New York Attorney General Letitia James has filed a motion to hold Red Rose Rescue, an anti-abortion extremist group, in contempt for defying a court order that prohibits the group and its members from blocking access to reproductive health care clinics. The Office of the Attorney General (OAG) had previously filed a lawsuit against Red Rose Rescue in June 2023 for invading clinics, threatening staff, and terrorizing patients. In December 2023, OAG secured a preliminary injunction prohibiting the group from coming within 15 feet of reproductive health care clinics in specific New York jurisdictions.
Three weeks after the order was issued, Red Rose Rescue member Bernadette Patel was seen accosting patients outside Planned Parenthood in Manhattan. This incident marked the first of at least four violations of the court order by Patel. "Red Rose Rescue will stop at nothing to interfere with anyone seeking or providing reproductive health care," stated Attorney General James. She emphasized that the group must face consequences for disregarding court orders and laws.
The preliminary injunction prohibits any member of Red Rose Rescue from coming within 15 feet of reproductive health care facilities across 13 downstate New York counties. Patel's first violation occurred on January 6, 2024, followed by another on January 13, where she confronted patients entering Planned Parenthood in Brooklyn while wearing a vest resembling those worn by clinic escorts.
Patel violated the order again on August 10 and August 15 by interfering with patients' access to Planned Parenthood locations in Brooklyn and Manhattan. In previous statements, Patel indicated her intention to defy any legal orders related to her activities.
Attorney General James is seeking sanctions totaling at least $2,000 to deter further violations by Patel and other members of Red Rose Rescue. This action builds on prior enforcement efforts by OAG, which include providing clinics with posters explaining buffer zone protections.
Following the Supreme Court's decision to overturn Roe v. Wade, Attorney General James launched a pro bono legal hotline for nationwide support regarding abortion access. New Yorkers can call (212) 899-5567 for free legal information.
This matter is being handled by Senior Counsel Sandra Pullman and other members of various bureaus under Chief Deputy Attorney Generals Meghan Faux and José Maldonado.
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