Abria Pregnancy Resources in St. Paul vandalized Aug. 1

When Angela Franey, executive director of Abria Pregnancy Resources, entered the back door of its St. Paul location about 7:30 a.m. Aug. 1, she found a softball-sized rock in the hallway that appeared to have been thrown through glass in both front doors. Looking at the front of the building, which faces University Ave., she saw in red spray paint the words “If abortions aren’t safe, neither are you.” She does not believe anyone made it inside. 

No one has claimed responsibility for the actions, Franey said, which were reported to and were being investigated by the police.  

Vandalism at Abria follows vandalism July 5 at a Birthright crisis pregnancy center in St. Paul. Graffiti including the words “Abort America” and “Jesus loves Abortion” were painted on an outside wall and two windows were broken there.  

On June 14, vandals defaced and broke windows at Minnesota Citizens Concerned for Life offices in Minneapolis. There, the words, “Abortion is Liberation” were written in red paint. Following that damage, an MCCL spokesman said the police were notified, and a group that supports keeping abortion legal called “Janes Revenge” claimed responsibility in an online posting. 

“Janes Revenge” has claimed responsibility for several acts of vandalism at pro-life centers across the country since a leaked draft opinion in May from the U.S. Supreme Court indicated the court would vote to overturn Roe v. Wade. The high court June 24 issued its final ruling, removing U.S. constitutional protections for abortion that Roe v. Wade had instituted.  

Franey said vandalism at Abria and other pregnancy centers reflects recent anger and misunderstanding around the issue of abortion. This is the first time that Abria has been targeted with vandalism, Franey said, and the damage, she believes, stems from misunderstanding its mission. Abria’s staff love and help women, she said, and provide a variety of information so they know they have options. “We never tell them what to do,” she said, but instead, offer them information to help make a fully informed decision. “And we respect their ability to do that,” she said. 

Abria, with one location in St. Paul and one in Minneapolis, offers lab-quality tests, ultrasounds performed by trained medical personnel, medical consultation, testing and treatment for sexually transmitted infections. Non-medical services include pregnancy and parenting education, personal support services, life coaching, material assistance, referrals to community resources and more. All at no charge.  

If women choose life, Abria helps make it possible, Franey said, with baby supplies, education and referrals to community resources. If people knew Abria’s mission, Franey does not believe individuals would turn as much to violence. 

Abria remained closed Aug. 1 as staff cleaned up. But the center opened as usual Aug. 2.  

“It’s safe now and no one was hurt,” Franey said. “Our goal is to make things safe and secure again, to pick up the pieces, to meet the challenge face to face and continue to overcome these things with good, because that’s what we do.” 

Abria receives some funding from the Catholic Services Appeal Foundation in the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis and none from the government. About 90 percent of its funding comes from individual donors, Franey said.