BREAKING: AFNM SIDEWALK TEAM VIOLENTLY ASSAULTED OUTSIDE SOUTHWESTERN WOMEN’S OPTIONS

“I’VE DECIDED I’M OKAY WITH GOING TO PRISON TODAY”: WOMAN’S REMARKS CAPTURED ON VIDEO BEFORE TWO AFNM TEAM MEMBERS WERE VIOLENTLY ATTACKED

By Bud Shaver,

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. -- A confrontation outside Southwestern Women’s Options escalated Wednesday when disturbing remarks captured on video lead to threats and physical violence.  Two members of Abortion Free New Mexico's  (AFNM) sidewalk outreach team were assaulted.

Video footage captures the woman approaching the AFNM team and declaring:

“I’ve decided I’m okay with going to prison today.”

She continued:

“From now on, every chance I get to be here, I’m gonna.”

During the confrontation, she also told the team:

“You guys make me sick. You guys make me sick to my f-ing stomach. You make me so sick.”

And:

​“All you guys are doing are wasting your time.”

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WARNING: EXPLICIT LANGUAGE

According to AFNM team members, the encounter then escalated beyond angry words.

THREAT FOLLOWED BY PHYSICAL ATTACK

​An AFNM volunteer says the woman directly threatened her stating that:

“If you speak to another woman, I will hurt you.”

The sidewalk volunteer continued peacefully conducting outreach offering hope and help to pregnant women.

When another mother arrived at Southwestern Women’s Options, the team member spoke to her as she entered the abortion facility. AFNM witnesses say the woman then carried out her threat, physically attacking the counselor and striking her multiple times.

The initial physical blows were not captured on video, however, four witnesses gave statements to the police after the altercation.

Following that confrontation, the woman left the area.
​
She later returned.

SHE LEFT — CHANGED CLOTHES — AND RETURNED

​According to AFNM, the same woman later returned wearing different clothing and again confronted members of the sidewalk team.

During this second encounter, portions of which were captured on video, AFNM says the woman threw three sodas directly at team members. 

​The final object thrown was a full can of soda, which AFNM says violently struck another member of the sidewalk team as the woman left the scene in her truck.

By the end of the two encounters, AFNM reports that two separate sidewalk team members had been physically assaulted.

APD CALLED — SUMMONS ISSUED

AFNM’s team immediately contacted the Albuquerque Police Department.

According to information provided to AFNM following the police response, APD issued a summons in connection with the incident involving two alleged counts of assault and battery.

AFNM is preserving available video footage and other evidence related to the incident and intends to cooperate fully with law enforcement.

“Our team was on the sidewalk ministering to women in crisis, offering compassion, help and hope, and trying to save babies from the violence of abortion—and were violently attacked for doing so.”

Tara Shaver of Abortion Free New Mexico continued:

“This woman threatened one of our team members with physical violence if she spoke to a woman seeking to end the life of her baby. Our volunteer continued peacefully offering help, and she was attacked. Then this woman left, changed clothes, came back, and another member of our team was struck. You do not get to use violence to silence people because you disagree with their message. We will not be intimidated, and we will not abandon women walking into these abortion centers.”

BUD SHAVER: “WE WILL NOT BE INTIMIDATED INTO SILENCE”

AFNM Executive Director Bud Shaver said:

“Our team was attacked for being Christians peacefully exercising our free speech and ministering to women in crisis. The sidewalk will not be surrendered to threats, intimidation or violence. We have every right to peacefully stand on a public sidewalk, proclaim the Gospel, speak the truth about abortion and offer women real alternatives. We will not be intimidated into silence. We will continue showing up, we will continue speaking, and we will continue fighting to save lives.”

WE WILL NOT BE SILENCED

AFNM maintains a regular sidewalk presence outside Albuquerque abortion facilities, where trained volunteers offer women information, pregnancy resources, practical assistance, prayer and alternatives to abortion.

This attack will not stop that work.

WE WILL SHOW UP.

WE WILL PRAY.

WE WILL SPEAK.

WE WILL OFFER HELP.

​WE WILL STAND FOR WOMEN AND THEIR CHILDREN.

“No threat, no intimidation and no act of violence will change why we’re there,” Tara Shaver said. “Women deserve to know that abortion is not their only option and that there are people willing to walk alongside them when they choose life.”

AFNM encourages anyone confronted with threats or violence during peaceful outreach to contact law enforcement rather than to physically retaliate.

ABOUT ABORTION FREE NEW MEXICO

​Abortion Free New Mexico works to expose the abortion industry, advocate for accountability, and provide practical assistance and alternatives to women considering abortion. AFNM’s sidewalk teams maintain a regular presence outside abortion facilities in Albuquerque.