An unidentified assailant punched a 15-year-old pro-life student in the face Saturday as the student and a fellow pro-life demonstrator were peacefully holding pro-life signs and offering counseling.

The alleged assailant punched Purity Thomas, a high school fellow from Students for Life of America in Roanoke, Va., according to a press release received by The Daily Caller News Foundation.

Thomas was praying and speaking with women in front of a Planned Parenthood facility when a woman started threatening to beat and “f***” her up, according to Students for Life of America. The woman reportedly then stole a sign reading “All people are made in the image of God,” at which point the students started to record the incident.

The woman returned, tried to steal another sign, and subsequently punched Thomas in the face.

“It’s horrific that a minor expressing love for pregnant women was targeted for violence,” said Kristan Hawkins, president of Students for Life of America, in the press release. “But this is not an isolated incident. Across the country we are witnessing a rise in the number of incidents of vandalism and violence against peaceful pro-life speech.”

Indeed, California State University, Fresno students sued a university professor after he wiped away university-approved pro-life chalk messages on campus. In April, a Texas State University student punched and kicked down pro-life signs on the campus.

“Even the American Bar Association is demonizing pro-life speech, trying to block pro-life attorneys from taking a seat on the bench,” said Hawkins. “We pray that the assailant from today’s attack is brought to justice swiftly. But we also pray for the protection of those who volunteer their time to speak for the innocent, preborn infants and their mothers.”

Follow Rob Shimshock on Twitter

Connect with Rob Shimshock on Facebook

Send tips to [email protected].

Copyright 2017 The Daily Caller News Foundation