Reps. Andrew Clyde (R-Ga.) and Jody Hice (R-Ga.) on Friday sent a letter to the head of the University of Georgia, urging him to ensure that the university's resources will not be used to "target crisis pregnancy centers."
Driving the news: The letter comes after Fox News published a story saying that "far-left radicals" had been using a map created by the UGA professors in 2018 containing the addresses of crisis pregnancy centers across the country.
- Following the article being published, university students were told to be "more aware of [their] surroundings," according to the university's student-run newspaper.
- Some UGA staff members received "threatening calls and emails" due to the article, Dean Marsha Davis of the University of Georgia’s College of Public Health said in an email, according to the student newspaper.
What they're saying: "While this academic project may seem to be rooted in innocence, providing the collated address data of these crisis pregnancy centers makes it unquestionably ripe for abuse. It is disappointing that the state’s flagship university is allowing taxpayer-funded resources to provide this sensitive information to extremist organizations that are actively targeting crisis pregnancy centers," Clyde said in a statement.
- "The unhinged Left will stop at nothing to eradicate anything – or anyone – who opposes their radical pro-abortion agenda. And unfortunately, the University of Georgia’s resources are being used by radical organizations to identify their next targets. The professors’ project is reckless and irresponsible. The University must take swift action to cut all ties with it," said Hice.
Context: Crisis pregnancy centers are organizations that look like abortion clinics and aim to persuade pregnant people from having the procedure.
Between the lines: Prior to the Supreme Court overturning Roe v. Wade, abortion rights groups released a statement saying they reject any and all threats of violence, adding that "[t]hey do not speak for us, our supporters, our communities, or our movement."
