Will violence against reproductive health clinics worsen now that a pro-choice President is in power?

On President Obama’s second day in office, and on the 36th anniversary of Roe v. Wade, an SUV has smashed into the front entrance of a Planned Parenthood in St. Paul, Minnesota, the only Planned Parenthood clinic in the state that offers abortions.  The collision occurred at 7:30am, when only one clinic staffer was indoors.  That staffer was unhurt.

Reports the Star Tribune: 

Although staff members have gotten used to protests, particularly on
the anniversary of the ruling, "we certainly don’t expect this sort of
thing," said Sarah Stoesz, the president and chief executive officer of
Planned Parenthood of Minnesota, North Dakota and South Dakota. ""It’s
never happened before and we don’t expect it to happen again."

Stoesz pointed out:

"The irony is that if those protesters, like this man, would help us
assure all people have access to reproductive health care, it would
reduce the need for abortions," she said.

Rewire will continue to investigate whether there is an uptick in clinic violence under a pro-choice administration.