Savannah Craven Antao, a 23-year-old pro-life activist punched in the face during an April 2025 street interview in Harlem, filed a civil lawsuit against her attacker on November 21, 2025, after the Manhattan District Attorney’s office let the criminal case against the woman collapse. The suit, Antao v. Rivers, was filed in Bronx Supreme Court by the Thomas More Society and seeks compensatory and punitive damages for assault, battery, intentional infliction of emotional distress, menacing, harassment, and hate-motivated conduct based on Craven Antao’s pro-life and Christian beliefs.1Thomas More Society. Thomas More Society Files Civil Lawsuit After Manhattan DA Fails to Prosecute Violent Attack on Pro-Lifer2WBZ NewsRadio. Conservative Influencer Sues Woman Who Punched Her in Face During Interview
What Happened in Harlem
On April 3, 2025, Craven Antao was conducting filmed street interviews about abortion in Harlem on behalf of Live Action. She was approached by 30-year-old Brianna J. Rivers, and the two spoke for roughly six minutes about abortion, Planned Parenthood, foster care, and adoption. The conversation grew heated. On video, Craven Antao said, “I’m not the one who admitted they would be OK with killing babies in foster care and killing children that have been abused.” Rivers replied, “That’s not the point,” and then punched Craven Antao in the face twice.3National Review. Pro-Life Activist Assaulted in New York City During Street Interview on Abortion The New York Post reported that the punches came after Craven Antao pulled the microphone away while Rivers was still speaking.4New York Post. Pro-Life Activist Recalls Moment She Was Punched During Harlem Interview
Craven Antao sustained a facial laceration that required emergency room treatment and stitches, generating more than $3,000 in medical bills.5Thomas More Society. Antao v. Rivers She has said she suffers symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder as a result.2WBZ NewsRadio. Conservative Influencer Sues Woman Who Punched Her in Face During Interview Video of the attack was posted online on April 4 and went viral. Police arrested Rivers on April 10, 2025, and charged her with one count of second-degree assault, a felony.6National Review. NYC Woman Arrested for Punching Pro-Life Activist in the Face During Street Interview
Rivers apologized for the physical altercation on Facebook but defended her actions, calling Craven Antao “a professional antagonist, not a ‘reporter.'”7National Review. Manhattan DA Declines to Prosecute NYC Woman Who Punched Pro-Life Activist During Street Interview
How the Criminal Case Fell Apart
The Manhattan DA’s office under Alvin Bragg first downgraded the felony assault charge to a misdemeanor. In July 2025, a court dismissed the case entirely after prosecutors failed to turn over evidence to the defense within the required deadline. A spokesperson for the office called it an “unacceptable error” and attributed the missed deadline to the case being transferred to a different prosecutor.8New York Post. Manhattan DA Quietly Drops Case Against NYC Woman Who Sucker-Punched Pro-Life Activist9The Christian Post. Alvin Bragg Drops Charges Against Woman Who Punched Pro-Lifer
Craven Antao said she learned of the dismissal through Rivers’s social media rather than from prosecutors. The Thomas More Society urged the office to refile felony or hate crime charges, writing that Rivers had “made disparaging remarks about Ms. Craven Antao’s Christian beliefs and practices before brutally assaulting her.”10Catholic World Report. Pro-Life Influencer’s Assault Case Dropped; Thomas More Society Fights for Justice On October 6, 2025, the DA’s office apologized for its error. Two days later, on October 8, it formally rejected the request to refile.5Thomas More Society. Antao v. Rivers
Christopher Ferrara, senior counsel at the Thomas More Society, called the decision a “blatant example of selective prosecution” and said the office had ignored communications from the victim’s legal team throughout the proceedings.7National Review. Manhattan DA Declines to Prosecute NYC Woman Who Punched Pro-Life Activist During Street Interview
What the Civil Lawsuit Claims
With no criminal case to pursue, the Thomas More Society filed Antao v. Rivers in Bronx Supreme Court on November 21, 2025. The complaint brings claims for assault, battery, intentional infliction of emotional distress, menacing, harassment, and hate-motivated conduct tied to Craven Antao’s pro-life and Christian beliefs. It seeks both compensatory and punitive damages.1Thomas More Society. Thomas More Society Files Civil Lawsuit After Manhattan DA Fails to Prosecute Violent Attack on Pro-Lifer
Craven Antao told the New York Post she wanted her medical bills covered and hoped the lawsuit would “send a message” to deter similar attacks. She said Bragg’s decision to let the criminal case collapse signaled to people that “they can go assault somebody and hurt them if they disagree with them and nothing is going to happen.”11New York Post. Pro-Life Influencer Attacked in NYC Files Lawsuit After DA Alvin Bragg Drops Case Ferrara described the case as a “lesson to those who think they can respond to pro-life speech with violence.”7National Review. Manhattan DA Declines to Prosecute NYC Woman Who Punched Pro-Life Activist During Street Interview
Where the Case Stands
As of the most recent available information, the civil lawsuit remains pending, and no trial date has been set.5Thomas More Society. Antao v. Rivers