Matthew Derosia was convicted late last week for ramming his car into the entrance of a Planned Parenthood clinic on Ford Parkway in St. Paul in January during an anti-abortion protest.

Derosia was sentenced to time served, but the state is seeking to
have him permanently committed for mental illness. Derosia has faced at
least two commitment proceedings in the last decade.

His family is opposing the current commitment, saying Derosia was only doing the Lord’s work.

In an email to the Minnesota Independent on Sunday, Derosia’s mother
Georjean, came to his defense. “[It is] the state of Minnesota’s
intention to LOCK UP my son for a non-violent protest against Planned
Parenthood for THE REST OF HIS LIFE!!!”

Georgjean’s email was sent to anti-abortion activists soliciting funds to keep him out of full-time mental care.

“I agree he needs help and we are getting him the help he needs but
without your help he will be lost to everyone forever. With Gods [sic]
love we can get justice for this poor boy who was only doing what God
asked him to do.”

Matthew Derosia pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 111 days time
served and fined $50. He also must pay restitution to Planned
Parenthood in the amount of $3,818.85.

The police report noted that after running a vehicle into the front
of the clinic, Derosia was “holding a crucifix and shouting various
Bible verses. ” He “refused to respond to police and continued to
recite Bible verses and shout, ‘Close down the Auschwitz Death Camp.’”

He also told police that “he felt what he did was right and he would do it again if he were told to.”

The incident sparked condemnation from local anti-abortion leaders.
Brian Gibson, executive director of Pro-Life Action Ministries, told
KARE 11 at the time, “Not only do we not like this happening, we
condemn this type of act. We’re against all violence,” Gibson said.

But the extreme wing of the anti-abortion movement has rallied to his defense.

Rev. Donald Spitz of the Army of God, a group that has expressed support for Derosia’s actions before, railed against Gibson.

“Brian Gibson, why did you condemn Matthew Derosia who only drive
[sic] a van into a babykilling facility, yet accept women who actually
murder their own children by abortion and have the blood of their own
children on their hands?,” he wrote in an email to Gibson that’s posted on Spitz’s website.

“What is more important to the LORD Jesus Christ, to save babies
about to be murdered in a babykilling abortion mill or the facade of
that babykilling abortion mill? To you it is the facade of the
babykilling abortion mill that needs protecting and not the babies
being murdered.”