FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Carina Pacheco, naf@berlinrosen.com
The National Abortion Federation’s 2025 Violence & Disruption Report Shows Increase in Attacks Against Abortion Providers, Patients
Alongside Reduced Enforcement of the FACE Act, Providers Reported Surge in Digital Harassment and Racist Rhetoric
NATIONWIDE – The National Abortion Federation (NAF) released its 2025 Violence & Disruption report today, documenting a continued rise in assault, stalking, threats of violence and other forms of targeting against abortion providers and patients across the country. The 2025 report also includes firsthand accounts from providers that show the on-the-ground impact of the rise in incidents, as well as the evolving nature of anti-abortion efforts, from a surge in digital harassment to increasing racist rhetoric against clinic staff and patients.
This year’s report comes as providers face the most challenging environment for abortion access in half a century and as safety protections for providers are actively being weakened. Reduced federal enforcement of the FACE Act, presidential pardons of anti-abortion activists, and continued state-level legislative efforts to further limit access are cited as key factors contributing to a climate where anti-abortion actors are increasingly emboldened to target providers, intimidate patients, and disrupt abortion care.
“NAF providers are showing up every day to deliver abortion care in an environment that is becoming more hostile, more intense, and more dangerous,” said Brittany Fonteno, President and CEO of the National Abortion Federation. “The rise in threats, stalking, digital harassment, and racist rhetoric is not incidental — it’s part of a coordinated effort to intimidate providers, isolate patients, and make abortion harder to access. That is why NAF’s annual Violence & Disruption Report is so critical: we have to shine a light on what providers and patients are experiencing and make clear that this violence cannot be ignored or normalized. NAF will continue to stand with our members and do everything we can to help keep clinics, staff, and patients safe.”
Patients also faced compounding threats and barriers, including fear of ICE raids and violence against immigrant communities. First-hand accounts from providers in the 2025 report point to harassment that is more explicit in its targeting of immigrant communities and people of color. Together, these realities drove a more volatile and dangerous landscape for providers and patients alike, while emboldening efforts to disrupt care.
Key findings from NAF’s 2025 Violence & Disruption report include:
- A 113% increase in death threats and threats of harm, as well as an increase in assault and battery, signaling that providers are facing more direct and dangerous targeting.
- Death threats/threats of harm: 38 in 2024 to 81 in 2025
- Assault and battery: 19 in 2024 to 23 in 2025
- Stalking of providers more than doubled from 19 in 2024 to 40 in 2025, showing a shift toward more personal harassment that is now following providers beyond the clinics where they work.
- A significant shift to new disruption tactics like digital harassment and coordinated online campaigns that can overwhelm clinics and disrupt patient access.
- Blockades increased from 1 in 2024 to 6 in 2025, suggesting that anti-abortion extremists may be testing the limits of weakened FACE Act enforcement and becoming more willing to physically obstruct clinics and disrupt patient care.
Among the notable incidents that occurred in 2025 include a coordinated online harassment campaign against Boulder Valley Health Center where the clinic was targeted with more than 65,000 hostile calls, emails, and messages, and racist rhetoric at Feminist Center in Atlanta where protestors convinced a Latino man that clinic staff were undercover ICE agents preparing to detain and deport his partner. Black patients were also targeted with racist rhetoric, told they are committing “genocide,” and confronted with signs like “Black Babies Matter.”
“It feels like protesters are more emboldened to act out and be more vocal. It’s like they feel more protected now,” said Dabbie Phonekeo, Clinic Director at Affiliated Medical Services. “You can tell there’s been a shift in behavior and language, with more racism and blatant white supremacy. There is no question that protestors are more aggressive and vile than they were before.”
NAF has tracked incidents of violence and disruption against abortion providers for nearly 50 years, documenting decades of persistent and evolving threats. As providers face an increasingly hostile environment, NAF has expanded its security support to help clinics identify risks, respond to incidents, and strengthen protections for patients and staff. In 2025, these efforts expanded to include security grants for 50 clinics to further strengthen their security protections.
“Our focus at NAF is helping providers identify risks early, strengthen their security posture, and respond effectively when incidents occur,” said Ron Lyman, NAF’s Senior Director of Security. “That includes close coordination with law enforcement, real-time intelligence sharing, and direct support to clinics on the ground. As the threat environment continues to evolve, our sustained investment in security infrastructure and preparedness is essential to protecting both patients and staff.”
For questions or to set up an interview with a NAF leader or abortion provider, please reach out to naf@berlinrosen.com
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The National Abortion Federation is the nation’s largest and leading professional association of abortion providers. NAF represents hundreds of providers and clinics across the country that are on the frontlines of helping people access abortion care. They provide members with trainings, security support, and guidelines for the gold standard of abortion care. NAF also operates the National Abortion Hotline, the largest national, multi-lingual abortion hotline in the U.S, which helps anyone in any state understand their care options, including finding a provider, arranging travel to another state, or funding their care.
National Abortion Hotline: 1-800-772-9100.
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