The 2024 Democratic presidential primary just got a whole lot more interesting. Terrisa Bukovinac, an activist who doesn’t neatly fit into any single political box, has thrown her hat into the ring. A founder of the Progressive Anti-Abortion Uprising (PAAU), Bukovinac identifies as progressive, atheist, and most surprisingly to many, pro-life.
Bukovinac isn’t in the race to win. She’s aiming to be a “much-needed voice of reason” on abortion within the Democratic Party. How does she plan to get her message across? Through the uncensored airwaves, thanks to Federal Communications Commission (FCC) rules.
“Any FCC TV station must run the ads of any federal candidate uncensored, and through these ads, I will expose the human rights atrocities committed in abortion businesses across the country,” she said.
This approach isn’t a gimmick. Bukovinac previously made headlines for exposing the remains of 115 first-trimester babies outside the Washington Surgi-Clinic, a facility led by late-term abortionist Cesare Santangelo. While she and her colleagues faced legal scrutiny, Santangelo went uninvestigated, an all-too-familiar situation for pro-life activists.
Breaking!! Rep. Chip Roy has introduced legislation to REPEAL THE FACE ACT with the support of 24 co-signors. This is the beginning of the end of our government’s tyranny over peaceful pro-life activists. Call you congresspeople today and demand that they join this effort.
— Terrisa Bukovinac (@Terrisalin) September 19, 2023
Regarding legal battles, Bukovinac is no stranger to the inequity of laws like the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances (FACE) Act. Since its inception in 1994, 126 pro-lifers have been indicted under FACE, contrasting to the mere three pro-abortion activists facing the same. Bukovinac is the only major party candidate calling for the repeal of this act.
Bukovinac advocates for a federal abortion ban, complete defunding of Planned Parenthood, free birth and the pardon of pro-life activists convicted under FACE Act violations. While the otherwise progressive parts of her agenda won’t resonate entirely with conservative voters, her strong stance against abortion will bring a much-needed contrasting voice to the Democratic Party’s clamor for unlimited abortion access.
Intriguingly, Bukovinac’s entrance into the presidential race serves as a mirror, reflecting the broader ideological divisions within the Democratic Party. Her candidacy exposes the suppression of pro-life voices within Democratic circles. She stated, “It is time for Democrats to put a pro-life agenda back into their platform.” Indeed, one-third of Democratic voters consider themselves to be pro-life, a statistic that’s usually buried under the rug. Her platform amplifies their voices, which have long been “neglected and ignored by the Democratic Party.”
One of her most significant targets is the “toxic relationship” between the Democratic establishment and the abortion industry. “I will not stop until those children, and the countless children like them, have justice,” Bukovinac avowed.
Her candidacy reveals a crucial reality that conservative media outlets have long argued: the abortion issue isn’t confined to one side of the political spectrum. While Terrisa Bukovinac might be an anomaly within her party, her voice represents many Americans who stand firmly for life.
