Colorado abortion clinics reported trespassing, vandalism, threats over last 2 years

Megan Ulu-Lani Boyanton, The Denver Post on May 22, 2025

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DENVER — Colorado abortion clinics dealt with trespassing, vandalism, threats of harm and more in 2023 and 2024, in spite of the state’s liberal access to reproductive care, according to a new report.

The latest data by the National Abortion Federation, the professional association of abortion providers, found that 65% of providers in Colorado reported trespassing at clinics in 2023 and 2024 — one of the highest percentages in the nation. More than half of the state’s providers, or 53%, reported anti-abortion protesters over that same time frame.

Additionally, 24% of providers in Colorado reported incidents of obstruction over those two years, and 18% experienced threats.

Nationwide, the organization tracked 128,570 protesters, close to 800 incidents of obstruction, around 650 counts of trespassing, about 300 threats of harm and three incidents of arson at clinics in 2023 and 2024.

“Reports like these really emphasize why states like Colorado must take action on their own to ensure patients and providers are protected now that federal protection is not guaranteed,” said Karen Middleton, the president of reproductive rights organization Cobalt Advocates.

After the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe vs. Wade in 2022, Coloradans took steps to protect the right to abortion services statewide. Abortion is currently permitted at any stage of pregnancy in Colorado. During November’s election, the majority of voters — 61% — opted to enshrine access to abortion in the state’s constitution.

Since then, Gov. Jared Polis has signed several bills tied to abortion rights: one that will permit the use of public funding to cover the procedure, a second that will provide more protection for doctors and patients from out-of-state interference, and a third that makes sure patients can get abortions or miscarriage care during emergencies.

However, other states have moved to restrict abortion access, with a dozen currently enforcing total abortion bans, according to the Guttmacher Institute, a reproductive health research and policy organization.

The National Abortion Federation reports that more than 60 abortion facilities shuttered in 2023 and at least 11 closed the following year. In Colorado, the Boulder Abortion Clinic closed last month when its director, Dr. Warren Hern, retired.

The National Abortion Federation said the Midwest and the South are regions that have been especially impacted by closures.

“Many of the clinics that closed were located in hostile areas and reported high numbers of incidents, which also affects our overall numbers,” the association reports.

The National Abortion Federation used incident reports submitted by clinics that offer abortion services to put together its findings. But the association notes that the data doesn’t provide a full picture because some clinics don’t belong to the organization or don’t submit reports.

“As a result, the actual number of incidents is likely significantly higher than what is reflected here,” according to the National Abortion Federation.

In Colorado, 17 providers contributed information. The association doesn’t publicly list its members, but Colorado Newsline estimated that there were around 20 abortion providers statewide in 2022. That’s a stark drop from the number in 2011, with a total of 42 abortion providers, according to the Guttmacher Institute.

The National Abortion Federation has kept records of incidents since 1977. It did not record any murders, attempted murders, bombings, or kidnappings at abortion clinics in 2023 or 2024.

Comparatively, 11 murders, 26 attempted murders, 42 bombings and four kidnappings have taken place since the association first began collecting data.

Dr. Catherine Wheeler, the president of the American Association of Pro-Life OBGYNs‘ Colorado chapter, said some pro-life organizations have also faced problems like violence and arson since the Dobbs vs. Jackson Women’s Health Organization decision by the Supreme Court, which overturned Roe vs. Wade.

“AAPLOG Colorado does not endorse ideologically driven violence from any side of the abortion debate, including the extensive violence against Pregnancy Resource Centers and prolife organizations since Dobbs, such as, in Colorado, the arson attack on Life Choices in Longmont, and vandalization at Heart to Heart Pregnancy Center in Cortez,” Wheeler said.

She defended some of the people characterized as protesters outside abortion clinics.

“Most people on the sidewalk outside abortion facilities are peaceful, law-abiding sidewalk advocates who authentically desire to provide alternatives, and important information and resources that women may not receive in the abortion facility,” Wheeler said. “In their compassion for women, most of these advocates are simply there to offer help and hope.”

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