FLORIDA—Attorney General Ashley Moody has announced that she is acting against Antifa and an abortion rights group that allegedly vandalized Florida crisis pregnancy centers.
According to Moody, she is pursuing civil action against activists allegedly associated with Antifa, an anti-fascist, anti-racist political movement, and Jane’s Revenge, a pro-abortion rights group. Moody said the groups sought to silence and intimidate crisis pregnancy center workers and clients by vandalizing or even setting fire to centers.
Moody claims that Caleb Hunter Freestone of Miami, and Amber Marie Smith-Stewart of Ocoee, are members of the groups and that they participated in at least three attacks against crisis pregnancy centers in Florida. Through the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances Act (FACE Act), Moody said she is asking a federal court to assess damages and fines against the defendants of $170,000 each.
“Antifa and Jane’s Revenge are criminal organizations and must answer for their crimes in Florida,” said Moody.
“I am taking action to hold their members accountable for attempting to intimidate and threaten law-abiding citizens in our state.”
According to Moody’s complaint, Freestone and Smith-Stewart participated in coordinated attacks in Florida, vandalizing at least three crisis centers, including the South Broward Pregnancy Help Center, LifeChoice crisis pregnancy center in Winter Haven, and Heartbeat of Miami in Hialeah.
Allegedly, the defendants spray painted on center walls, “If abortions aren’t safe, neither are you.”
The complaint states, “These attacks harm clinics offering services free of charge, harm citizens seeking and in need of pregnancy-related services, create an atmosphere of fear and intimidation, and destabilize civil society.”
Moody said she is pursuing civil action against the defendants for allegedly violating the FACE Act. According to Moody, the FACE Act subjects civil and criminal penalties to any person who “by force or threat of force…intentionally…intimidates or interferes with or attempts to…intimidate or interfere with any person because that person is or has been…providing reproductive health services.”
Moody is asking the court to enter judgment against the defendants for $30,000 in damages, as well as civil penalties of $140,000, for each defendant.
