Progressive Anti-Abortion Uprising

{{bronze}}{{abortion}}
'''Progressive Anti-Abortion Uprising (PAAU)''',<ref group=note>Pronounced ''"POW!"''.[https://www.fox5dc.com/video/1054093]</ref> also known as the '''Fetus Thieves''',<ref> [https://podcasts.apple.com/fr/podcast/richard-spencer-is-on-bumble/id1575776538?i=1000566864076 "Richard Spencer Is on Bumble"]. Feminist Buzzkills Live: The Podcast.</ref> are an [[United States|American]] [[anti-abortion]] group that emerged in October 2021.<ref>Shannon Melero (October 7, 2021). [https://jezebel.com/the-progressive-anti-abortion-uprising-is-just-a-troll-1847820713 "The 'Progressive' Anti-Abortion Uprising Is Just a Troll"]. ''Jezebel''.</ref> They have a strong [[religious]] component, though a handful of leaders in the group are [[atheists]]. Many of their religious members describe themselves as various types of [[Christian left]]. Several members of the group have been arrested in the past for their interference at abortion clinics.<ref>Alice Miranda Ollstein (November 4, 2022). [https://www.politico.com/news/magazine/2022/11/04/michigan-abortion-midterm-election-voters-00063553 "'Republicans Abandoned Me': Meet the Dobbs Voters of Michigan"]. ''Politico Magazine''. "Several members of her organization — Progressive Anti-Abortion Uprising — have been arrested for such actions."</ref><ref name="MsMagazine1312023"/> Most famously, one leader for the group was found to have had five [[Fetus|fetuses]] in their refrigerator when their house was raided by police.<ref name="SalonApril2022">Jon Skolnik (April 1, 2022). [https://www.salon.com/2022/04/01/the-bizarre-of-radical-anti-abortion-activists/ "The bizarre politics of radical anti-abortion activists"]. Salon.</ref><ref name="TheCutFetalFridge">Sofia Resnick (May 13, 2022). [https://www.thecut.com/2022/05/indicted-anti-abortion-activist-lauren-handy-fetuses.html "Why Were There Fetuses in Her Refrigerator?"]. ''The Cut''.</ref>

In its own words, PAAU set out "to mobilize grassroots anti-abortion activists for [[direct action]], educate the public about the exploitative influence of the Abortion Industrial Complex through an [[Capitalism#Criticisms of capitalism|anti-capitalist]] lens, advocate for [[pregnant]] people, and connect [[abortion]] vulnerable communities with life-saving resources."<ref name ="WUSA9Kyros">Katie Kyros (May 8, 2022). [https://www.wusa9.com/article/news/legal/capitol-police-separate-tense-roe-v-wade-protests-outside-supreme-court-sunday/65-96e37890-9cd7-4644-8430-6a062c058359 "Capitol Police separate tense Roe v. Wade protests outside Supreme Court"]. WUSA.</ref><ref>Victoria Browne (October 2022). [https://www.radicalphilosophy.com/article/anti-abortion-feminism "Anti-abortion feminism: How is this even a thing?"]. ''Radical Philosophy''. 213, pp. 27–42.</ref> They claim that abortion is a form of oppression like [[sexism]], [[racism]], [[homophobia]], et cetera.<ref>Jasmine Geonzon (January 9, 2023). [https://www.mediamatters.org/health-care/millions-were-stripped-abortion-rights-mainstream-outlets-uplifted-these-five-anti "As millions were stripped of abortion rights, mainstream outlets uplifted these five anti-choice leaders behind Roe's reversal"]. Media Matters for America.</ref><ref>Masucci, Stella, [https://scholarcommons.sc.edu/senior_theses/492 "From Pacifism to Pipe Bombs: A History of the Extremist Anti-Abortion Movement in the United States"] (2022), p. 66. Senior Theses. 492.</ref> They also believe this is perpetrated by "[[Big Pharma]]" and "Big Abortion".<ref>Alexander Panetta (January 30, 2023). [https://www.cbc.ca/news/world/u-s-abortion-pharmacies-protests-1.6726239 "Scenes outside pharmacies could foreshadow next phase in U.S. abortion battle"]. CBC News. The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation.</ref><ref name="TDBMuldowney"/>

Despite the apparent leftist branding, this has little apparent consequence for the group's activism: their founder, Terrisa Bukovinac, described PAAU as a one-issue organization in an interview for the German-language ''Die Tagespost'', a [[right-wing]] [[Catholic]] publication.<ref name="DieTagespostOneIssue"/>

It smells like potential [[astroturf]] (especially given their direct relationship with [[Randall Terry]], the [[conservative]] founder of [[Operation Rescue]]),<ref name="TheBafflerDec2022"/><ref name="RandallTerry25K">Katie Yoder (May 4, 2022). [https://www.catholicworldreport.com/2022/05/04/pro-life-activists-offer-25k-for-information-about-dc-abortion-doctor/ "Pro-life activists offer $25k for information about DC abortion doctor"]. The Catholic World Report. Catholic News Agency. "At the rally, Bukovinac and other activists, such as Randall Terry, who has been serving as a spokesman for PAAU, attempted to hand deliver a letter to clinic workers. [...] Terry slid a notice about the reward under the locked door of Washington Surgi-Clinic. 'We are offering $25,000 to any staffer of Cesare Santangelo who will testify under oath as to the crimes he has committed,' the letter reads." [https://web.archive.org/web/20220705094348/https://www.catholicworldreport.com/2022/05/04/pro-life-activists-offer-25k-for-information-about-dc-abortion-doctor/ (Archived)].</ref> but who knows anymore. Some religious doctrines may allow for [[progressivism]] on a slate of issues while disallowing it on others, including abortion, depending on interpretation. It may then be the case that this group is an outgrowth of the "religious left", but some observers may remain skeptical given a combination of a long history of astroturf by the [[Religious Right]], and the demonstrated links that PAAU has with Religious Right activists.<ref>Emily Janakiram and Katie Finnigan (April 16, 2022). [https://truthout.org/articles/liberal-cities-are-not-immune-to-mounting-attacks-on-abortion-rights/ "Liberal Cities Are Not Immune to Mounting Attacks on Abortion Rights"]. ''Truthout'' [[Opinion|(OP-ED)]].</ref>

==Sloganeering==
The first thing you see upon opening their [[webshite]] is a bunch of (occasionally tweaked)<ref>https://web.archive.org/web/20211013022010/https://paaunow.org/</ref> buzzwords, slogans, and symbols that are sure to demonstrate their "progressive credentials" such as:<ref>[https://paaunow.org/ Progressive Anti-Abortion Uprising]. [https://archive.today/WP0C9 (Archived)]</ref>
{{collist|3|
* [[Equality|EQUALITY]]
* [[Trans rights|TRANS RIGHTS]]
* [[Black Lives Matter|BLACK LIVES MATTER]]
* UP-RISING
* A [[peace]] symbol
* A rather ominous yellow warning sign
* JUSTICE
* DIRECT ACTION!
}}
Alongside those are a couple of anti-abortion slogans:
{{collist|2|
* PRO-LIFE
* PROTECT THE UNBORN
}}

==Bum-rushing abortion clinics==
At least three PAAU members, alongside other people not affiliated with PAAU, barged into an abortion clinic (the Women's Options Center at [[San Francisco]] General Hospital), according to the San Francisco District Attorney. They proceeded to film staff and patients there.<ref name="SFChronicleUCSF">Megan Cassidy (May 19, 2022). [https://www.sfchronicle.com/crime/article/DA-Boudin-Anti-abortion-activists-broke-into-17185098.php Antiabortion activists "'barged' into UCSF women's clinic, recorded patients and stalked a doctor, D.A. says"]. ''The San Francisco Chronicle''.</ref><ref name="NYTMedicalWasteCompany"/> At least one member for the group (Lauren Handy) was arrested and indicted for her involvement, though they pleaded "not guilty".<ref name="SFChronicleUCSF"/><ref name="TheIndependentHandy"/> Handy was also accused of stalking a doctor, having allegedly been caught in surveillance footage vandalizing his home.<ref name="SFChronicleUCSF"/> Stickers were placed all around the doctor's neighborhood that said "THERE'S A ''KILLER'' IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD!", with a QR code that named the doctor alongside "false, inflammatory claims about abortion procedures".<ref>Gregory Yee (May 19, 2022). [https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2022-05-19/los-angeles-antiabortion-activist-harassing-stalking-doctor "L.A. antiabortion activist charged with harassing San Francisco doctor, defacing statue"]. ''The Los Angeles Times''.</ref><ref>Sophie Reardon (May 19, 2022). [https://www.cbsnews.com/news/aaron-jonathan-hurley-anti-abortion-rights-group-member-accused-of-stalking-san-francisco-doctor/ "Leader of anti-abortion rights group accused of stalking doctor who provides abortions in San Francisco"]. CBS News.</ref>

In July 2022, three PAAU leaders were sentenced to some brief jail-time for trespassing at Alexandria Women's Health Clinic during a demonstration.<ref>Michelle Boorstein (July 12, 2022). [https://www.washingtonpost.com/dc-md-va/2022/07/12/lauren-handy-dc-abortion-trial/ "Antiabortion activists sentenced for trespassing at Alexandria clinic"]. ''The Washington Post''. [https://archive.today/Yu7OQ (Archived)].</ref><ref group=note>Kristin Turner was also sentenced for this incident; The Washington Post did not recognize her as a PAAU leader but did list her as having been sentenced. Currently the PAAU site lists her as their Director of Communications.[https://archive.today/Pf7SP]</ref> In November 2022, four PAAU members were sentenced to 45 days in jail for obstructing the operation of a clinic in Michigan.<ref name="MichiganSentenceWUSA">Nathan Baca (November 18, 2022). [https://www.wusa9.com/article/news/investigations/anti-abortion-lauren-handy-michigan-jail-sentence-storing-fetuses/65-d1fb30b0-96b0-46d4-85ab-686ee9b5a881 "DC woman storing fetal remains sentenced to jail for Michigan clinic protest"]. WUSA.</ref>

PAAU's Lauren Handy was also allegedly involved with an October 2020 incident at a clinic in Washington, D.C. where the assailants knocked over an employee and set up a blockade, preventing people from entering the clinic "using their bodies, furniture, chains and ropes".<ref name="TheIndependentHandy"/><ref name="MichiganSentenceWUSA"/><ref>Jordan Fischer (February 20, 2023). [https://www.wusa9.com/article/news/legal/anti-abortion-activists-say-dc-clinic-case-should-be-dismissed-ore-v-wade-overturned-lauren-handy-progressive-anti-abortion-uprising/65-96a0a634-4d08-482c-a88e-b5af86bf6ad6 "After Dobbs, anti-abortion activist wants charges for blockading DC clinic dismissed"]. WUSA.</ref> The incident was apparently live-streamed on Facebook.<ref name="DCist3312022">Rachel Kurzius (March 31, 2022). [https://dcist.com/story/22/03/31/fetuses-found-at-capitol-hill-home/ "Discovery Of Fetuses At Capitol Hill Home Allegedly Connected To Anti-Abortion Activist Indicted This Week"]. ''DCist''.</ref><ref>Mary Kay Mallonee and Rashard Rose (April 5, 2022 ). [https://www.cnn.com/2022/04/01/us/fetuses-found-dc-home/index.html "Police say 5 fetuses found in a DC home where anti-abortion activist is believed to live"]. CNN.</ref> At least one person was blocked from their appointment.<ref name="DCist3312022"/> After this incident, Handy was restricted by a federal judge from entering reproductive health clinics unless for a personal appointment. She got around this by sending other people to do it for her instead, after which the judge restricted her from doing that either.<ref>Jordan Fischer (February 21, 2023). [https://www.wusa9.com/article/news/crime/anti-abortion-activist-lauren-handy-planned-two-more-clinic-invasions-in-january-doj-says-dobbs-roe-fetuses-fetus-maryland-progressive-uprising/65-6efec64d-286d-4902-86dd-c90367e5f1c5 "Anti-abortion activist Lauren Handy planned two more clinic invasions in January, DOJ says"]. WUSA.</ref>

==Fetus kleptomania==
[[ File:Kuchinsky funeral.png|thumb|The Catholic fetus funeral held in front of Handy's refrigerator.<ref>Michelle Boorstein (April 25, 2022). [https://www.washingtonpost.com/religion/2022/04/25/abortion-fetuses-lauren-handy-bury/ "After a secret funeral for fetal remains, a priest faced a choice"]. ''The Washington Post''.</ref>]]
According to PAAU themselves, they have taken the remains of at least 115 fetuses. They claim that they were allowed by a medical waste company's truck driver to take a box of fetal remains (which was marked as a biohazard). However, the company itself denied these claims, stating that using its services to dispose of fetal remains was disallowed by its own policy.<ref name="NYTMedicalWasteCompany">Michael Levenson (April 5, 2022). [https://www.nytimes.com/2022/04/05/us/fetus-anti-abortion-home-washington.html "Anti-Abortion Activists Say They Were Allowed to Take 115 Fetuses"]. ''The New York Times''. [https://archive.today/SgIpT (Archived)].</ref><ref name="TheIndependentHandy"/> According to the company, "Fetal remains and human cadavers must be segregated from the medical waste stream and buried or cremated according to all applicable state and local regulations."<ref>Lex Juarez (April 5, 2022). [https://www.dcnewsnow.com/news/local-news/washington-dc/anti-abortion-group-claims-to-have-gotten-115-fetuses-from-dc-clinic/ "Anti-abortion group claims to have gotten 115 fetuses from DC clinic"]. WDVM-TV.</ref>

Five fetuses were found in the refrigerator of one PAAU leader during a police raid in response to a tip about "potential biohazard material". The fetuses were then collected by the D.C. Office of the Chief Medical Examiner. The police stated that the five fetuses "appeared to have been aborted legally" and that there did not "appear to be anything criminal about that – except for how they got into that house".<ref name="NYTMedicalWasteCompany"/><ref name="TheCutFetalFridge"/><ref name="TheIndependentHandy">Nathan Place (April 6, 2022). [https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/crime/lauren-handy-abortion-activist-fetuses-b2049257.html "Everything we know about Lauren Handy, anti-abortion activist who says they 'blessed and buried' 110 foetuses"]. ''The Independent''.</ref>

Anyway, Handy apparently "helped [[Baptism|baptise]] and bury" the other 110 fetuses in [[West Virginia]], and a priest (Bill Kuchinsky) was present to give a Catholic funeral in front of the refrigerator beforehand.<ref name="TheIndependentHandy"/><ref name="NYTMedicalWasteCompany"/><ref name="TheCutFetalFridge"/> According to themselves, Handy has been "regularly dumpster diving" for fetuses since about 2016; their father "freaked the fuck out and said under no circumstances" would they be allowed to store fetuses in the basement freezer.<ref>Carter Sherman (April 1, 2022). [https://www.vice.com/en/article/epx9dn/lauren-handy-fetuses-dumpster-diving "Anti-Abortion Activist Bragged About ‘Dumpster Diving’ for Fetuses"]. ''VICE News''.</ref>

==Criminalizing abortion==
{{cquote|We're dancing on [[Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization|the grave]] of [[Roe v. Wade]]. But the real work is only beginning.|||PAAU founder and executive director, Terrisa Bukovinac<ref> Taylor Penley (August 3, 2022). [https://www.foxnews.com/media/progressive-pro-lifers-throw-wrench-media-abortion-narratives "Progressive pro-lifers throw wrench into media abortion narrative"]. Fox News.</ref>}}

PAAU disputed that the five fetuses found in Handy's apartment were aborted legally, alleging they were in "late gestational ages" that would have disallowed this under the [[Intact dilation and extraction#Partial-Birth Abortion Ban Act|Partial Birth Abortion Act]]. They demanded autopsies to determine this, in which they were supported by 23 Republican members of U.S. Congress.<ref name="NYTFiveFetuses">Michael Levenson (March 31, 2022). [https://www.nytimes.com/2022/03/31/us/fetus-anti-abortion-home.html "5 Fetuses Removed From Home of Anti-Abortion Activist, Group Says"]. ''The New York Times''. [https://archive.today/RUsED (Archived)].</ref><ref>Mike Snider (April 6, 2022). [https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2022/04/06/washington-anti-abortion-fetus/9483526002/ "Anti-abortion activists say they collected 115 fetuses in medical waste from abortion clinic"]. ''USA Today''.</ref> [[Ted Cruz]] even gave them a visit in person.<ref>Caleb Howe (June 11, 2022). [https://www.mediaite.com/politics/ted-cruz-goes-off-on-democrats-and-white-house-over-actively-encouraging-attempted-murder-of-kavanaugh-ongoing-felonies/ "Ted Cruz Goes Off On Democrats and White House Over 'Actively Encouraging' Attempted Murder of Kavanaugh, 'Ongoing' Felonies"]. ''Mediaite''.</ref><ref name="TDBMuldowney"/> PAAU's claims were widely spread across the anti-abortion mediasphere.<ref>Ernie Piper (May 5, 2022). [https://www.logically.ai/articles/traumatic-images-polarize-the-abortion-debate "Traumatic Images Polarize the Abortion Debate"]. ''Logically''.</ref> As Reverend Rob Schenck suggested, it is possible that these five fetuses were simply "the result not of elective abortion but of fetal death in the womb or of spontaneous [[miscarriage]]".<ref name="TheCutFetalFridge"/> Dr. Jane Turner, a medical examiner, commented that drawing conclusions from any autopsies could be made more difficult depending on how the fetuses were stored by the clinic or by PAAU.<ref>April 5, 2022. [https://www.washingtonpost.com/dc-md-va/2022/04/05/lauren-handy-abortion-dc/ "Medical waste company denies giving fetuses to antiabortion activists"]. ''The Washington Post''. [https://archive.ph/M4dpq (Archived)].</ref>

For a bunch of alleged [[anarchist]] [[police]]-abolitionists, they sure want an opportunity to sic the cops on abortion doctors, don't they? ''The Baffler'' put it as such: "[S]ome of PAAU’s members are self-described abolitionists and devotees of police and prison abolition organizer Mariame Kaba. But, [[ironically]], they consider the criminalization of abortion a victory, even when patients themselves are charged for performing their own abortions."<ref name="TheBafflerDec2022"/> According to ''Slate'', the group calls for a national abortion ban.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Natroll |first=Sébastien |date=January 27, 2023 |title=À Washington, les anti-IVG préparent «l'après-Roe» |language=French |trans-title=In Washington, anti-abortionists are prepare for "post-Roe" |work=Slate |editor-last=Francès |editor-first=Diane |url=https://www.slate.fr/story/239505/washington-anti-ivg-preparent-apres-roe-wade-avortement-marche-pour-vie-pro-life-congres-dobbs-droit-loi}}</ref> The group may have even handed [[Ron DeSantis]] the [[framing]] that he felt he politically needed to instate a [[Ron DeSantis#Attacking women's abortion rights|15-week abortion ban in Florida]] (with no exceptions for rape or [[incest]]).<ref>Susan Rinkunas (April 14, 2022). [https://jezebel.com/ron-desantis-sure-has-a-lot-of-opinions-about-fetuses-1848794293 "Ron DeSantis Sure Has a Lot of Opinions About Fetuses"]. ''Jezebel''.</ref><ref>Alanna Vagianos (April 14, 2022). [https://www.huffpost.com/entry/ron-desantis-fetal-remains-dc-clinic_n_62583d61e4b0723f8016bc0d "Ron DeSantis Signals Support For Woman Who Stole Fetal Remains From D.C. Clinic"]. ''The Huffington Post''.</ref>

The group actually offered a $25,000 cash incentive for current or former staff at Washington Surgi-Clinic to testify that Dr. Cesare Santangelo had engaged in illegal activity.<ref>Garnet Henderson (May 5, 2022). [https://www.elle.com/culture/a39839938/abortion-clinic-protests-invasions-blockades/ "Who Will Protect Abortion Providers?"]. ''Elle''.</ref><ref name="RandallTerry25K"/><ref>Lex Juarez (May 4, 2022). [https://www.dcnewsnow.com/news/local-news/washington-dc/anti-abortion-group-targets-d-c-doctor/ "Anti-abortion group targets D.C. doctor"]. WDVM-TV.</ref> By the way, where may they have gotten $25,000 from? The fact that Randall Terry was there to help them spread the word about this cash incentive in person may prompt some speculative answers.

==Moral panic at the CVS==
Beginning in February 2023, the group began a campaign against pharmacies such as Walgreens, CVS and RiteAid pharmacies for stocking [[abortion pill|abortion pills]]. Their campaign is also supported by {{wpl|Survivors of the Abortion Holocaust}} (a [[Christian]] organization in part criticized [[Abortion and Nazism|for its name]]) and {{wpl|Live Action (organization)|Live Action}}.<ref name="MsMagazine1312023"/><ref name="TDBMuldowney"/><ref>Brendan Case and Fiona Rutherford (February 3, 2023). [https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2023-02-03/drugstore-chains-are-anti-abortion-groups-latest-target "Drugstore Chains Are Anti-Abortion Groups' Latest Target"]. Bloomberg News. [https://archive.today/2iutL (Archived)].</ref> A spokesperson for PAAU stated: "Their vision to turn pharmacies into abortion businesses which will exploit and kill disproportionately low-income people and people of color for profit, will be met with nonviolent resistance at every turn."<ref name="TDBMuldowney">Decca Muldowney (February 4, 2023). [https://www.thedailybeast.com/anti-abortion-protests-at-pharmacies-across-us-target-cvs-walgreens-riteaid "Anti-Abortion Protests at Pharmacies Labeled a 'Clown Show'"]. ''The Daily Beast''.</ref> PAAU have been known to [[Fearmongering|fearmonger]] about the safety of abortion pills, and have endorsed scientifically unproven "abortion pill reversals".<ref>Jasmine Geonzon (January 19, 2023). [https://www.mediamatters.org/health-care/eventbrite-allowing-anti-abortion-activists-organize-its-platform-despite-prohibiting "Eventbrite is allowing anti-abortion activists to organize on its platform despite prohibiting events inciting harassment"]. Media Matters for America.</ref><ref>[https://www.acog.org/advocacy/facts-are-important/medication-abortion-reversal-is-not-supported-by-science "Facts Are Important: Medication Abortion 'Reversal' Is Not Supported by Science"]. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.</ref>

==Members==
{{collist|1|
* Terrisa Bukovinac — "pro-choice Christian turned pro-life atheist" and leftist. She is the group's founder and executive director.<ref name="NYTMedicalWasteCompany"/><ref name="TheCutFetalFridge"/> Is also the Vice President of Secular Pro-Life. Was formerly the president of {{wpl|Democrats for Life of America}} and remains a board member for them.<ref name="PAAUstaff"/><ref name="DieTagespostOneIssue">{{Cite news |last=Lutz|first=Maximilian|date=October 5, 2021|title=Terrisa Bukovinac: Der Nagel im Sarg der Abtreibungsindustrie ("Terrisa Bukovinac: The nail in the coffin of the abortion industry")|language=German|work=Die Tagespost||url=https://www.die-tagespost.de/politik/der-nagel-im-sarg-der-abtreibungsindustrie-art-221814}}</ref> She was originally a [[Lutheran]]. Sometimes quotes [[Karl Marx]] in interviews (Marx was also baptized Lutheran, incidentally).<ref>{{Cite news |last=Rehder |first=Stefan |date=September 30, 2022 |title=Terrisa Bukovinac: „Wir müssen bereit sein, die Regeln zu brechen“ |language=German |trans-title=Terrisa Bukovinac: "We have to be ready to break the rules" |work=Die Tagespost |url=https://www.die-tagespost.de/politik/terrisa-bukovinac-wir-muessen-bereit-sein-die-regeln-zu-brechen-art-232449}}</ref> In August 2023, she filed to run in the 2024 US presidential election as a Democrat.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Foley|first=Ryan|date=August 30, 2023|title=12 lesser-known candidates running for president in 2024 |work=[[The Christian Post]] |url=https://www.christianpost.com/news/8-lesser-known-candidates-running-for-president-in-2024.html?page=13}}</ref>
* Caroline Taylor Smith — worked in the past for Notre Dame University, a private Catholic [[fundie school]]. Also holds degrees from Calvin University, a private [[Calvinist]] university. She is the group's [[public relations]] director.<ref name="PAAUstaff"/>
* Elise Ketch — calls herself "rad", [[gay]], "INFJ", "trauma-informed", "[[Jungian]]", "urbanist", a [[Consistent life ethic|CLE]] advocate, and [[punk]].<ref>[https://twitter.com/antipersonhood @antipersonhood on Twitter]. [https://archive.today/8ojPG (Archived)].</ref> Also apparently influenced by the [[Jesuits]], though that isn't surprising as she describes herself as a "practicing and devout Catholic".<ref name="KetchPortfolioProject"/><ref>{{a|https://twitter.com/antipersonhood/status/1604674525311942657|Twitter}}</ref> One of the credentials listed by PAAU for her is that she "has advocated for the tearing down of confederate statues".<ref name="PAAUstaff">[https://paaunow.org/our-team "Our Team"]. Progressive Anti-Abortion Uprising. [https://web.archive.org/web/20230131042112/https://paaunow.org/our-team (Archived)].</ref> Has a [[psychology]] project about the intersection between [[MBTI]] and Catholicism called "Scripture Like A River", which she apparently presented at the University of Memphis.<ref>[https://issuu.com/univofmemphis/docs/ncur_2017_at_uofm_conference_progra "NCUR 2017 Program: University of Memphis"], page 105.</ref><ref name="KetchPortfolioProject">Elise Ketch. [https://eliseketch.myportfolio.com/mo "Scripture Like A River"]. [https://archive.ph/pJsId (Archived)].</ref>
* Kristin Turner — describes herself as [[feminist]], atheist, leftist. Apparently "started a chapter of a youth climate group in her hometown". She is the group's director of communications.<ref>Ruth Graham (July 3, 2022). [https://www.nytimes.com/2022/07/03/us/pro-life-young-women-roe-abortion.html "'The Pro-Life Generation': Young Women Fight Against Abortion Rights"]. ''The New York Times''.</ref> Her Twitter bio says "[[ACAB]]", "[[BLM]]", and "[[Animal rights|Animal Liberation]]", in case enough descriptors weren't crammed into this section already.<ref>https://archive.today/11f9j</ref>
* Lauren Handy — self-described [[queer]] [[celibate]] Catholic [[Anarchism#Mutualism|anarcho-mutualist]] (a curious self-description, seeing as mutualism is a very rare strain of anarchism in the modern day). Handy is also [[nonbinary]]. They are the group's director of activism. The one who had five fetuses in their fridge.<ref name="TheIndependentHandy"/><ref name="TheCutFetalFridge"/><ref name="RinkunasApril5">Susan Rinkunas (April 5, 2022). [https://jezebel.com/the-five-fetuses-story-just-got-a-lot-weirder-1848750965 "The '5 Fetuses' Story Just Got a Lot Weirder"]. ''Jezebel''.</ref> They grew up as a [[Southern Baptist]], but later converted to Catholicism.<ref name="TheCutFetalFridge"/><ref name="NYTFiveFetuses"/> Became involved with anti-abortion activism when a student from [[Liberty University]] (which they lived near) invited them to a demonstration. Was trained by Survivors of the Abortion Holocaust (including by its founder Jeff White who has been arrested dozens of times).<ref name="TheCutFetalFridge"/><ref name="PAAUstaff"/><ref name="MsMagazine1312023">Carrie N. Baker (January 31, 2023). [https://msmagazine.com/2023/01/31/anti-abortion-protest-pharmacies-abortion-pills/ "Anti-Abortion Groups Try to Intimidate Pharmacies Planning to Dispense Abortion Pills"]. ''Ms.''</ref> According to clinic escorts in the D.C. area, Handy has previously attended demonstrations barefoot. One added that Handy "went through a phase where they wore, like, what looks for all the world like a [[nun]] outfit made out of potato sacks?"<ref>Sylvie McNamara (April 1, 2022). [https://www.washingtonian.com/2022/04/01/anti-abortion-activist-with-five-fetuses-has-worried-dc-clinic-workers-for-years/ "Anti-Abortion Activist With Five Fetuses Has Worried DC Clinic Workers for Years"]. ''Washingtonian''.</ref>
* Lottie Jewpree (Ayala H.)<ref group=note>"Lottie Jewpree" is certainly a [[pseudonym]]; Ayala is apparently her {{wpl|Hebrew name}}.[https://www.lifenews.com/2022/10/28/15-year-old-bravely-rejected-abortion-after-rape-she-has-no-regrets-years-later/]</ref><ref name="PloughQuarterlySeptember2022">(September 6, 2022). [https://www.plough.com/en/topics/justice/culture-of-life/forum-charting-the-future-of-pro-life "Charting the Future of Pro-Life"]. ''Plough Quarterly''. "Ayala H., Mizrahi-American writer (@prolifejewess)".</ref> — self-describes as a feminist, [[Judaism#Liberal Judaism|Reform Jew]] and prospective convert to Orthodox Judaism.<ref name="LottieTwitterCurrentBio"/><ref>https://archive.today/DByQU</ref> She used to identify as a [[Judaism#Minhagim and ethnic groups|Mizrahi]]-Catholic [[paleoconservative]], however (she states she was converting to Catholicism back then).<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20201225224237/https://twitter.com/jewliette/status/1342601421296971776 See her profile bio in the background.]</ref><ref>{{a|https://twitter.com/prolifejewess/status/1618126621164339202|Acknowledges @jewliette handle as her own}}</ref><ref>[https://twitter.com/prolifejewess/status/1636883944603000832 "I like how 99% of it is like 'she used to be conservative and was converting to Catholicism' as if this has been hidden in any way shape or form"]. [https://ghostarchive.org/archive/hdXK5 (Archived)].</ref> She is affiliated with PAAU, but not in any apparent leadership position.<ref>Micaiah Bilger (October 28, 2022). [https://www.lifenews.com/2022/10/28/15-year-old-bravely-rejected-abortion-after-rape-she-has-no-regrets-years-later/ "15-Year-Old Bravely Rejected Abortion After Rape, She Has No Regrets Years Later"]. LifeNews.</ref><ref name="LottieTwitterCurrentBio">https://archive.today/AKxp5</ref><ref>[https://twitter.com/PAAUNOW/status/1467128321179893768 PAAU on Twitter]. [https://archive.today/ghHXx (Archived)].</ref> Longtime user of [[4chan#/pol/ — Politically incorrect|/pol/, a board on 4chan]].<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20201226173056/https://twitter.com/jewliette/status/1342885518015668227 "DEAR GOD POL FOUND IT"].</ref><ref>[https://archive.4plebs.org/pol/thread/298639331/#298656685 Timestamp (user ID RxpbaNhv)]; [https://archive.4plebs.org/pol/thread/298639331/#298658806 "I’ve been here for a long time, just never been posted. I am afraid!"].</ref><ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20210106231931/https://twitter.com/jewliette/status/1346959516240236545 "Honestly I don’t doubt it though. I know it’s literally /pol/ but still"]</ref> Uncle (or perhaps first cousin once removed) is or was a Congresscritter; she alleges he was "probably" present at the [[2021 U.S. Capitol riot]] (as part of the congressional assembly).<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20210107173844/https://twitter.com/jewliette/status/1347235455335616512 "I just realized my uncle is a congressman and was probably there yesterday"]</ref><ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20230328034720/https://twitter.com/prolifejewess/status/1636876375188729856 "my absolute favorite part is when they mention me being worried about my mom’s cousin, who I had just learned existed, being “at the January 6th riot”. They kinda omitted the fact he was a member of congress. So he would have been in the congressional assembly."]</ref> Has been banned from Twitter multiple times; one of her old handles was "[[Alt-right_glossary#Red_pill|redpilledbaby]]".<ref>https://twitter.com/CordeliaAddiena/status/1306414951897206785</ref><ref>[https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCpCo7uaUBWSA1859ZqgIT1g/about Lottie Jewpree on YouTube]. [https://archive.today/QD0gv (Archive 1)]; [https://archive.today/xF5kc (Archive 2)]. "loud Jewish woman. @redpilledbaby on Instagram, @prolifejewess on bird app".</ref> Under that handle, one Twitter account of hers featured an avatar of her wearing a "[[Make America Great Again]]" hat.<ref>https://archive.today/BtrC4</ref> Once stated that "[[ethnostate]]s are justified as long as they only exist to protect their ethnicity from a reasonable systemic threat" (this was a defense of [[Zionism]]).<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20210111174227/https://twitter.com/jewliette/status/1348008018655522820 "what’s one of your takes that nobody really knew how to feel about? Mine is probably the whole “Israel is obviously an ethnostate, so I think ethnostates are justified as long as they only exist to protect their ethnicity from a reasonable systemic threat”"]</ref>
* Melanie Salazar — Catholic feminist [[vegetarian]], evidently.<ref>https://twitter.com/melaniesalazara</ref> An organizer for PAAU. She moved to Washington, D.C. specifically so she could "advocate for the confirmation of [[Supreme_Court_of_the_United_States#Current_bench|Justice Barrett]]", who was appointed by [[Donald Trump]].<ref name="PAAUstaff"/> Was at the [[Republican Party]] State Convention in [[Texas]] for some reason. Complained about [[TheBlaze]] handing out corn-dogs there "with PORNOGRAPHY". That's all we know.<ref>{{a|https://twitter.com/melaniesalazara/status/1537849978072211456|Twitter}}</ref>
* Sonja Morin — writes for ''Catholic East Texas'', a magazine of the Catholic Church.<ref>[https://www.catholiceasttexas.online/author/sonja-morin/ Sonja Morin]. Catholic East Texas. [https://archive.ph/sPK6O (Archived)].</ref> For PAAU, a graphic designer.<ref name="PAAUstaff"/>
}}

==Connected organizations==
{{collist|2|
* Citizens for a Pro-Life Society — Monica Migliorino Miller of this group is mentioned by ''The Cut'' as a mentor for Lauren Handy who remains in close contact.<ref name="TheCutFetalFridge"/>
* Democrats for Life of America — Terrisa Bukovinac once led this group, now leads PAAU.
* [[Operation Rescue]] — via their founder, Randall Terry, who has also served as a spokesman for PAAU.<ref name="RandallTerry25K"/><ref name="TheBafflerDec2022"/><ref>[https://www.washingtonpost.com/dc-md-va/2022/04/04/dc-activist-fetuses-not-guilty/ "Antiabortion activist who kept 5 fetuses pleads not guilty in D.C. case"]. ''The Washington Post''. [https://archive.ph/Bol5x (Archived)].</ref><ref group=note>Terry sometimes answers the phone for PAAU while identifying himself as "{{wpl|José Jiménez (character)|José Jiménez}}".[https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/salvadorhernandez/anti-abortion-activist-fetuses]</ref> Additionally, Lauren Handy mentioned to the ''National Catholic Register'' that she worked with Operation Rescue prior to the founding of PAAU.<ref>Lauretta Brown (April 27, 2022). [https://www.ncregister.com/news/pro-lifers-raise-alarm-over-practices-of-dc-late-term-abortionist-cesare-santangelo "Pro-Lifers Raise Alarm Over Practices of DC Late-Term Abortionist Cesare Santangelo"]. ''National Catholic Register''</ref>
* {{wpl|Pro-Life Alliance of Gays and Lesbians}} — They share a board member (Herb Geraghty).<ref name="Oct2022NationalReview">Isaac Schorr (October 18, 2022). [https://www.nationalreview.com/news/pro-life-activist-facing-eleven-year-prison-sentence-speaks-out-biden-using-doj-as-a-weapon/ "Pro-Life Activist Facing Eleven-Year Prison Sentence Speaks Out: Biden 'Using DOJ as a Weapon'"]. ''National Review''. "[Herb] Geraghty, a board member of the Progressive Anti-Abortion Uprising (PAAU) and Pro-Life Alliance of Gays and Lesbians, as well as the executive director of Rehumanize International..."</ref>
* Pro-Life San Francisco — Mentioned as a partner organization.<ref name="StancesMain"/>
* Red Rose Rescue — via their "figurehead", Catholic priest Fidelis Moscinski.<ref name="TheBafflerDec2022">Emily Janakiram (December 2022). [https://thebaffler.com/salvos/the-rights-fight-for-women-janakiram "The Right’s Fight for Women"]. ''The Baffler''.</ref>
* Rehumanize International — Geraghty is the executive director of this group.<ref name="Oct2022NationalReview"/>
* {{wpl|Secular Pro-Life}} — Apparently the anti-abortion movement's atheist division. Mentioned as a partner organization.<ref name="StancesMain">[https://paaunow.org/stances "Stances"]. Progressive Anti-Abortion Uprising. [https://archive.today/dGaI5 (Archived)].</ref>
* {{wpl|Thomas More Society|The Thomas More Society}}{{efn|Not to be confused with the [[Thomas More Law Center]], which is an entirely separate organization}} — Conservative Catholic law firm. Lauren Handy's legal representation.<ref name="DCist3312022"/>
}}

===Other possible links===
{{collist|1|
* {{wpl|The Center for Medical Progress}} — Anti-abortion organization founded by David Daleiden that is known for deceptive video editing. According to ''Jezebel'', this group is potentially linked to PAAU via Steve Cooley, a lawyer.<ref name="RinkunasApril5"/><ref>Claire Lampen (April 6, 2022). [https://www.thecut.com/2022/04/5-fetuses-found-in-anti-abortion-activists-d-c-home.html "5 Fetuses Found Inside Anti-Abortion Activist's Home"]. ''The Cut''.</ref> In 2017, the founder of PAAU also met with Daleiden in person.<ref>{{a|https://twitter.com/Terrisalin/status/938531407273508865|Twitter}}</ref>
* Joan Andrews Bell attended a PAAU press conference, and was one of nine defendants indicted for their alleged roles in a D.C. abortion clinic blockade alongside Lauren Handy. Bell was arrested in the 1980s for damaging equipment in an abortion clinic. She was reportedly an associate of {{wpl|James Charles Kopp}} of the [[Army of God]] terrorist organization — In 1998, Kopp murdered a doctor who performed abortions.<ref>Carter Sherman (April 7, 2022). [https://www.vice.com/en/article/xgd34k/lauren-handy-abortion-fetus-justice-five "The Anti-Abortion World Is Defending the Activist Who Kept Fetuses at Her Home"]. ''VICE News''.</ref><ref>Roxy Szal (April 8, 2022). [https://msmagazine.com/2022/04/07/lauren-handy-fetus-fetal-remains-justice-department-anti-abortion-dc-clinic-invasion/ "U.S. Department of Justice Indicts Nine Anti-Abortion Extremists for Clinic Invasion"]. ''Ms.''</ref>
* {{wpl|Michael New}} attended the launch event for PAAU and voiced his support for the organization.<ref>Ryan Foley (October 5, 2021). [https://www.christianpost.com/news/progressive-pro-life-group-ready-to-wage-battle-with-biden-to-save-lives.html "Progressive pro-life group ready to wage battle with Biden, Democrat Party to save lives"]. The Christian Post.</ref> He later defended PAAU's $25,000 cash incentive for clinic employees to testify against a doctor.<ref>Sylvie McNamara (June 24, 2022). [https://www.washingtonian.com/2022/06/24/anti-abortion-clinic-protests-are-getting-bigger-and-more-aggressive/ "Anti-Abortion Clinic Protests Are Getting Bigger and More Aggressive"]. ''Washingtonian''.</ref> Additionally, he spoke at a Rehumanize International conference alongside PAAU leaders, and spoke at a PAAU "Justice for the Five" event.<ref>[https://www.cassidyelainephotography.com/2022/04/Justice-for-the-Five.html?showComment=1668995352318 "Justice for the Five Rally outside the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner in DC"]. Cassidy Elaine Photography. [https://archive.ph/2F5Q7 (Archived)].</ref><ref>[https://www.rehumanizeintl.org/conference-speakers "2022 Conference Speakers"]. Rehumanize International. [https://archive.fo/dpq2p (Archived)].</ref> Michael New is an associate professor with the {{wpl|Catholic University of America}}. He has also been affiliated with the [[Cato Institute]], Notre Dame University, and the {{wpl|Witherspoon Institute}}.<ref>Catherine Elvy (July 2, 2020). [https://tristatevoice.com/2020/07/02/social-science-and-social-justice-for-the-unborn-scholar-is-a-leading-voice-in-the-pro-life-movement/ "Social Science and Social Justice for the Unborn: Scholar Is a Leading Voice in the Pro-Life Movement"]. ''Tri-State Voice''.</ref>
}}

==Critique==
There are some straightforward reasons to believe that PAAU may undermine its purported feminist and economically progressive stances. For example, abortion reduces [[poverty]] and increases economic gender equality.<ref name="SalonApril2022"/> A lack of abortion access is especially linked to higher child poverty.<ref>Isabel V. Sawhill and Morgan Welch (June 30, 2022). [https://www.brookings.edu/blog/up-front/2022/06/30/the-end-of-roe-will-create-more-inequality-of-opportunity-for-children/ "The end of Roe will create more inequality of opportunity for children"]. The Brookings Institution.</ref><ref>Dylan Scott (June 24, 2022). [https://www.vox.com/policy-and-politics/23057032/supreme-court-abortion-rights-roe-v-wade-state-aid "The end of Roe will mean more children living in poverty"]. ''Vox''.</ref><ref> Adrian Ma, Wailin Wong (May 26, 2022). [https://www.npr.org/2022/05/26/1101570014/abortion-access-tends-to-lower-child-poverty-rates-economists-say "Abortion access tends to lower child poverty rates, economists say"]. ''All Things Considered''. NPR.</ref> Commenting on the group, Katherine Hancock Ragsdale of the National Abortion Federation stated: "Simply calling yourself a feminist does not suddenly give you the right to make reproductive decisions for others".<ref>Sam Dorman (October 4, 2021). [https://www.foxnews.com/politics/progressive-pro-life-group-abortion-industrial-complex "Progressive pro-life group launches, says 'abortion-industrial complex' puts profits over people"]. Fox News.</ref> Also, how is a minority viewpoint (total abortion ban) consistent with anarchism when it is clearly politically coercive of people who don't share that viewpoint?

==See also==
* [[Blue Dog Democrats]]
* [[Christian democracy]]
* [[Distributism]]
* [[Horseshoe theory]]
* [[LGB Alliance]]
* [[Log Cabin Republicans]]
* [[Morality of abortion]]
* [[Red-Letter Christians]]
* [[Third positionism]]

==External links==
* [https://paaunow.org/ Their webshite] (is half-broken)<ref>https://archive.today/Hl0Vr</ref>
* {{wpl|Feminists for Life}}

==Further reading==
* {{Cite news |last=Cheung |first=Kylie |date=May 24, 2022 |title=Anti-Abortion Activists Are Already Taking a Terrifying Victory Lap |work=Jezebel |url=https://jezebel.com/anti-abortion-activists-are-already-taking-a-terrifying-1848965124}}
* {{Cite news |last=Gomez |first=Amanda Michelle |date=July 19, 2022 |title=Facing Protests And Harassment, Local Abortion Providers Call For Protection |work=DCist |url=https://dcist.com/story/22/07/19/dc-abortion-providers-harassment-protection/}}
* {{Cite news |last=Natroll |first=Sébastien |date=August 26, 2022 |title=Ces Américaines à la fois de gauche et contre l'avortement" ("These Americans are both on the left and against abortion")|language=French|work=Slate |editor-last=Pagesy |editor-first=Hélène |url=https://www.slate.fr/story/232625/etats-unis-militantes-gauche-contre-avortement-anticapitalistes-pro-life-ivg}}
* {{Cite news |last=Foley|first=Ryan|date=October 6, 2022|title=Protesters demand Attorney General Garland's impeachment following raid on pro-life activist's home|work=[[The Christian Post]]|url=https://www.christianpost.com/news/activists-seek-garlands-impeachment-over-houck-raid.html}}
* {{Cite news |last=Pierce|first=Charles P.|date=January 11, 2023|title=The Anti-Choice Movement Is Coming for Abortion Pills|work=Esquire|url=https://www.esquire.com/news-politics/politics/a42465433/abortion-medication-pharmacies/}}
* {{Cite news |last=Sherman|first=Carter|date=April 26, 2023|title=People Are Invading Abortion Clinics and 'Rescuing' Women on TikTok|work=VICE News|url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/g5yqxx/tiktok-abortion-clinics-fetus-rescues}}
* {{Cite news |last=Geonzon|first=Jasmine|date=April 28, 2023|title=An anti-choice group is using TikTok to promote abortion clinic harassment|work=Media Matters for America|url=https://www.mediamatters.org/tiktok/anti-choice-group-using-tiktok-promote-abortion-clinic-harassment}}

==Notes==
{{reflist|group=note|2}}

==References==
{{reflist|1|80%}}

[[Category:Abortion]]
[[Category:Anti-abortion activists]]
[[Category:Catholics]]
[[Category:Christians]]
[[Category:Feminism]]
[[Category:Sexists]]
[[Category:Trolls]]
[[Category:United States politics]]
[[Category:We're on a mission from God]]

Categories: Abortion, Anti-abortion activists, Catholics, Christians, Feminism, Sexists, Trolls, United States politics, We're on a mission from God