memo states. “We are aware of at least 11 incidents of vandalism threatening violence targeting religious facilities perceived as being opposed to abortion, and one threat to ‘bomb’ and ‘burn’ a church in New York.”
The memo state the DHS is aware of other violent incidents targeting both abortion clinics and “family advocacy healthcare facilities” since May.
Since May, at least three arson attacks targeting pregnancy resource centers in Oregon and New York and a family advocacy group’s headquarters in Wisconsin have been claimed by ‘Jane’s Revenge,'” the DHS said. “In May and June, suspected DVEs opposed to abortion rights conducted arson attacks targeting a reproductive healthcare facility in Wyoming and a vacant building that was formerly a reproductive healthcare facility in
Washington.”
The DHS memo also warns that protest events may attract a range of different extremists to commit violence against their ideological opponents.
The memo also notes a June 22 social media post from an unidentified user “posted content encouraging violence” in response to the “night of rage” advocated by pro-abortion groups like “Jane’s Revenge.” The user apparently advised followers to “prepare to defend” themselves.
