Vandals strike office in Jackson shared by Walberg campaign, Right to Life

JACKSON — Vandalism at U.S. Rep. Tim Walberg's reelection campaign office in Jackson appears to be connected to a string of attacks across the country claimed by a group that supports abortion rights.

The office at 317 W. Washington Ave. is shared by Walberg's campaign and Jackson Right to Life, an anti-abortion group. It was damaged overnight Tuesday, according to statements issued by Walberg's campaign and Jackson Right to Life. Both groups labeled the vandalism as an act of domestic terrorism.

Photos of the damage provided by the Walberg campaign and Right to Life show smashed windows and a Jackson Right to Life sign spray painted with pink writing that reads, "Jane's Revenge."

Jane's Revenge appears to be a militant group of abortion rights supporters that formed around the time a draft opinion in the U.S. Supreme Court's current abortion-related case was leaked. The court is expected to release its official opinion in the case soon, and if it follows the draft opinion's findings it will overturn the 1974 Roe v. Wade case which nullified many states' abortion bans.

This new group has called for a "night of rage" against "patriarchal supremacy" should the Supreme Court's ruling in the latest abortion case overturn Roe. In a blog post on June 15, it claimed responsibility for vandalism across the country as a 30-day deadline it gave to anti-abortion groups to shut down passed.

"You have seen that we are real, and that we are not merely pushing empty words," the blog post said.

More: Vandals leave threat, break windows at Dearborn Heights pregnancy center

“I never shy away from my record as a strong conservative and defender of life. This strong record puts me in the crosshairs from those on the radical left but I will never stand down or compromise my convictions and knowing the people at Jackson Right to Life, this will only strengthen their determination to protect the unborn,” Walberg said in an email to supporters. “Proudly, I've been consistently rated as Michigan’s most conservative congressman by the American Conservative Union and despite this attempted intimidation, I will continue to fight for our principles and will stand strongly against the culture of violence and death.”

"It is a sad state of affairs that such a group uses acts of domestic terrorism and hate crimes to intimidate and threaten those who do not agree with them," Jackson Right to Life said in an online statement. "Be assured that we pray fervently for those who oppose us, even in violent ways, but will prosecute to the fullest extent of the law.  While Jackson has amazing and responsive law enforcement, we call on federal law enforcement, the FBI, to stop ignoring the wave of attacks on pro-life groups and pregnancy resource centers … the very places that exist to help women facing unplanned pregnancies."

Right to Life also said the vandals mistakenly damaged a house next door to the office and posted photos showing pink, spray-painted graffiti that reads, "If abortion isn't safe, niether (sic) R U! Jane's Revenge."

“It is shameful that President Biden and Speaker Pelosi have both refused to condemn these intimidation tactics from radical pro-abortion activists. This wave of violence across the country against pro-life organizations and individuals has got to stop,” Walberg said.

Walberg's email concluded with a request for donations "to end this insanity."

U.S. Rep. Debbie Dingell, D-Dearborn, condemned the vandalism.

“We have freedom of speech in this country, not a freedom to commit violence," she said in a news release. "No person — whether you’re an elected official, a judge, or anyone else — should be subjected to threats of violence. I strongly condemn the attack on Congressman Walberg’s campaign office, and I am grateful that Tim and his staff were not harmed.

“I’ve experienced these threats firsthand. My office in Dearborn was brutally vandalized, and men have stood outside my home armed with assault rifles all because they disagreed with my political views. I’ve feared for my life, and I never want anyone else to experience that same trauma.

“The normalization of political violence in our country is deeply disturbing and poses a dangerous threat to the sanctity of our democracy. Are we really going to become a nation that accepts political violence as our new normal? We cannot continue down this path where anger trumps civility and hatred trumps respect. It’s not only anti-democratic, it is anti-American.”

This article originally appeared on The Daily Telegram: Walberg campaign office in Jackson vandalized