Madison Whose (AP) – Vandals attacked the office of an anti -abortion group where a fire broke out and a Molotov cocktail was found, authorities said Sunday.
Madison Police Spokeswoman Stephanie Fryer Lui told The Wisconsin State Journal that the fire at the Madison, Wisconsin Family Action Office, just after 6:00 a.m. Sunday, was suspicious. Someone even sprayed a message outside the building. Federal officials and Madison firefighters are assisting with the investigation.
No one was injured and officials are still working to determine what damage the fire caused.
It was not immediately clear who collapsed in the building, but the message “If abortion is not safe, you are too” was sprayed on the building.
“A particular nonprofit organization that supports abortion measures appears to have been targeted,” Madison Police Chief Sean Barnes said in a statement.
Lobby chairman Julien Apling said the fire was a “direct threat” because it happened just days after a draft Supreme Court decision came out that the court could overturn Roe v. Wade’s decision to legalize abortion in this country. He said people could be injured if they were working in an office at the time.
“It’s a local display of anger and intolerance towards people who can abort people who are good for life,” Epping said, who said investigators found the remains of at least one Molotov cocktail.
Eppling said his group will not be afraid of vandalism.
“We will renovate our offices, stay afloat and build a stronger market,” Apling said. “We will not back down. We will not stop what we are doing. Too many are at stake ”.
Wisconsin politicians from both parties, including Democratic Governor Tony Evers and Republican United States Senator Ron Johnson, were quick to criticize the vandalism on Sunday.
“We condemn all forms of violence and hostility, including the Wisconsin family rally in Madison last night,” Evers said on Twitter. “We reject violence against any person because of disagreement with the opinions of others. Violence is not the way forward. Insulting others is never the answer.”
We condemn all forms of violence and hatred, including the actions of the Wisconsin family in Madison last night. We reject violence against any person because of disagreement with the opinions of others.
Violence is not the way forward. Insulting others is never the answer.
– Gov. Tony Evers (@GovEvers) May 8, 2022
Johnson said these actions should not be tolerated.
“This attack is heinous and everyone should be judged,” Johnson said.
The vandalism was also condemned by Democratic Senate candidate Tom Nelson.
“I’m committed to protecting women’s rights, but we have to do it right,” Nelson said. “Violence and destruction are not the solution. I’m glad no one was hurt ”.
Two Republican candidates for governor, former Lieutenant Governor Rebecca Klefish and Kevin Nicholson, both took over.
Nicholson said the vandalism was “disgusting left-wing behavior,” though he did not specify or provide further details.
Source: Huffpost
