Legal dispute over abortion terminology

The pro-life organization Live Action is engaged in a legal dispute with Amplify Legal, the litigation arm of Abortion in America. Amplify Legal issued a cease-and-desist letter on behalf of 13 individuals, alleging that Live Action News published “false and defamatory” content regarding their abortion stories. A central point of contention is Live Action’s use of the term “killing” to describe abortion.

Amplify Legal, which is funded through the Hopewell Fund and associated with founder Cecile Richards, asserts that Live Action’s coverage has resulted in “devastating consequences” for its clients, including death threats and concerns for personal safety.

Represented by the Thomas More Society, Live Action has refused to retract its statements, remove its archives, or stop using the term “killing.” The organization maintains that its descriptions are protected under First Amendment rights and that the individuals featured had previously shared their experiences publicly. Peter Breen of the Thomas More Society stated that the organization will not desist from expressing the view that abortion takes the life of a living human being, characterizing the legal threat as an attack on the freedom of speech for pro-life advocates.