Pattern of Threats and Intimidation Escalates Into an Assault on a Pro-Life Volunteer at a Prayer Vigil
FRESNO, CA - Right to Life of Central California, one of the largest pro-life organizations west of the Mississippi, today condemned the pattern of threats and intimidation targeted at pro-life volunteers, that escalated into an assault Thursday afternoon.
On October 15th, Day 23 of our 40 Days for Life campaign, a pro-choice woman shouted obscenities at 40 Days volunteers, before attempting to break the event security camera and assaulting Victor Fierro, director of Latinos4Life. The attacker cut Fierro's arm with an unknown object, drawing blood, and then stormed back to her car and fled the scene. Much of the encounter took place right behind the camera, but the audio was all captured, as well as her face and license plate number. A police report is being filed this morning, and the video being uploaded to YouTube later today.
RLCC's Education Director Josh Brahm said, "We're just trying to hold a peaceful prayer vigil out here. We're law-abiding citizens, standing on a public sidewalk, with the full support of the Fresno Police Department, and yet several pro-abortion-choice people have been harassing us since day one. Now it's turned physical."
A police report has already been filed regarding another individual that's come by several times, stealing signs and making threatening remarks. In addition, a man called the Fresno Right to Life office this morning, saying "when you go and shoot doctors that are just trying to offer a service to women it's not good;" "there's a lot of hate out there, and one day it's going to blow up, and a lot of people are going to get hurt;" "why should I give you back anything but the sh** you've given to everybody else," and "why don't you just die you godd*** mother-f***ing piece of sh**!"
Josh Brahm said, "Fresno Right to Life has a long and undeniable history of peaceful pro-life activism, which we will proudly continue even in the face of bullying and intimidation."
Local media ignored the story of yesterday's assault on their evening news casts. KMPH Fox 26 told Josh Brahm that they weren't going to cover the story since Victor "wasn't stabbed, just scratched." KFSN ABC 30 shot footage at Planned Parenthood and interviewed both Josh Brahm and Victor Fierro, but didn't use the story, replacing it with a piece on the new "chocolate-covered bacon" stand at the local fair, and a man who believes he sees the virgin Mary on a rock.
For over 22 years, RLCC has been a leader in peaceful, legal activities to protect human lives threatened by abortion, infanticide and euthanasia. RLCC will continue to work through educational activities to ensure the right to life for unborn children, people with disabilities and the infirm and elderly. This includes our annual 40 Days for Life prayer vigil, as well as a globally-heard podcast, YouTube videos, educational presentations and campus outreach. For more information, please visit FresnoProLife.org.
