NY AG sues Red Rose Rescue anti-abortion group that stormed clinics, 'terrorized' patients

New York Attorney General Letitia James on Thursday filed a lawsuit seeking to block members of the Red Rose Rescue anti-abortion group from coming within 30 feet of reproductive health care clinics in New York.

The lawsuit comes after the anti-abortion group's members repeatedly trespassed at several reproductive health care clinics in New York, including one in Westchester County, James said during a media briefing.

Once inside the clinics, the group's members — including Christopher “Fidelis” Moscinski, Matthew Connolly, William Goodman, Laura Gies, and John Hinshaw — threatened workers and clinicians and terrorized patients, James said. The lawsuit also seeks civil penalties and damages to be determined by the court.

"We will not allow Red Rose Rescue to harass and harangue New Yorkers with their outrageous militant tactics," James said.

Red Rose Rescue didn't immediately respond Thursday to a request for comment on the lawsuit.

How anti-abortion group trespassed at NY clinics

One of the incidents cited in the lawsuit involved three Red Rose Rescue members using false pretenses to gain access to and occupy All Women’s Health and Medical Services, a private reproductive health clinic in White Plains, in 2021.

One member pretended to be a patient seeking an abortion and held the clinic door open for other Red Rose Rescue members to rush inside, James said. They then occupied the waiting room and threatened to stay until the facility stopped performing abortions, forcing patients to hide out in the hallways, she added.

Abortion: Anti-abortion activists sentenced for trespassing at White Plains medical facility

The clinic occupation lasted for two hours before the group's members were carried out by police. Moscinski, Goodman, and Connolly were each sentenced in 2022 to serve three months in jail for criminal trespass in connection to the incident.

The other two incidents linked to the lawsuit happened on Long Island. One at All Women's Care involved a member carrying a black duffle bag, which staff and patients feared held weapons. He then pulled out his friar’s robes and changed into the outfit in the waiting room. Clinic staff, concerned about safety, directed patients to leave and take cover in their cars.

Another incident at Planned Parenthood involved the group's member placing locks and chains on the facility's front gates, blocking the driveway into the parking lot and pedestrian access gates so that staff and patients could not enter.

James noted the Red Rose Rescue occupations resulted in patients missing appointments for a range of crucial health care services, as the facilities provide treatments for a variety of women's health needs in addition to abortions.

What anti-abortion group says about NY clinics

The Red Rose Rescue website described its members actions as non-violent measures intended to protect unborn children.

The group asserted its members "peacefully talk to women scheduled for abortion, with the goal of persuading them to choose life." The members also "offer to them red roses as a sign of life, peace and love." They will also refuse to leave if abortions continue to be performed at the site during the episode, according to the website.

James noted Thursday that obstructing or interfering with access to reproductive health care clinics, including abortion clinics, is illegal under the federal Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances Act and the state Clinic Access Act.

This article originally appeared on New York State Team: NY AG sues Red Rose Rescue anti-abortion group for blocking clinics