Jason Storms and Operation Save America, a group of anti-abortion crusaders, have been traveling around the country advocating for the criminalization of all abortions without exceptions. Storms believes that abortion is intentional killing and defines it as murder. The group has been successful in gaining support due to Storms’ charismatic personality and the rise of far-right lawmakers in red districts who are willing to entertain extreme anti-abortion bills that have historically been rejected by the mainstream pro-life movement. Storms and his group leverage social media and actively lobby state legislators, pushing for laws that could lead to women being investigated and prosecuted for having an abortion.
The group, which is a rebranded version of Operation Rescue, differs from many of its predecessors in its aggressive and confrontational tactics. Operation Save America members confront students outside of schools, protest outside abortion clinics, and hold events at local churches. They have advocated for the passage of “abortion abolition” bills in various states, prompting backlash from both sides of the political aisle and mainstream anti-abortion groups. Despite the push for extreme anti-abortion laws, Republican lawmakers have struggled to navigate the issue of abortion since the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in 2022, with some distancing themselves from total bans for fear of alienating constituents.
Operation Save America is known for its extreme views on abortion, as well as its opposition to homosexuality, vaccines, IVF, and Islam. The group also promotes the use of high-powered weaponry and distrusts the federal government. Storms positions himself as a staunch advocate for the unborn, believing that the threat of prosecution is necessary to deter women from seeking abortions, even going so far as to suggest that women should face the death penalty for having an abortion. Storms has met with Republican lawmakers to push for strict anti-abortion laws, garnering support from some while others express a more compassionate stance towards women who have abortions.
While Storms insists that his group does not condone violence, their presence outside of abortion clinics has a chilling effect on patients and staff. The group’s aggressive tactics have led to tense run-ins with abortion rights advocates, who have mobilized to provide support and protection to patients seeking abortions. In recent years, some members of Operation Save America have been convicted of violating the FACE Act, which prohibits obstructing patients’ access to clinics. Despite the legal challenges and backlash, Storms remains committed to his cause, saying he has “zero regrets” about his work to end abortion and criminalize the choice to terminate a pregnancy.
