Police arrested a suspect in connection to the second vandalism of the pro-life pregnancy centre in less than a decade.
Amherst Police Department, Amherst, New York announced Saturday that it had taken Hannah Kamke (39), into custody in connection to the vandalism committed by CompassCare on March 16. This is a pro-life center for women in the Buffalo region. The statement noted that Kamke’s arrest on charges of criminal mischief in the third degree “is the result of an investigation by the Amherst Police Department with the assistance of the FBI.”
The March 16 vandalism of CompassCare, which involved the spray-painting of the word “liars” on the facility’s sign, is the second time the pro-life pregnancy center has become the target of pro-abortion activists within nine months.
The firebombing of the facility occurred just weeks after Politico published an draft of a United States Supreme Court decision. This indicated that a majority (or more) of justices wanted to overturn it. Roe v. Wade It was ruled that abortion could be legalized nationwide. The attackers remain at large.
CompassCare rebuilt its facility after being severely damaged in two months. It was one of many prolife pregnancy centers and churches damaged by vandals in the wake of the leak of the draft opinion in this case. Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health. Official ruling ruled that the U.S. Constitution did not include a right for abortion. This was the argument of pro-abortion activists over many decades.
The Rev. Jim Harden, CEO of CompassCare, has emerged as one of the most outspoken critics of federal law enforcement’s response to the wave of attacks.
In a statement reacting to Kamke’s arrest, Harden said the persistent attacks on pregnancy centers are “an indictment on the FBI and the hundreds of other local law enforcement agencies that have allowed the FBI to usurp their investigative duty. The FBI has less evidence for the March 16 vandalism than they do for the June 7 firebombing, yet they somehow were able to identify a suspect and make an arrest within days.”
“We’ve been saying all along that the FBI possesses this kind of forensic power but has chosen not to employ it on behalf of pro-life people when victimized by pro-abortion Maoist Antifa,” he added.
CompassCare identified this month’s defacement of the CompassCare sign as well as last year’s firebombing of the facility as violations of the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances (FACE) Act, which subjects those who damage or destroy the property of a facility that “provides reproductive health services” to federal charges.
Harden is weighing whether to bring charges against Kamke under the FACE Act. Federal law is used more often to prosecute pro-life activists trying to stop women from visiting abortion clinics. However, in the past those involved in pro-abortion violent acts have been charged under federal law. A Florida grand jury indicted 2 pro-abortion activists who vandalized pro-life pregnancy centres in Florida’s Winter Haven and Hollywood in January.
Other than the Florida and Kamke prolifers, there have been very few arrests in connection with the wave of violence against pro-life churches and pregnancy centers.
The FBI stated to The Christian Post that it was reviewing FACE Act cases in certain instances of proabortion vandalism. They also offered a $25,000 reward if anyone leads to the arrests of those who firebombed CompassCare. Harden still isn’t satisfied with the actions of federal agencies so far.
Harden previously suggested that the FBI offering reward money to find the vandals who firebombed his facility “may be nothing more than an attempt to appear evenhanded.”
The establishment and payment of the reward money occurred less than a week following the 2022 midterm elections where Republicans seized control of the House from Democrats. Additionally, Harden contended that “if they are serious about finding the perpetrators, they will offer a $25K reward for each of the 150 pro-life organizations that have been attacked — $3.75 million dollars.”
Private investigators have been hired by CompassCare’s CEO to find the perpetrators of the firebombing, and other acts of pro-abortion violence. While the specific identities of the vandals behind the CompassCare firebombing are still unknown, the pro-abortion group Jane’s Revenge claimed credit for the attack in a communique published a week after the attack.
Jane’s Revenge listed “Buffalo” as one of many cities where it targeted pro-life organizations. The group declared “open season” on “anti-choice” centers after they failed to comply with their demand laid out in a previous communique to disband within 30 days.
Ryan Foley works as a reporter for The Christian Post. He can be reached at: [email protected]
No cost Religious Freedom Updates
Join thousands of other people to get the FREEDOM POST The Christian Post sends out a newsletter twice per week for no cost.
