A conservative pro-life activist and influencer who went viral earlier this year after being allegedly punched during a street interview in New York City has filed a civil lawsuit against her alleged attacker.
Savannah Craven Antao, a host of the YouTube channel Her Patriot Voice and a contributor with the pro-life group Live Action, says she was conducting interviews in Manhattan on April 3 when she was allegedly assaulted by Brianna J. Rivers, 30, of the Bronx.
The lawsuit, filed in Bronx Supreme Court on November 18, claims Rivers struck Craven Antao repeatedly, leaving her with injuries that required emergency medical treatment and stitches. Her legal team, from the Thomas More Society, says she has more than $3,000 in medical expenses and continues to experience emotional trauma.
According to the complaint, Craven Antao’s attorneys also allege that Rivers mocked the incident online, made fun of Craven Antao’s Christian beliefs, and even promoted merchandise referencing the alleged assault. One social media post cited in the filing showed a t-shirt with the word “BAM!” and an image of a fist hitting a face, which the lawsuit claims Rivers and a relative designed to help raise money for her legal defense.
The complaint accuses Rivers of assault, battery, and intentional infliction of emotional distress. Craven Antao’s legal team says she has suffered symptoms consistent with post-traumatic stress disorder and has received hundreds of death threats since the incident occurred.
Rivers was originally arrested and charged with second-degree assault following the altercation. But in July, the case was dismissed after the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office, led by Alvin Bragg, missed a court-ordered discovery deadline. Prosecutors had already reduced the charge to a misdemeanor before the dismissal.
In an interview with Fox News Digital, Craven Antao criticized Bragg’s office for failing to pursue the case. “What the DA Alvin Bragg himself has shown to people, with letting this case be dropped, is that they can go assault somebody and hurt them if they disagree with them and nothing is going to happen,” she said.
BREAKING – DA Alvin Bragg’s office has dismissed charges against Brianna J. Rivers, who assaulted pro-life advocate Savannah Craven Antao on camera in April, allowing the felony to be downgraded to a misdemeanor and then dropped entirely. pic.twitter.com/pSbmVzPZSC
— Right Angle News Network (@Rightanglenews) September 25, 2025
The DA’s office later acknowledged the error and issued a statement in September. “Every victim deserves their day in court, and our office has reached out to apologize to Ms. Craven Antao for the unacceptable error of missing the discovery deadline,” a spokesperson said. “We are taking immediate internal steps in light of this case.”
Craven Antao said she filed the civil lawsuit not only to cover the cost of her medical bills but to send a message that such incidents shouldn’t be tolerated. “I should not be responsible for those,” she said of the expenses. “Second, it’s to send a message—hopefully to show her that she can’t do this again.”
Attorney Christopher Ferrara with the Thomas More Society said the district attorney’s handling of the case left the legal team with no choice but to pursue civil action. “Savannah was violently assaulted for peacefully expressing her pro-life beliefs and then humiliated all over again when the attacker went online to glorify it,” Ferrara said in a statement.
In her comments to Fox News Digital, Craven Antao also expressed concern for her safety and the safety of other conservative public figures. She cited the recent killing of Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk as a sign of rising threats.
NEW: Pro-life advocate Savannah Craven Antao says charges against the woman who brutally assaulted her on camera have been dismissed by DA Alvin Bragg’s office.
Craven Antao was assaulted back in April while conducting a street interview in NYC.
“Brianna J. Rivers was arrested… pic.twitter.com/BhgDJnwUzl
— Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) September 25, 2025
“If they could do it to somebody like him, who has the resources to have the security and the checks and all the people surrounding him, what does this say for just average journalists … who don’t have the means to hire a whole security team and be armed?” she said.
Rivers previously responded to the incident in an April Facebook post, writing, “I understand hands being put on someone is never the answer, but throwing rocks and hiding hands is worse. Savannah is a professional antagonist, not a ‘reporter,’ and the truth will be told.”
This is such a joke.
NYC’s justice system strikes again! Pro-life activist Savannah Craven Antao was brutally attacked on camera, but Manhattan DA Alvin Bragg dropped the case due to an “error.” Shocking?@catturd2 pic.twitter.com/R10Jkd8AI4
— Al Tesauro (@AlTesauro1776) September 30, 2025
As of now, Rivers and the Manhattan DA’s office have not responded to media inquiries regarding the lawsuit.
The case is expected to move forward in civil court, with Craven Antao and her attorneys seeking both compensatory and punitive damages.
