Pro-lifer sues woman who assaulted her during street interview

Catholic Vote ^ | November 24, 2025 | Hannah Hiester

[Morgana]

A pro-life advocate has sued a woman who physically and verbally assaulted her while she was having conversations about abortion on the streets of New York City. The lawsuit comes after Manhattan’s district attorney failed to prosecute the attacker.

According to the complaint, Savannah Craven Antao was discussing pro-life issues with passersby and recording interviews with them in Harlem April 3 when Brianna Rivers approached her and held a conversation for about 20 minutes. The complaint alleges that when Antao brought up a point that Rivers had made earlier in their conversation, Rivers suddenly punched Antao in the face twice— once with her hand, and once with her cell phone — causing a laceration that required stitches.

>> Pro-life journalist assaulted in New York while conducting man-on-the-street interviews <<

The complaint states that Antao now suffers from PTSD. Antao has reportedly received hundreds of death threats, and “she now lives with the ongoing fear that the same thing could happen to her as happened to Kirk,” according to the complaint.

Rivers was arrested and charged with felony assault, but Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg’s office changed the charge to a misdemeanor. According to the Thomas More Society, the legal nonprofit representing Antao, the case was dismissed “due to prosecutorial neglect.” The complaint states that Bragg’s office refused to refile the charges or charge Rivers with a hate crime.

According to the complaint, Rivers has been mocking Antao online since the incident, creating posts in celebration of her actions and liking or replying to comments that praised her for punching Antao.

Thomas More Society stated in a news release that Bragg’s office “had every opportunity to pursue justice” and prosecute Rivers and its refusal to do so has left Thomas More Society and Antao “with no choice but to file civil action to hold Rivers accountable.”

Antao stated in the release, “I was attacked in broad daylight while standing up for my pro-life beliefs, and the person who did it has been celebrating it online ever since. Alvin Bragg’s office completely failed to protect me and by refusing to prosecute her, they failed every New Yorker who deserves equal justice under the law.”

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TOPICS: Chit/Chat
KEYWORDS: abortion; antao; prolife

[MMusson]

“My body. My choice!”

“Not your DNA. Not your body.”

[Adder]

Good...I hope she wins a bundle. These militant jerks act with impunity because they are given immunity.

[Az Joe]

A NYC jury will never side with a pro-lifer.

[GranTorino]

I noticed she quit posting when the charges were dropped on her attacker.