DANVILLE, Illinois – A man has been sentenced to five years in prison for an attempted arson attack on an abortion clinic in Illinois. The incident delayed the clinic’s opening by at least a year.
The convicted man, Philip Buyno, drove his car through and attempted to set fire to the site of Affirmative Care Solutions (ACS), an abortion clinic planning to open in Danville, Illinois. U.S. District Court Judge Colin S. Bruce also ordered Buyno to pay $327,547 in restitution. ACS owner and director, LaDonna Prince, had purchased the Illinois property to open a new comprehensive reproductive healthcare facility in an abortion-access state following the Dobbs decision.
Buyno’s violent attack caused extensive damage to the clinic site, destroying the main entrance, damaging the rear wall, and harming the foundation. He also expressed intent to destroy the clinic and threatened to “finish the job” if released from jail. Buyno identified himself as a member of a “rescue group” and claimed to have associations with individuals who support violence against abortion providers.
After his sentencing, Prince affirmed that the attack was intentionally timed to prevent the clinic from opening its doors and providing abortion care to those in need. The delay in the clinic’s opening has affected the women and community it aims to serve in Indiana, Eastern Illinois, and other states.
Despite the setback, Prince emphasized that ACS remains committed to its mission of providing abortion care to those who need it, particularly women of color and patients from under-resourced communities. U.S. Attorney for the Central District of Illinois Gregory K. Harris condemned the attempt to prevent women in the community from accessing important reproductive health services.
To support ongoing repairs to Affirmative Care Solutions, which is one of the few abortion clinics owned and operated by a Black woman in the U.S., an online fundraiser has been established.
As the clinic works towards recovery, the incident underscores the ongoing challenges faced by abortion providers and the importance of ensuring access to reproductive healthcare services for all individuals.