Reproaction Co-Founder, President and CEO Erin Matson on the Assassination of Minnesota House Speaker Emerita Melissa Hortman

Reproaction co-founder, president, and CEO Erin Matson released the following statement:

“We cannot—and must not—ignore or minimize the role anti-abortion ideology played in this weekend’s tragedy in Minnesota. In the alleged shooter’s car was a so-called hit list that included a variety of abortion facilities and advocates, including our valued colleagues.

The hateful rhetoric of anti-abortion leaders and groups is routinely extreme, and sadly, anti-abortion terrorism follows a predictable cycle.

First, anti-abortion leaders and groups whip up their followers with revolting lies about how our bodies work, how pregnancy works, and how safe and compassionate abortion care works. Then, their political allies and the right-wing media/social media ecosystem repeats them ad nauseam. Finally, when someone with guns or bombs goes out and kills innocent people in order to prove how ‘pro-life’ they are, those same leaders, groups, politicians, and media personalities cry ‘lone wolf’ and act like they had nothing to do with it.

Anti-abortion terrorism is everybody’s problem. We mourn and grieve Minnesota House Speaker Emerita Melissa Hortman and her husband Mark, and send our deepest well-wishes to State Senator John Hoffman and his wife, Yvette. We also sit with fury for our colleagues on the ‘hit list’ who spent the weekend in terror.

Abortion care isn’t going anywhere, no matter what the bullies do. Providers are resilient and strong, and advocates for abortion will not back down in the face of terrorism and political violence. Still: What an unbelievable, disgusting time for Donald Trump’s Department of Justice to say it will relax enforcement of the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances (FACE Act). What a time for the U.S. Congress to consider repealing it all together. America deserves better.”