WASHINGTON -- Life Legal has filed a lawsuit on behalf of Michael Gribbin, a pro-life activist who was assaulted by a senior Google employee while "chalking" outside of a Planned Parenthood in Washington, DC in September. Gribbin was also holding a sign that read "Children are killed here."
Chalking on public sidewalks is a form of constitutionally-protected speech, yet the Google employee aggressively confronted Gribbin and ripped the chalk out of his hands. The perpetrator then threw the chalk on the ground, screamed obscenities at Gribbin, and tried to flee the scene on a bicycle. Gribbin demanded that the assailant stay in the area until the police arrived. At that point, the Google employee physically assaulted Gribbin, punching him in the head and face and throwing him to the ground, causing injuries.
When Gribbin tried to get up, the attacker threatened him, saying, "Do you want me to beat the [profanity] out of you again?"
Life Legal attorney John Garza alleges that the Google employee committed a battery against Gribbin that resulted in serious injuries and physical pain. Garza also argues that the assailant's actions constitute a hate crime, in that they were fueled by his prejudice against Michael's political and religious affiliations.
"We are appalled that an individual engaged in peaceful First Amendment activity would be subjected to such a hateful, violent assault," said Life Legal Defense Foundation Executive Director Alexandra Snyder. "Life Legal will pursue all legal measures to obtain justice for Michael Gribbin and to ensure that other pro-life advocates are protected from this kind of brutality."
Watch footage from the attack as Michael describes what transpired here:
https://dailycaller.com/2019/09/04/senior-google-employee-appears-to-have-assaulted-pro-life-activist-near-dc-planned-parenthood/
About Life Legal Defense Foundation
Life Legal Defense Foundation was established in 1989, and is a nonprofit organization composed of attorneys and other concerned citizens committed to giving helpless and innocent human beings of any age, and their advocates, a trained and committed voice in the courtrooms of our nation. For more information about the Life Legal Defense Foundation, visit www.lldf.org.
SOURCE Life Legal Defense Foundation
CONTACT: Alexandra Snyder, 202-717-7371,
