Press Room

For Immediate Release
April 13, 2010

Contact: Peggy Hamill, State Director, (262) 796-1111, cell (414) 416-0489
Or Virginia Zignego, Communications Director, (262) 796-1111, cell (262) 370-3993

Threat assessment report on Wisconsin pro-life activity denied again

The Associated Press revealed today the Wisconsin Department of Justice denied their open records request for a threat assessment prepared on pro-life activity in Wisconsin.

“Pro-Life Wisconsin continues to work for the release of this report, despite the ongoing refusal. It is disconcerting that law enforcement agencies refuse to release to United States citizens information that has been gathered about them,” said Peggy Hamill, state director. “The stifling of free speech activity is a slippery slope. Those of us who defend the preborn are not second-class citizens and we refuse to let our First Amendment rights be chilled.”

In February 2009, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and the Middleton Police Department inappropriately shared a homeland security “threat assessment”, prepared by DHS and targeted at local free speech activities “by pro- and anti-abortion groups.” The threat assessment concerned free speech at a University of Wisconsin Hospital and Clinics meeting in Middleton, at which a vote was taken to approve late-term abortions at the Madison Surgery Center.

In January 2010 the Alliance Defense Fund, on behalf of Pro-Life Wisconsin, asked (view here) the Middleton Police Department for a copy of the report pursuant to Wisconsin's open records laws. The Middleton Police Department refused to disclose the report (view here), and further said that the DOJ similarly refused to authorize disclosure of the report, despite the fact that DHS had already determined that the report was an improper investigation of freedom of speech activities.

“Clearly Secretary Napolitano’s unjust inclusion of pro-lifers in a report on domestic terrorism influenced the Middleton Police Department in their decision to enlist the DHS. Despite this mischaracterization, thousands of Wisconsin pro-lifers continue to peacefully witness in opposition to proposed late-term abortions at the Madison Surgery Center,” concluded Hamill. “We are encouraged late-term abortions have not begun at the Madison Surgery Center.”