By Charles Igwe
The Metropolitan Police Department of Washington, D.C. has launched an investigation into an incident that occurred on July 22, where two pro-life sidewalk counselors were allegedly attacked outside a Planned Parenthood clinic.
The incident took place around 11:40 a.m. when a group of pro-life sidewalk counselors, alongside other pro-life activists, were gathered outside the Planned Parenthood location on 4th Street, Northeast. A verbal altercation between the pro-life activists and pro-abortion passersby quickly escalated into violence.
According to the public incident report provided to CNA by the police, two suspects engaged in a verbal confrontation with the pro-life activists, and one of the suspects threw coffee at one of the activists. When another sidewalk counselor tried to intervene, one of the suspects physically assaulted the victim by slamming him to the ground and repeatedly punching him.
Terrisa Bukovinac, founder of Progressive Anti-Abortion Uprising, stated that she had coffee thrown at her during the altercation. Two pro-abortion passersby were reportedly shouting profanities at the pro-life group, leading to a heated exchange. One of the passersby crossed the street and allegedly threw coffee at Bukovinac, causing her to be covered in coffee.
Mike Gribbin, an unaffiliated sidewalk counselor, intervened in the situation and was also allegedly assaulted by the male passerby. The altercation was captured on video and shared online.
The responding officers initially seemed hesitant to press charges, claiming the confrontation was mutual, but detectives are now actively investigating the incident. Both Bukovinac and Gribbin have been assured that there will be consequences for the alleged assailants.
Bukovinac believes that the police only took the investigation seriously due to the incident being shared online and expressed concerns about an unequal application of the law.
