Conservative Activist Takes Legal Action After Violent Attack
A prominent conservative pro-life activist has launched civil proceedings against her alleged attacker months after Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg dismissed the criminal case. Savannah Craven Antao, a 23-year-old influencer and host of the YouTube channel Her Patriot Voice, was conducting street interviews in Harlem on April 3 when a discussion about Planned Parenthood turned violent.
The Violent Confrontation and Aftermath
During what began as a peaceful interview with a pro-abortion advocate, the situation rapidly escalated when Brianna J. Rivers, a 30-year-old Bronx resident, struck Antao twice in the face. The entire incident was captured on video, showing Rivers walking away immediately after the attack while Antao was left bloodied and injured.
Despite clear video evidence of the assault, Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg's office dropped the second-degree assault charges against Rivers in September. The DA's office cited their failure to meet discovery deadlines as the reason for dismissing the criminal case.
Civil Lawsuit Filed for Justice and Accountability
On Tuesday, Antao filed her civil case at the Bronx Supreme Court through her legal representatives at the Thomas More Society. Her attorneys revealed that she has accumulated over $3,000 in medical bills from emergency room treatment and stitches following the attack. Additionally, they stated she's exhibiting symptoms of PTSD and has received hundreds of death threats since the viral incident.
In her statement to Fox News, Antao outlined two primary reasons for pursuing civil action. "First, I'd really appreciate my over $3,000 in medical bills to be paid off because I should not be responsible for those," she explained. "Second, it's to send a message - hopefully to show her that she can't do this again."
The lawsuit alleges that Rivers not only mocked Antao's religious beliefs online following the attack but also attempted to profit from the incident by creating custom merchandise. According to court documents, one product featured a T-shirt printed with the word 'BAM!' and an image of a fist striking a face.
Broader Implications and Political Context
Antao expressed concern about the message sent by the DA's decision to drop the criminal case. "What the DA Alvin Bragg himself has shown to people, with letting this case be dropped, is that they can go assault somebody and hurt them if they disagree with them and nothing is going to happen," she told Fox News.
The Manhattan DA's office has faced criticism for its handling of cases under Bragg's leadership. Records show his office has reduced over 900 felonies to misdemeanors or lesser charges since he took office. In September, Bragg's office issued an apology for the "unacceptable error of missing the discovery deadline" in Antao's case.
Christopher Ferrara, attorney with the Thomas More Society, emphasized that the DA's handling of the case left them no alternative but to pursue civil action. "Savannah was violently assaulted for peacefully expressing her pro-life beliefs and then humiliated all over again when the attacker went online to glorify it," Ferrara stated.
Antao has linked her experience to wider safety concerns facing conservative figures, specifically referencing the September assassination attempt on Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk. The case continues to highlight ongoing tensions surrounding political discourse and violence in the United States.
