MADISON, Wis. — Arson investigators have been probing a hearth Sunday contained in the headquarters of anti-abortion group Wisconsin Family Action, the place somebody had spray-painted a message exterior the constructing.
Madison police spokeswoman Stephanie Fryer advised the Wisconsin State Journal that the hearth reported shortly after 6 a.m. Sunday in Madison was suspicious in nature. Federal officers and the Madison Fire Department are serving to with the investigation.
No one was injured, and officers have been nonetheless working to find out how a lot harm the hearth prompted.
It wasn’t instantly clear who vandalized the constructing, however the message “If abortions aren’t safe then you aren’t either” was spray-painted on the constructing.
“It appears a specific non-profit that supports anti-abortion measures was targeted,” Madison Police Chief Shon Barnes stated in an announcement.
The president of the lobbying group, Julaine Appling, stated she considers the hearth a “direct threat against us” provided that it occurred just some days after a draft of a U.S. Supreme Court opinion was leaked suggesting the courtroom might quickly overturn the Roe v. Wade choice that legalized abortion on this nation. She stated individuals might have been harm if that they had been working within the workplace on the time.
“This is the local manifestation of the anger and the lack of tolerance from the pro-abortion people toward those of us who are pro-life,” Appling stated, who stated investigators discovered the remnants of no less than one Molotov cocktail.
Appling stated her group received’t be intimidated by the vandalism.
“We will repair our offices, remain on the job, and build an even stronger grassroots effort,” Appling stated. “We will not back down. We will not stop doing what we are doing. Too much is at stake.”
Wisconsin politicians from each events, together with Democratic Gov. Tony Evers and Republican U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson, swiftly criticized the vandalism Sunday.
“We condemn violence and hatred in all forms, including the actions at Wisconsin Family Action in Madison last night,” Evers stated in a tweet. “We reject violence against any person for disagreeing with another’s view. Violence is not the way forward. Hurting others is never the answer.”
Johnson stated the actions shouldn’t be tolerated.
“This attack is abhorrent and should be condemned by all,” Johnson stated.
Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Tom Nelson additionally denounced the vandalism.
“I am committed to protecting women’s rights – but we must do it the right way,” Nelson stated. “Violence and destruction are not the answer. I’m glad no one was hurt.”
Two Republican candidates for governor, former Lt. Gov. Rebecca Kleefisch and Kevin Nicholson, each weighed in.
“The radicals are trying to stop us but they know we won’t be intimidated from defending life,” Kleefisch stated.
Source: www.bostonherald.com”