LOUISVILLE, Ky. — LOUISVILLE, Ky. - A Kentucky grand jury has declined to indict a Louisville woman accused of attacking an 82-year-old anti-abortion protester while leaving a woman's clinic.
Court records show a grand jury decided against an assault charge on Thursday for 32-year-old Janaya Alyce Gregory, who allegedly knocked Donna Durning down outside Kentucky's only abortion clinic in April. The longtime anti-abortion activist was hospitalized with a broken femur and cut to her head, requiring surgery and physical rehabilitation.
The Courier-Journal reports that Durning said she was offering Gregory a card for a crisis pregnancy center when Gregory "charged" at her, bumping her to the ground. Crisis pregnancy centers generally try to persuade women against having abortions.
Gregory was facing a second-degree assault until a grand jury in Jefferson County district court turned down an indictment.
In celebration of the decision, Black Lives Matter Louisville posted a statement on Facebook condemning Durning and other abortion protesters.
It reads, "Women like Donna Durning think that it's adequate to perform violence outside of abortion clinics. They believe that folks seeking services for their reproductive health are disposable and warranted the violence that they perform because of their, protesters, religious views in the name of Christianity."
It also asks for support for a legal defense fund for Jenaya.
"Ms. Gregory would like to thank the Grand Jury for their service and the Commonwealth Attorney office for a careful review of the case. The Grand Jury had the courage to review the evidence and make a decision based on objective facts and the law, not emotion. Ms. Gregory is relieved to have this situation behind her and is looking forward to focusing on her family" J.P. Ward, attorney for Jenaya, says.
WHAS11 reached out to Durning Friday who said she is not at liberty to talk about the case right now.
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