Our Staff

Terrisa is an atheist, leftist, and the Founder of Progressive Anti-Abortion Uprising (PAAU). She formerly founded Pro-Life San Francisco and is the former President of Democrats for Life of America. Terrisa also serves as Vice President of Secular Pro-Life, and on the Board of Directors for Let them Live and Rehumanize International. Terrisa graduated at the top of her class from Specs Howard School of Broadcast Arts and has over 15 years experience in business and team management with several fortune 500 companies. She has been arrested multiple times and spent time in jail for leading peaceful civil disobedience actions in and around abortion businesses. Terrisa has also participated in direct actions for various social justice movements from animal rights to death penalty abolition. Her efforts have been featured in every major media outlet including the New York Times, Washington Post, NBC, NPR, BBC, ABC, CBS, Fox News, Rolling Stone and the Christian Post. She resides in Dupont Circle, Washington DC, with her two cats.
You can find Terrisa on social media @terrisalin

Caroline Taylor Smith is a progressive pro-life advocate, and the Executive Director for Progressive Anti-Abortion Uprising (PAAU). Caroline has worked for Protect Life Michigan, the University of Notre Dame, and volunteers with Democrats for Life of Michigan. She holds degrees in both Strategic Communication and French from Calvin University and has lived in both France and England. Caroline has championed the use of abortion victim imagery in the contemporary pro-life movement and has been arrested for peacefully and nonviolently defending the unborn through direct action, as well as featured in POLITICO, Christian New Agency, Washington Post, The Pillar, and more. She has traveled to more than 20 countries and resides in Washington, D.C. with her cat, Chica.
You can find Caroline on social media @CarolineTayLife.
Join Caroline’s team of supporters: LINK

Lauren is a queer Catholic, anarcho-mutualist, prison abolitionist, and is the Director of Activism for the Progressive Anti-Abortion Uprising. In 2017, she founded Mercy Missions, a mutual aid organization dedicated to helping families and moms in crisis pregnancies and providing survival aid for houseless people. She has a long history of working with various activist organizations across the country and has served as a leader in the Red Rose Rescue movement since its inception. Her anti-abortion work has taken her to over 100 abortion businesses across 32 states and she has helped over 800 families choose life through her LGBTQ+ inclusive sidewalk advocacy efforts. Through her nonviolent direct action efforts across multiple human rights movements, Lauren has been arrested more than 30 times and served time in jail, living out her convictions for serving pregnant people behind bars. Her passions also include housing justice, harm reduction outreach, and studying Reproductive Justice scholars. Her work has been covered in every major media outlet including the New York Times, Washington Post, The Cut, ABC, CBS, NBC, PBS, Fox News, Epoch Times, VICE News, Rolling Stone and World Magazine. She lives in Washington D.C. where she is on a mission to pet every cat in the city.
You can find Lauren on social media @repreaux
Join Lauren’s team of supporters: LINK

Avie is a Consistent Life Leftist, Pro-Life Apologist, and the Content Manager for the Progressive Anti-Abortion Uprising (PAAU) and the President of Democrats For Life of Indiana. Avie has worked in a number of human rights movements including abortion, the death penalty, and gun control. She is currently attending university to pursue degrees in Law and Philosophy. Avie has been featured in a number of publications including Business Insider, Catholic News Agency, The College Fix, and the Indy Star. Avie lives in Indiana with her family and her dog, Mochi
You can find Avie on social media as @avieraee.life

Melanie is a Catholic, proud Chicana from San Antonio Texas, vegetarian, feminist, roller skater, fertility awareness advocate, and new wife. She earned her bachelors in Communication with double minors in Spanish and Civic Engagement from the University of Texas at San Antonio Honors College. Melanie began pro-life advocacy by refounding and leading her university pro-life group. While in college, she studied abroad in Germany, served the houseless community at a Catholic Worker House, worked at a maternity home as a translator for immigrant teen moms, interned for a foster care youth success program, moved to DC to advocate for the confirmation of Justice Barrett, and door knocked, testified, and lobbied in favor of pro-life first policies and politicians. She has previously worked for Students for Life of America, Students for Life Action, and as a sidewalk activist with the San Antonio Coalition For Life. Melanie has also been trained in pro-life apologetics through Justice For All. Her work led her into the international pro-life fight where she co-founded and remains on the board of Pro-Life Global. Melanie has trained students and leaders in Australia, Uganda, Guatemala, Jamaica, Colombia, and Bolivia. She has been featured in BBC, Vice, New York Times, and ABC Nightline. She resides in Austin Texas with her husband Jerry and two dogs Manolo and Munckin.
You can find Melanie on social media as @melaniesalazara