'We’re coming for U': Winter Haven pregnancy center vandalized with graffiti

Operators of local pregnancy care centers worried they might become targets following Friday’s announcement that the U.S. Supreme Court had nullified the Roe v. Wade ruling.

At least one center in Polk County reported vandalism carried out during the weekend. The managers of LifeChoice Pregnancy Center in Winter Haven shared photos showing its building and sign defaced by spray-painted symbols and messages.

Phrases painted on the side of the building at 235 E. Central Ave. read, “Your time is up,” “We’re coming for U” and “Jane’s revenge.”

Jane’s Revenge is a name being used by a collective that favors abortion rights, according to national reporting. A website, janesrevenge.noblogs.org, uses as its main image the spray-painted phrase, “If abortions aren’t safe then you aren’t either.”

A post on the site from June 15 took credit for actions in a range of places, including Madison, Wisconsin, Fort Collins, Colorado and Hollywood, Florida. A group using the name “Jane’s Revenge” reportedly claimed responsibility for an arson attack in May at the office of Wisconsin Family Action, an anti-abortion group.

Influence Watch, a watchdog group headed by conservative nonprofit, says of Jane’s Revenge that “neither the organization’s size nor existence has been independently verified.”

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'References to different groups'

The vandalism at the Winter Haven center involved words and symbols spray-painted on and around the building, Development Director Lyndsy Flanagan said.

The symbol for anarchy, an “A” within a circle, was painted in green over LifeChoice’s street sign and near the front door, and a security camera was covered with pink paint.

Flanagan said the vandalism occurred overnight Saturday. She said the center did not have any security posted at the time.

The Winter Haven Police Department responded to a call just past noon on Sunday, police spokeswoman Jamie Brown said. The department is classifying the incident as criminal mischief and keeping in touch with the Polk County Sheriff's Office for any additional incidents that might occur, Brown said.

Flanagan said the FBI is also involved with the investigation.

"They (the vandals) made some references to different groups that are associated with national organizations, but as of right now until they continue the investigation we're not 100% sure if it was a nationally planned thing or hired locals," Flanagan said.

LifeChoice employees and supporters painted over the graffiti on the building and restored the camera to working condition Monday morning and began seeing clients by the afternoon, Flanagan said. As of Monday afternoon, she said they were still seeking quotes on what it would cost to have the main sign restored.

Flanagan said LifeChoice's board met and decided to increase security at the center. She said the center had on-site security Monday and changed some of its methods for admitting clients to increase the safety of the staff.

Flanagan said the center, which has existed for more than 30 years, had sustained vandalism before "but not to this extent."

"We're going to continue to remain open for clients, and we are happy to continue serving our community and providing those free resources for families who need it," Flanagan said.

No damage at other centers in Polk

In a long-awaited action, the Supreme Court announced Friday morning that a majority had invalidated the Roe v. Wade ruling, a 1973 judgment that had established a constitutional right of abortion. That decision means that states are now free to adopt rules that could include banning abortion entirely, as some have already done.

Abortion remains legal in Florida, though the Legislature and Gov. Ron DeSantis this year enacted a law that will block abortions after 15 weeks of pregnancy, with no exceptions for cases of rape, incest or human trafficking. The law was scheduled to take effect July 1 but faces a legal challenge.

Rebecca Klein, executive director of A Woman’s Choice, a pregnancy care center in Lakeland, told The Ledger on Friday that centers were prepared for possible violence in reaction to the Supreme Court ruling. She said some local centers had increased their security as a precaution.

A Woman’s Choice sustained no damage or vandalism over the weekend, Klein said Monday morning.

Marilyn Paul, executive director of Options for Women, said the four locations operating under that name had no reports of problems. Paul said a group of men had volunteered to provide overnight security at the centers.

Pregnancy care centers are typically nonprofits aligned with churches or Christian organizations that provide some free medical services, such as pregnancy testing, STD testing and ultrasounds. The centers, sometimes called crisis pregnancy centers, do not perform abortions or refer to clinics that do.

Advocates for abortion rights accuse some centers of providing inaccurate information about the safety of abortion, a claim that local directors have disputed.

The Florida Legislature has designated more than $30 million to support such centers since 2009.

Gary White can be reached at gary.white@theledger.com or 863-802-7518. Follow on Twitter @garywhite13.