Planned Parenthood Clinics Targeted With Vandalism and Arson in the Wake of Released Videos
Since the release of the inflammatory videos, several Planned Parenthood centers and other clinics that offer abortions have been vandalized across the country, shutting some down for weeks. Here’s a rundown on each incident:
Confirmed arson in Southern California: The most recent attack came on Wednesday evening in Thousand Oaks, California, where arsonists broke a Planned Parenthood window to douse the interior with gasoline — and then set it on fire. The small fire was put out by the facility’s sprinkler system, but the clinic is unsure how soon it can reopen.
Suspicious fire in Washington State: In early September, a Planned Parenthood clinic in Pullman, WA, saw a more detrimental arson case that took hours to put out. Clinic staff said the fire could shutter the center for a month, at the least.
Hate crime in Louisiana: A man was accused of pulling metal signage off a Metairie, LA abortion clinic on August 15. Under Louisiana law, it’s illegal to commit a crime against a person and property “because of actual or perceived membership or service in, or employment with, an organization.” Thus, this act was deemed a hate crime because it was specifically targeting employees who provide abortions.
Vehicle arson in New Orleans: Another arsonist targeted a Planned Parenthood clinic in the process of being built in early August. The New Orleans construction site failed to ignite, but the nearby empty vehicle of security guard caught fire. This particular construction site has been plagued with vandalism and protests for months, delaying the opening of the clinic.
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