Amendment G supporter Amanda Thronson, above, says a Halloween visitor invaded her home, terrorized daughter

As dusk settled in on Halloween, Amanda Thronson was, like millions of parents, getting ready for a night of imaginary frights.

But today’s angry political climate spilled over like a witch’s cauldron, giving Thronson, her 12-year-old daughter and several other kids a real scare.

Thronson said she was getting her daughter ready to venture out in their Pierre neighborhood with about six friends. At the same time, kids in costume were stopping by in search of treats.

Then, a bizarre trick was played.

“This woman came into my home,” Thronson told The South Dakota Standard. “And this woman was screaming at my 12-year-old daughter and her friends and waving a pamphlet about Amendment G.”

Thronson described the uninvited visitor in a Facebook post (italicized here):

“Tonight a woman with the No on G campaign entered my home and yelled at my 12-year-old daughter and her friends because we have a Yes on G sign in our yard. My daughter and her friends were dressed in their Halloween costumes waiting to go trick-or-treating. My daughter opened the door because she thought it was a trick-or-treater and was going to hand out candy.

“This woman came into my home and terrorized my child and her friends. I was in a different room, but when I heard the yelling, I ran to my daughter. This woman saw me (and) she bolted from my house. I chased after her to make sure she left my property.

“Words were exchanged. And then I called 911. A police report has been filed. She has been identified and charges will be submitted to the state’s attorney. This behavior is unacceptable.”

Thronson, 47, said she has lived in Pierre for 10 years and is a lifelong South Dakotan. She knows many people care passionately about their political beliefs. But this was a new and very unpleasant experience.

“The No on G campaign is so desperate that they will violate the law and terrorize children. What was her goal?” she posted. “My child can’t vote. Did she choose tonight because she knew people would be answering their doors? How pro-child of this campaign to enter homes and terrorize children. 

“This is America. I have the right to have my Yes on G sign. Others have the right to their No on G sign. Where the line is drawn is what happened tonight. It is un-American, and illegal, to trespass into a person’s home and terrorize them just because you disagree with their beliefs.”

Thronson said she is “appalled” and “livid” over this home invasion.

“I will not stand for this behavior,” she wrote. “Shame on that woman and the No on G campaign for what they did to my daughter and her friends tonight. Shame on them.”

Thronson said she believes the woman should be held responsible for her actions.

“Yes, I want her criminally charged with simple assault of a child, because that’s what she did,” she told The Standard. “Politics aside, she assaulted my daughter.”

Thronson said her daughter has held up well, displaying “more maturity than that woman had. I am so proud of her.”

Still, it was an unimaginable experience. Thronson said explaining it to the parents of the other children was “awkward.” But friends have been very supportive and local authorities have been wonderful, she said.

“Law enforcement has been very supportive and they are doing extra patrols around my house,” Thronson said.

She also wonders if the woman or others like her will return. Is her family safe in their homes as the political fever hits its highest point right before the election?

“Everybody has the right in America to put signs in their yard. And no one has the right to come into my foyer and yell at a child. I’ve done some campaigning. I’ve never seen anything like this before. It just seems like a very desperate tactic.

“This is beyond the pale and should not be happening,” she said. “My kid needs to be a kid in her yard and in her neighborhood.”

Thronson is a strong supporter of the proposed constitutional Amendment G. It would restore abortion rights taken from South Dakota women and girls after the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in June 2022.

She has a very personal reason to back this ballot measure.

Her first child was born premature after an ultrasound revealed her water had broken. Every possible effort was made to save her child and ensure she survived.

“He was a very, very wanted child,” Thronson said.

But despite the best possible medical care, the infant was not able to survive. Thronson said it was a very painful — and personal — experience.

My lawmaker was not in the room with me. My boss was not in the room with me,” she said. “And that’s how it should be.”

Thronson had two other children. She wants all pregnant women and girls to have access to the best care available, and believes Amendment G will provide for that.

And that’s why she has a pro-Amendment G sign in her yard. It’s going to stay there, too.

Fourth-generation South Dakotan Tom Lawrence has written for several newspapers and websites in South Dakota and other states for four decades. He has contributed to The New York Times, NPR, The London Telegraph, The Daily Beast and other media outlets. Do not republish without permission.