DHS issues warning about the possibility of weeks-long violence in wake of ruling overturning Roe v. Wade
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has issued an advisory warning of the possibility of weeks-long violence in the aftermath of the U.S. Supreme Court's ruling to overturn Roe v. Wade.
According to HuffPost, the advisory issued by DHS' Office of Intelligence and Analysis, also warns that "federal and state government officials, including judges, “probably are most at risk for violence in response to the decision.”
It has also been reported that "'First Amendment-protected events' (apparently protests), reproductive and “family advocacy health care facilities,” and faith-based organizations could also be targets,
\u201cLIVE on @MSNBC:\n\nCrowds gather in cities across the country, protesting Supreme Court ruling overturning Roe v. Wade. https://t.co/RdYLvfum24\u201d— MSNBC (@MSNBC) 1656106720
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In an earlier National Terrorism Advisory System bulletin released on Friday, June 24, the department warned: “We expect violence could occur for weeks following the release [of the decision], particularly as DVEs [domestic violence extremists] may be mobilized to respond to changes in state laws and ballot measures on abortion stemming from the decision. We base this assessment on an observed increase in violent incidents across the United States following the unauthorized disclosure in May of a draft majority opinion on the case.”
As concerns loom about the possibility of violence, a DHS official has also spoke publicly about the agency's work to possibly mitigate violence. In a statement to CNN, a DHS spokesperson also insisted that the agency will "continue working with our partners across every level of government to share timely information and to support law enforcement efforts to keep our communities safe.”
The statement added that Americans’ “freedom of speech and right to peacefully protest are fundamental Constitutional rights. Those rights do not extend to violence and other illegal activity."
The DHS advisory came hours after the U.S. Supreme Court announced its ruling overturning Roe v. Wade, rolling back a half-century precedent on abortion rights. As protests took place across the country, one incident has already escalated to violence. In Cedar Rapids, Iowa, a truck driver crashed into demonstrators protesting the overturn. The incident led to one victim being hospitalized.
