Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg’s office has declined to pursue prosecution in a violent assault case involving a pro-life activist, despite video evidence showing the incident in full. Attorneys for Savannah Craven Antao, the victim, say the DA’s office not only dropped the case but has refused to refile felony charges despite legal grounds to do so.
The incident occurred in April when Craven Antao was conducting interviews in Harlem for Live Action. During the outreach, she was violently punched in the face by Brianna Rivers, who was later arrested and initially charged with second-degree assault, a felony. The blow left Antao bloodied and required stitches. The DA’s office later downgraded the charge to a misdemeanor and then dropped the case altogether after missing a critical filing deadline.
Attorneys with the Thomas More Society, representing Craven Antao, hand-delivered a letter to Bragg’s office urging a felony refiling, citing the law’s extended discovery deadlines in such cases. They also recommended charging the incident as a hate crime, given the assault targeted a peaceful pro-life advocate engaged in public discourse. The DA’s office responded on October 8, refusing to proceed further and offering only a vague explanation.
In a statement, senior counsel Christopher Ferrara called the DA’s response “unacceptable,” arguing the decision reveals a “disturbing double standard” in the justice system. He noted that Bragg’s office admitted to system failure yet chose not to correct it. Ferrara questioned whether the case would have been treated differently had the ideological roles been reversed.
Video footage confirmed Craven Antao was engaged in peaceful discussion before the assault. Her attacker, Rivers, was seen walking away and flipping off the camera. After her arrest, Rivers issued an apology while accusing Antao of selectively sharing footage and antagonizing her. She claimed Craven Antao was a “professional antagonist,” not a reporter.
The Thomas More Society, which has defended numerous pro-life advocates targeted by federal and state authorities, highlighted this case as further evidence of political bias in prosecutorial decisions. They emphasized their commitment to pursue justice through civil litigation and continue defending pro-life Americans from politically motivated violence.
