The punch was thrown during a street interview that Savannah Craven Antao was conducting in New York on behalf of Live Action. Brianna J. Rivers was arrested for second degree assault. AFN reported on this previously in April, but since then, Craven Antao has learned that the charge was downgraded to a misdemeanor and later completely dismissed.
"District Attorney Bragg's shocking refusal to uphold justice only works to undermine confidence in the system, especially when our political climate has become as fraught as it is now," said Christopher Ferrara, senior counsel at Thomas More Society. "Failing to prosecute these clear-cut charges sets a dangerous standard for how our society responds to violence against those engaging in democratic dialogue."
Alvin J. Bragg, Jr. (featured right) is the district attorney in New York City overseeing Manhattan. He was involved with the prosecution of President Donald Trump in the 2024 case in New York regarding “hush money.” Bragg aggressively went after Trump, charging him with 34 felony counts of falsifying business records, of which Trump was found guilty.
Thomas More Society now plans to file a civil suit and seek damages on Craven Antao's behalf. Her injuries included a laceration that required stitches in an emergency room and $3,000 in medical bills.
In April, Craven Antao told EWTN Pro-Life Weekly, which was posted on X, that the altercation was like nothing she'd ever experienced.
"I'm used to people getting very agitated once I question their extreme views on abortion or even just ask them simple questions to clarify their stance," Craven Antao told the pro-life news outlet. "I've had grown men spit at me, say horrible things that they want to happen to me, but I've never had anyone assault me like that."
In the press release from Thomas More Society, Craven Antao said that "political violence should never be tolerated" or given a free pass. (Craven Antao and Rivers featured left.)
"When those in power refuse to hold accountable those who respond to free speech with violence, it threatens the very fabric of our civil society. I will not be intimidated or silenced when it comes to speaking up for the unborn, and with the support of Thomas More Society, I will keep pushing for accountability," said Craven Antao.
During an appearance Friday, September 26th on "The Will Cain Show," Craven Antao said that this is the same district attorney's office that prosecuted Daniel Penny, a former U.S. Marine who used self-defense to protect himself and others from an unstable homeless man on the subway. The prosecutions charged Penny with second-degree manslaughter and criminally negligent homicide; fortunately, both charges were dropped and acquitted, respectively. While Bragg pursued that case, he, as Craven Antao pointed out, let her attacker "with all the video evidence" off the hook.
"I have a question for Alvin Bragg," said Craven Antao. "If I were your daughter, if I were your wife, would you have done the same thing? I think not."
