The assault, which dates back to April 3, happened in Harlem when Live Action activist Savannah Craven Antao was conducting street interviews to challenge passersby about abortion. During one interview, a suspect later identified as Brianna Rivers, 30, was talking to Antao when she sucker-punched her with a straight punch to the face.
Citing a missed court deadline for its own case, the office of Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg dismissed the misdemeanor charge against Brianna Rivers. That charge, which had already been reduced from a felony to a misdemeanor, was dropped after the prosecutor’s office said it failed to meet a deadline for discovery, which is evidence shared with the other side in a criminal case.
With a final legal deadline just days away, Thomas More Society is pleading with Bragg to refile charges against Rivers, and to charge her with a felony, which would give Bragg’s office more time to revive the case under New York law.
Christopher Ferrara, senior counsel at Thomas More, tells AFN the law firm’s attorneys are asking for hate crime charges, too.
"The assault occurred from a context of our client expressing her pro-life Christian views, which were mocked by the assailant, who then punched her twice in the face," says Ferrara.
Thomas More Society has already announced plans for a civil lawsuit against Rivers after Antao's injuries (pictured below) required stitches and an emergency room bill of $3,000.
Because the criminal case involves a pro-life victim, the liberal district attorney and his office have been accused by critics of knowingly and purposely missing the discovery deadline.
Bragg’s office never contacted Antao about its missed deadline until it made national headlines, according to Thomas More.
Thomas More also says Rivers has celebrated the dismissed charges on social media, where she has also “liked” commenters’ posts that made fun of Antao. “You ain’t hit that girl hard enough,” one of the posts stated.
