Anti-abortion ‘fake clinics’ exist throughout WA. Here’s what they are and how to spot them
With the U.S. Supreme Court on the verge of possibly overturning two landmark abortion rights cases by the end of this month, a new far-left abortion rights group called Jane’s Revenge has begun targeting and vandalizing anti-abortion institutions, including several in Washington.
A report from Politico in early May showed a leaked draft opinion written by Justice Samuel Alito, which would strike down the 1973 Roe v. Wade and 1992 Planned Parenthood v. Casey decisions that provided abortion rights.
If the Supreme Court overturns the two decisions, abortion rights laws will return to the states. Washington would most likely remain a bastion of women’s rights, with Washington Speaker of the House Laurie Jinkins assuring to “maintain a safety net of abortion providers and enhanced protections for the right to choose in Washington,” in a statement on May 3.
The Olympia City Council also unanimously passed a request this week to make Olympia a sanctuary city for protections of reproductive health.
But regardless of whichever decision the Supreme Court makes, Jane’s Revenge has specifically been targeting a specific type of organization that exists in Washington and infringes upon abortion rights: places that have been labeled “fake abortion clinics” or “fake clinics.”
A “fake clinic,” also known as a crisis pregnancy center, is a clinic that advertises services similar to an abortion clinic, but with a different agenda. Instead of performing abortion services, the staff talks women through their options but ultimately attempt to discourage them from having an abortion.
Jane’s Revenge declared it is “open season” on anti-abortion organizations earlier this week, including fake clinics, specifically highlighting three towns in Washington: Olympia, Lynnwood and Vancouver. The group claimed responsibility for targeted vandalism attacks in those towns that has included things like threatening graffiti. The Seattle FBI told the Olympian that it is aware of Jane’s Revenge but has no comment on any specific incidents.
“We are aware of this group. The FBI does not characterize or investigate groups but rather focuses on the actions of individuals,” the FBI’s statement said. “The FBI takes all threats seriously, and we continue to work closely with our law enforcement partners and will remain vigilant to protect our communities. “
Fake clinics are often set up close to abortion clinics, according to Planned Parenthood, and advertise a range of services such as STD testing, but more often than not do not provide any substantive health care services. Although not outwardly offering abortion services, the clinics will advertise solutions for unintended pregnancies, pregnancy consultation and post-abortion care.
Care Net of Puget Sound, a crisis pregnancy center in Tacoma that has been identified by the website Expose Fake Clinics, acknowledges abortion as an option on its website but does not offer it at its clinic, instead offering parent support programs and information about adoption.
The Center for Countering Digital Hate, a nonprofit aimed at stopping the spread of misinformation and hate, estimated that 37% of Google map results for abortion clinics presented anti-abortion providers instead of actual abortion clinics.
There are several resources to help identify fake clinics, such as Expose Fake Clinics, Crisis Pregnancy Center Map and The Fake Clinic Database.
Expose Fake Clinics has identified over 50 fake clinics in Washington, including two in Olympia, three in Tacoma, one in Lynnwood and three in Vancouver:
Options Pregnancy Clinic - 135 Lilly Rd. NE, Olympia
Pregnancy Aid Thurston County - 1021 Boundary St. SE, Olympia
Care Net of Puget Sound - 1924 S. Cedar St., Suite B, Tacoma
Care Net Pregnancy & Family Services - 1209 6th Ave., Tacoma
Pregnancy Aid of Tacoma - 902 Market St., Tacoma
Next Step Pregnancy Services - 19526 64th Ave. W., Lynnwood
Birthright of Vancouver - 214 E. 17th St., Vancouver
Options360 Women’s Clinic - 3700 Main St., Vancouver
Care Net Pregnancy Resource Center of Vancouver - 2128 E. Mill Plain Blvd., Vancouver
Planned Parenthood provides a list on its website of signs that could indicate whether an abortion clinic is real or not:
The clinic is listed online as a “pregnancy resource center” or “pregnancy help center.”
The clinic advertises free pregnancy tests, abortion counseling, and other services but does not help provide an abortion.
They advertise “abortion pill reversal,” which is not possible.
They say that abortion is not safe and can lead to cancer or infertility. Neither of these claims is true, according to Planned Parenthood. Serious complications such as heavy bleeding, damage to the womb and sepsis happen to about 1 in 1,000 women, according to the National Health Service.
They say abortion is illegal — which is also not true so long as Roe v. Wade remains in force.
The clinic says negative things about abortion, sex and contraception.
The clinic does not provide birth control methods such as condoms, pills or intrauterine devices, known as IUDs.
Workers at the clinic try to pressure you into continuing the pregnancy and sometimes offer items like baby clothes.
Religion is brought into the conversation surrounding abortion.
Workers at the clinic say judgmental things about sex before marriage and the LGBTQ+ community.
How to report a fake clinic online
If you suspect a clinic is providing misleading information and advertising itself as an actual abortion clinic, you can report it to Google. On Google Maps, click the business you are concerned about and select “close or remove.” A list of options will be presented, including “offensive, harmful, or misleading,” which will allow you to add helpful photos and information about why the business is misleading.
Businesses can also be reported to the Washington attorney general’s office for deceptive business practices in trade and commerce. Complaints can be issued through the attorney general’s website, atg.wa.gov.
