Doocy Presses Karine Jean-Pierre on Roe-Related Violence: ‘Are These Threats From Pro-Abortion Activists Or Anti-Abortion Activists?’
Fox News White House correspondent Peter Doocy pressed White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre over a DHS memo about possible unrest following the release of a Supreme Court decision that could overturn Roe v. Wade.
The leaked memo shows that the government is bracing for violence if and when the leaked Supreme Court draft opinion that would overturn Roe v. Wade is released in its final form.
The memo says that “Law enforcement agencies are investigating social-media threats to burn down or storm the Supreme Court building and murder justices and their clerks, as well as attacks targeting places of worship and abortion clinics.”
At Wednesday’s press briefing, Doocy pressed JEan-Pierre about the memo, asking “Are these threats from pro-abortion activists or anti-abortion activists?”
Jean-Pierre called out what she said is a “one-sided” outrage over threats:
MR. DOOCY: Okay. There’s a bulletin now that DHS is worried if Roe v. Wade is overturned, there could be violence against the Supreme Court building or Supreme Court justices. Are these threats from pro-abortion activists or anti-abortion activists?
MS. JEAN-PIERRE: So, look, the President is clear on this question. He believes the right to peace- — to peacefully protest in this country is fundamental, but he also believes that violence, threats, and intimidation have no place in political discourse anywhere. That is true whether it is in front of a courthouse or in front of a healthcare clinic.
And that’s the thing. I feel — it seems like, to us, it is very one-sided on what we call out as — as intimidation or as violence. So we want to make sure we’re calling out on — on ei- — on both sides of what is happening and what we’re seeing.
While protests — but while protests have been peaceful to date, the Department of Justice has U.S. Marshals providing support to support [the Supreme] Court Marshal, and the Pres- — and the President believes Congress should pass the legislation to fund increased security for Court and judges as soon as possible.
Yesterday, in reference to this, the Department of Homeland Security said they are “committed to protecting Americans’ freedom of speech and other civil rights and civil liberties, including the right to peacefully protest. DHS is also committed to working with our partners across every level of government and the private sector to share timely information and intelligence, prevent all forms of violence, and to support law enforcement — enforcement efforts to keep our communities safe.”
The White House has consistently said that President Joe Biden expects protesters to be peaceful and “respect privacy” while protesting on the issue of abortion rights.
Watch above via The White House and Reuters.
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