Savannah Craven Antao, a Catholic pro-life activist, was violently assaulted on Thursday while conducting a street interview in New York City. Antao, who was working as a reporter for the pro-life group Live Action, was punched in the face by a “pro-abortion individual” during a heated exchange, according to Live Action. The attack, which left Antao with visible injuries, was captured on video and has since sparked outrage.
VIDEO OF THE ASSAULT OF PRO LIFE JOURNALIST BY PRO-ABORTION ADVOCATE IN NEW YORK
— Lila Rose (@LilaGraceRose) April 4, 2025
Savannah Craven was working with Live Action conducting man on the street interviews, asking “Do you know what Planned Parenthood does?” when she was attacked
She is at hospital now pic.twitter.com/oTOKATXsjp
The altercation occurred around 6:05 p.m. on Thursday, near W 126th Street and Lenox Avenue. Antao, known for her street interviews and advocacy for the pro-life cause, was interviewing an unidentified woman who became increasingly enraged during the conversation. As the exchange continued, the woman struck Antao in the face with a closed fist, causing a laceration that required stitches.
In a statement to Breitbart News, a spokesperson for the New York City Police Department (NYPD) confirmed that an assault had been reported, and the investigation remains ongoing. At the time of publication, there were no arrests, and the assailant had not been located.
Following the attack, Antao shared her recovery process on X (formerly Twitter), stating she was recovering in the hospital and had received stitches for the injury. A picture released by Live Action President Lila Rose showed Antao with blood streaming down her face after the assault.
According to Antao, the woman was aware of the details surrounding abortion procedures and acknowledged that abortion ends the life of an unborn child. The woman reportedly argued that Antao did not understand the emotional and physical toll of having a child.
To this, Antao responded, “I’m not the one who admitted they would be okay with killing babies in foster care and killing children that had been abused.”
Antao recounted that she had “absolutely no time to see that it was coming” and was caught off guard when the woman struck her. Her husband, Henry Antao, quickly intervened to protect her, and the assailant walked away before they could further engage. The couple immediately called the police, but despite providing a description and photo of the assailant, the woman was not located.
Savannah Craven Antao has been a dedicated pro-life advocate for years, conducting interviews and sharing her views on social media platforms like YouTube. Despite the violence she faced, Antao expressed empathy for her attacker, saying, “I know that that woman was hurting inside… And that’s why I still want to pray for her, and that she finds peace with herself.” She further emphasized that the attack would not deter her from continuing her pro-life work, replying with an emphatic “absolutely not” when asked if the assault would impact her activism.
Lila Rose, the president of Live Action, praised Antao’s bravery in the face of violence. Rose stated, “We are deeply grateful for Savannah’s work to protect preborn children and help end abortion in our nation. Her bravery in the face of violence is heroic. We are grateful she is safe and receiving support. No one should ever face physical assault for expressing their views in public.”
Henry Antao also spoke out, expressing his commitment to the pro-life cause. “We are pro-life activists because ending abortion and protecting babies from the violence that Planned Parenthood commits is the most important issue of our lifetime,” he said. He further emphasized that the couple hopes justice will be served soon.
While the pro-life community has rallied around Antao, offering support and solidarity, the incident has raised concerns about the rising tensions in public discourse over such divisive issues.
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