A conservative pro-life activist who went viral earlier this year after being punched repeatedly during a street-interview segment in New York City has now filed a civil lawsuit against her alleged attacker.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Savannah Craven Antao \u2014 a pro-life advocate and host of the YouTube channel Her Patriot Voice<\/em> \u2014 says she was gathering on-camera interviews on April 3 for the pro-life organization Live Action when she was physically assaulted by Brianna J. Rivers, 30, of the Bronx. The incident, captured on video, spread widely across social media and conservative news outlets, sparking outrage among free-speech and pro-life advocates.<\/p>\n\n\n\n According to the complaint filed Nov. 18 in Bronx Supreme Court, Craven Antao required emergency medical treatment after the attack and received stitches, amassing more than $3,000 in medical expenses. Attorneys with the Thomas More Society allege Rivers has \u201cknowingly, willfully and maliciously continued to mock [Savannah] and her views online in order to further inflict emotional distress.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n The suit further states that Rivers mocked Craven Antao\u2019s Christian faith and even created merchandise celebrating the assault. One alleged online post displayed a T-shirt design reading \u201cBAM!\u201d with an image of a fist hitting a face \u2014 reportedly created by Rivers and a cousin to raise money for Rivers\u2019 legal defense.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Craven Antao\u2019s attorneys say their client has experienced symptoms consistent with post-traumatic stress disorder and has received hundreds of violent threats since the incident. The lawsuit seeks compensatory and punitive damages for assault, battery, and intentional infliction of emotional distress.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Rivers was initially charged with second-degree assault \u2014 a felony \u2014 but the case fell apart in July after Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg\u2019s office failed to turn over discovery materials by the legal deadline. The office then downgraded the charge to a misdemeanor before the entire case was dismissed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Bragg, a frequent target of criticism from conservatives for his handling of violent crime and his perceived leniency toward offenders, later acknowledged his office\u2019s failure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cEvery victim deserves their day in court, and our office has reached out to apologize to Ms. Craven Antao for the unacceptable error of missing the discovery deadline,\u201d a spokesperson wrote in September. \u201cWe are taking immediate internal steps in light of this case.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n But for Craven Antao, the damage was already done.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI have to look over my shoulder and worry about if somebody who supports her actions \u2026 is going to try to do something else,\u201d she told Fox News Digital. \u201cBecause 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.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Craven Antao said she ultimately filed the civil suit to hold Rivers accountable and to send a message about political violence: \u201cFirst, I\u2019d really appreciate my over $3,000 in medical bills to be paid off, because I should not be responsible for those. Second, it\u2019s to send a message \u2014 hopefully to show her that she can\u2019t do this again.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n She also connected her concerns to broader safety issues for conservative figures, referencing the recent killing of Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cIf they could do it to somebody like him, who has the resources to have the security and the checks and all the people surrounding him, what does this say for just average journalists \u2026 who don\u2019t have the means to hire a whole security team and be armed?\u201d she said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Craven Antao added that online threats and encouragement of Rivers\u2019 behavior have left her uncertain about what could happen next. \u201cWith all the threats online and the comments she \u2018likes,\u2019 encouraging her behavior, it makes me wonder if the wrong person is going to find me next time and something worse will happen.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Rivers previously issued a public apology on Facebook on April 5, though she also accused Craven Antao of provoking the incident.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI am sorry,\u201d Rivers wrote, \u201cbut cannot sit around and allow you to continue pushing this one-sided narrative. I understand hands being put on someone is never the answer, but throwing rocks and hiding hands is worse. Savannah is a professional antagonist, not a \u2018reporter,\u2019 and the truth will be told.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Thomas More Society attorney Christopher Ferrara sharply criticized Bragg\u2019s office, saying their inaction forced Craven Antao to pursue civil remedies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cSavannah was violently assaulted for peacefully expressing her pro-life beliefs and then humiliated all over again when the attacker went online to glorify it,\u201d Ferrara said. \u201cThe D.A.\u2019s office had every opportunity to pursue justice and, due to their incompetency or lack of will, failed to prosecute this vicious assault. Their refusal left us with no choice but to file civil action to hold Rivers accountable.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n For Craven Antao, the lawsuit is not just about compensation \u2014 it\u2019s about setting a precedent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cHonestly, I hope that she eventually finds God,\u201d Craven Antao said. \u201cThat\u2019s what I pray for, because it\u2019s obvious that she\u2019s got a lot of deep trauma rooted, and she takes it out on other people.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\nDetails of the Lawsuit<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Criticism of Manhattan DA Alvin Bragg<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Fears for Conservative Journalists and Activists<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Defense from Rivers<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Legal Team Responds<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n