Biden ‘Strongly Condemns’ Molotov Cocktail Attack on Wisconsin Pro-Life Group

President Joe Biden speaks to employees at Lockheed Martin, a facility that manufactures weapon systems such as Javelin anti-tank missiles, in Troy, Ala., on May 3, 2022. Julie Bennett/Getty Images

President Joe Biden “strongly condemns” a molotov cocktail attack targeting a Wisconsin pro-life group over the past weekend, according to a May 9 statement from the White House.

Officials in Madison, the capital of the state, said that an unknown suspect tossed at least one firebomb into the office of Wisconsin Family Action (WFA), a pro-life activist group. “If abortions aren’t safe then you aren’t either” was written in black paint on the outside wall of WFA’s office building.

“President Biden strongly condemns this attack and political violence of any stripe. The President has made clear throughout his time in public life that Americans have the fundamental right to express themselves under the Constitution, whatever their point of view. But that expression must be peaceful and free of violence, vandalism, or attempts to intimidate,” the White House stated.

Outgoing White House press secretary Jen Psaki re-posted that statement on her Twitter account on Monday morning.

Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers, a Democrat, also denounced the alleged arson incident, writing on social media that “we reject violence against any person for disagreeing with another’s view. Violence is not the way forward. Hurting others is never the answer.”

Madison Police confirmed they are investigating the matter as arson, connecting the incident to recent protests following the leak of a Supreme Court draft opinion suggesting that Roe v. Wade will be overturned. Chief Justice John Roberts last week confirmed the draft’s authenticity but stressed that it may not be the final version of the ruling.

“The Madison Police Department understands members of our community are feeling deep emotions due to the recent news involving the United States Supreme Court,” Madison Police Chief Shon Barnes said in a statement about the measure. “Early Sunday morning, our team began investigating a suspicious fire inside an office building on the city’s north side. It appears a specific non-profit that supports anti-abortion measures was targeted.”

Wisconsin Family Action President Julaine Appling told WPR that she heard about the arson attempt on Sunday morning when police informed her.

“The police officer asked me if there was anything that had happened that I thought would provoke such an action,” Appling said. “And I said yes. I said the leaked opinion from the Supreme Court of the United States.”

Appling, meanwhile, told CBS News that her group won’t be intimidated by the alleged arson attack.

“We will repair our offices, remain on the job, and build an even stronger grassroots effort,” Appling told the outlet. “We will not back down. We will not stop doing what we are doing. Too much is at stake.”