Antiabortion guards face charges in confrontation
“If it’s free speech only for people who believe in human abortion, it’s kind of an issue.”
Brian Johnston of California ProLife
Two private security guards hired by an antiabortion group face charges of battery and illegal possession of tear gas after an October 2020 confrontation outside a Planned Parenthood clinic in Walnut Creek, the Contra Costa District Attorney’s Office announced.
Security guards Ishatpal Momi, 27, of Elk Grove and Peter Reeves, 45, of Sacramento face misdemeanor charges for allegedly pepperspraying four people last fall, according to the District Attorney’s Office.
The guards are also accused of possessing illegally large pepper spray canisters, which are limited to 2.5 ounces by state law, said DA spokesperson Scott Alonso. Pepper spray is governed by the same laws as tear gas in California.
The incident occurred Oct. 13 outside the Planned Parenthood clinic on Oakland Boulevard in Walnut Creek. The guards were hired by 40 Days for Life, an international Christian organization that holds vigils outside clinics that perform abortions. When a skirmish broke out with counterprotesters supporting the clinic, Alonso said, Momi allegedly used pepper spray on one man; 10 minutes later, Reeves allegedly sprayed three others.
A representative of Friends for Life TriValley, a 40 Days affiliate that has organized protests at the site, declined comment and suggested contacting the 40 Days for Life headquarters in Bryan, Texas. The group’s media office did not respond Saturday or Sunday.
In a telephone interview with The Chronicle, Brian Johnston of California ProLife said he needed more information about the case, including whether Planned Parenthood also had security guards at the protest. He questioned whether the decision to prosecute was politically or ideologically motivated and “if prolife protesters have the right to free speech.”
“If it’s free speech only for people who believe in human abortion, it’s kind of an issue,” he said.
Walnut Creek police didn’t arrest anyone in October but forwarded information about the event to the District Attorney’s Office, which reviewed the details and decided to file charges. The defendants will be sent notices to appear for their arraignment on an unannounced date.
Protests by 40 Days for Life and other groups that oppose abortion are common outside of Planned Parenthood offices and other clinics where the procedure is performed. The 40 Days organization holds demonstrations that it promotes as peaceful — often 40day vigils where protesters pray, often on their knees and sometimes around the clock, and try to dissuade people from entering the clinic with signs, pamphlets and fetal dolls.
Counterprotesters often show up along with escorts who assist clinic patients through picket lines.
While conflicts outside clinics are often limited to verbal exchanges, confrontations and violence rose during 2019, according to a July 2020 report from the National Abortion Federation, which supports abortion providers.
Clinic invasions more than doubled, to 19 from eight in 2018, and the number of trespassing incidents rose to 1,507, the most since the group starting counting them in 1999.
Abortion providers saw a 125% increase in the number of hate emails and harrassing phone calls, the report said, and the overall number of picket lines or protests outside clinics rose to 123,228 — by far the most since 1977, when the federation started keeping track.