Not Again: Pro-Life Sidewalk Counselor Violently Assaulted Outside Planned Parenthood – ACLJ Representing Denver Client

A far Left zealot has once again resorted to violence to try to silence the speech of an elderly pro-life Christian.

Mr. Powell and a small group of fellow pro-life citizens were doing what they have done countless times before: peacefully offering hope, compassion, and life-affirming alternatives to people entering the abortion clinic. Mr. Powell paid a price for that mission when he was assaulted.

It’s yet another sad example of the radical Left resorting to violence to silence a message of hope. The ACLJ is once again stepping up to defend a peaceful pro-life advocate. Our client, Clifton Powell, a longtime sidewalk counselor in Denver, Colorado, was violently assaulted while standing on the public sidewalk outside a Planned Parenthood facility on July 30. Instead of being free to exercise their First Amendment rights, Powell and other pro-lifers were targeted, harassed, and brutally attacked simply because of their pro-life message.

Take action with us and add your name to our petition: Protect Pro-Lifers From Abortion Zealots.

The Assault

The attack began when a man leaving Planned Parenthood pulled his car directly alongside the group of pro-life volunteers. He rolled down his window, blared music at them, and began shouting obscenities, demanding that they “leave right now.”

The confrontation escalated when the man got out of his car and demanded literature from one of the women in the group. After receiving a packet of information, he angrily hurled it into the street. As the pro-life volunteer retreated, Mr. Powell attempted to calm the situation.

That’s when the assailant turned on him. The man ripped the pro-life sign out of Mr. Powell’s hands and shoved him forcefully to the ground. Still yelling at the entire group, the man stomped back to his car and sped away.

Injuries and Medical Treatment

At first, Mr. Powell thought he had escaped serious injury. But as the adrenaline wore off, he realized he was in significant pain from the force of being knocked to the ground. He was taken to the emergency room, where doctors determined he had not suffered any fractures but had sustained a large, painful contusion on his hip and side.

This was not a harmless shove – it was a violent assault that sent a peaceful man to the emergency room.

Police Involvement

During the incident, the pro-life group was able to record the license plate number of the attacker’s vehicle and called 911. Thanks to the pro-lifers’ quick action, the Denver police identified the suspect.

Mr. Powell was later called to the police station, where he positively identified his attacker from a photo lineup. Law enforcement has since issued a warrant for the man’s arrest.

The Bigger Picture

Every member of the pro-life group that day was engaging in peaceful speech – standing on a public sidewalk, offering words of hope, and distributing literature. Yet the attacker believed violence was justified simply because he disagreed with their message.

This is the same dangerous mindset that sparked the brutal assault of two elderly pro-lifers in Baltimore, fueled attacks on Pregnancy Resource Centers nationwide, and ultimately inspired the assassination of Charlie Kirk, who simply shared the truth through civil discourse.

When speech is branded as dangerous, when peaceful citizens are portrayed as threats simply for defending life, it becomes easier for opponents to justify silencing them by any means.

The ACLJ’s Response

The ACLJ is representing Mr. Powell to ensure that this assault does not go unpunished and that his rights are fully defended. We are actively engaged in the legal process and will pursue every avenue to hold the perpetrator accountable.

This case underscores why the ACLJ exists. We are committed to defending life and liberty – and those who advocate for both – in the courts, in legislatures, and in the public square. But we cannot do it without your support. We ask you to stand with the ACLJ as we fight to ensure that pro-life voices will never be bullied off the sidewalk and violently assaulted into silence.

Take action with us and add your name to the petition: Protect Pro-Lifers From Abortion Zealots.