The American mainstream media has been all over the planned protest at the houses of six conservative justices on the Supreme Court. Their home addresses have been published by a left-wing group recruiting activists to lead demonstrations at the homes.
What the media isn’t reporting is that the group is also recruiting activists to invade Catholic churches across the country to interrupt Mass on mother’s day. So while there will definitely be heightened security at the more than likely empty homes of the six Supreme Court justices, Catholic parishes will be left without security and protection.
We have the right to protest as American citizens. Each of us has a voice that should be used to promote and advance our opinions, especially when politics are involved. That being said, how can you describe a group of people wanting to interrupt and disturb a church full of unarmed, peaceful parishioners wanting to celebrate Mass other than cowardly?
“Ruth Sent Us,” a group of pro-choice activists naming themselves after the late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, has spent the previous four days urging their Twitter followers to “rise up against a corrupt and illegitimate” Supreme Court following last Monday’s draft opinion leak.
“Whether you’re a ‘Catholic for Choice,’ ex-Catholic, of other or no faith, recognize that six extremist Catholics set out to overturn Roe,” was the controversial tweet made by “Ruth Sent Us” on Tuesday. “Stand at or in a local Catholic Church Sun May 8. #WarOnWomen #MothersDayStrike,” the tweet continued.
A video was also included in the tweet with activists wearing outfits similar to ones in “The Handmaid’s Tale. The potential ban on abortion was likened to a novel written by Margaret Atwood, where women are treated as the property of the state.
Whether you’re a “Catholic for Choice”, ex-Catholic, of other or no faith, recognize that six extremist Catholics set out to overturn Roe. Stand at or in a local Catholic Church Sun May 8. #WarOnWomen #MothersDayStrike pic.twitter.com/v2vtpd12Gp
— Ruth Sent Us 🪧 (@RuthSentUs) May 3, 2022
“Abortion without demand and without apology” was chanted in the video, along with “Without this basic right, women can’t be free!”
A challenge was put out by the activists for others to follow the examples at Catholic churches across the country on May 8. In addition, the group offered to send out “safety tips” to anyone who commented on the tweet. During the video, the message displayed on the screen read, “Do you dare to chant in your local churches?”
As I mentioned earlier, this is the United States of America. We have the right and responsibility to protest when our government is in the wrong. While I’m a Catholic and am 100% pro-life, I realize that millions of others believe they have the right to an abortion if having a child will disrupt their life.
Still, I don’t think the founding fathers of our country had storming places of worship in mind when they were thinking of Americans defending their rights. Protest at a federal building or even the house of one of the justices deciding to overturn Roe v. Wade if it makes you feel better. Protesting is about being brave and taking a stand. There’s always a possibility of danger and resistance. The risk is part of being bold enough to protest. There is nothing patriotic about storming a church filled with people who believe peace amid persecution is a part of their faith. I think it’s important for America to know exactly who is behind these cowardly threats.
“Ruth Sent Us” uses a .us URL, but the identities of their leaders are still concealed. The name “Sam Spiegal,” along with a P.O. box number, has been registered to the domain. According to filings with the Federal Election Commission in 2018, Spiegal is named as the treasurer of ‘Unseat,” a political action committee. Spiegel’s name is also being used for the Unseat PAC’s page on Twitter.
The Twitter page amplifies multiple videos published by meidastouch.com, targeting conservative justices over the potential overturning of Roe v. Wade. A currently pinned post on the page attacks Justice Kavanaugh with the unproven claim that he bought his seat on the high bench. The Unseat PAC’s FEC statement also lists Spiegel, along with the same P.O. box number used for ruthsent.us.
The name “Vara Ramakrishnan” is also revealed in the statement. Both refusefascism.org and #StrikeForChoice are included in references found on her Facebook page. Strike For Choice is linked to Ruth Sent Us’ website and connections to Code Pink, Kavanaugh Off Our Court, Rise Up 4 Abortion Rights, and Black Lives Matter. It’s easy to see why Catholics would worry about “peaceful” protestors invading their parishes.
There is also an association between Ramakrishnan and “Vigil for Democracy.” V4D is marked as one of the sponsors for Ruth Sent Us’ map outlining where the conservative justices live.
Snowden Bishop is also associated with Vigil for Democracy. Bishop is a left-wing radio host and has been identified as a “principal” for both “Just Resisting” and Vigil for Democracy. Justin Russell runs the Just Resisting Twitter page and is also an administrator for a Vigil for Democracy fundraising page.
What these individuals are doing by recruiting “activists” to interrupt Catholic Mass is not patriotic. They are not heroes for women’s rights. They are cowards. They want to make noise in a church where they know they are safe and retaliation is doubtful.
They are specifically targeting mother’s day, a day when women all over the country should feel safe worshiping Jesus with their children. While most Catholics are pro-life, they have nothing to do with overturning Roe v. Wade. They might disagree with unborn children being murdered, but they don’t have a vote in changing a law.
If you want to take a stand and pretend to be heroic, go somewhere that puts you at risk. Go somewhere that will have the presence of law enforcement. Take a stand against some of us willing to protest back. Don’t be a coward. Stop trying to manufacture fear, and do something that produces respect.
ThinkCivics News publishes a variety of perspectives. Nothing written here is to be construed as representing the views of ThinkCivics News or ThinkCivics Media.
Jeffrey Stevens is a Senior Writer with ThinkCivics News and a freelance journalist with The Jerusalem Post, focusing on the Vatican’s involvement in world politics. In addition, he is a published author and the founder of Gospel Grammar. Jeffrey is currently pursuing a second degree in theology from Aidan University in Jacksonville, Florida.
