First He Came for Lawmakers
But his larger target was abortion providers
This weekend, a Christian nationalist cosplaying as a cop showed up at the homes of two Minnesota lawmakers in the early hours of Saturday morning. He murdered two people, critically injured two more - and then vanished. When police found his abandoned SUV, they found his larger plan: a hit list of abortion providers. Let’s dive in…
Let’s talk about what happened this weekend.
A 57-year-old man named Vance Boelter launched two coordinated attacks in Minnesota - first ambushing State Senator John Hoffman and his family, then murdering former House Speaker Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark.
Boelter showed up at their homes impersonating a cop. He drove what looked like a police SUV. He wasn’t there to intimidate, he was there to kill. And in two cases, he did.
This wasn’t random. These were pro-choice Democratic lawmakers. And that detail matters because when law enforcement found the SUV Boelter abandoned, they also found a hit list of 50 to 70 names, including abortion providers, abortion clinic staff, Planned Parenthood locations, and prominent officials like Gov. Tim Walz and Rep. Ilhan Omar.
This wasn’t just about politicians. This was a violent, premeditated political agenda and abortion providers were next.
But here’s the thing: abortion providers are no strangers to violence. That’s exactly why Congress passed the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances (FACE) Act 30 years ago - after a provider was murdered in cold blood in Florida. The law was designed to protect clinics and the people who work in them from threats, violence, and blockades.
And yet, at the very same time a man with an abortion provider hit list was gunning down pro-choice lawmakers, Republicans in Congress were trying to repeal the FACE Act.
Trump is thrilled. In January, he pardoned 23 people convicted under the law - people who harassed pregnant patients, broke into clinics, and physically tried to stop people from accessing care.
The message from the right is clear: they *think* abortion is murder but, they’re fine murdering to end abortion access. And unless we stop them, they’ll do it.
On a personal note, this is exactly why we started GEMMA_Talks in 2022 after Roe fell. We saw the silence, a gap in credentialed voices online talking about abortion. Not because providers didn’t care, but because they were already under threat. Doing this job quietly is dangerous. Doing it publicly can get you killed.
We keep showing up though because we refuse to let extremist violence silence us.
If you believe in this work and want to help us keep going (and keep safe), consider becoming a paid subscriber. We do everything we can to protect ourselves - but your support makes a real difference in this fight for our lives.
How This Affects You
If they can scare lawmakers into silence, providers are next - many already feel like they can’t safely speak up.
Repealing the FACE Act would leave clinics with zero federal protection from threats, violence, or interference.
Extremist attacks disrupt entire networks of care, especially in rural areas or red state.
This isn’t just about abortion. Providers targeted by this violence also deliver prenatal care, STI testing, miscarriage management, and more.
What You Can Do
Tell your Reps: Oppose the repeal of the FACE Act! Send a message to Congress here - especially if your Rep is the author of the bill, Chip Roy (TX-21). Ew.
Find us @GEMMA_Talks, @evexplains, @pariphrased
Thank you