A video from 2013 has surfaced today showing pro-abortion Pennsylvania Democrat Brian Sims denouncing bullying. The video is ironic given the intense bullying and harassment he subjected pro-life women and teens to in two recent videos he posted of himself online.
In the video interview from 2013, Sims says:
“Every organization that has looked at the effects of bullying tells us that they last a lifetime and that they stay with you. Every single day we are trying to address the issues of violence in schools and what we know is so much of it is promulgated by bullying. And I think all too often we say that’s boys being boys and we say you know this is just mean girls and it’s just the way things are but it’s not. It’s discrimination. And nobody should be discriminated against.”
SIGN THE PETITION: Rep. Brian Sims Should Resign for Harassing Pro-Life Women
Ironically, Rep. Sims has made several statements about bullying, one just days after his harassment incident when he sponsored legislation to protect gays and lesbians from discrimination.
Michael Geer of the Pennsylvania Family Institute brought the video to LifeNews’ attention and condemned Sims’ hypocrisy in it from 2013 to his actions in recent days.
“Within days of Rep. Brian Sims berating and bullying a woman peacefully praying outside a Philadelphia abortion clinic, he took to the microphones at a Capitol press conference to call for sweeping legislation that would seriously threaten religious liberty and personal privacy – under the guise of fighting bullying and discrimination,” he said.
“Pennsylvanians need to see that some of the very same people that push for certain ‘anti-bullying’ legislation are the first to berate, bully and even criminally prosecute those who hold to different views and beliefs – on issues like the sanctity of life, a biblical view of marriage and religious freedom,” added Geer.
Over 25,000 people have signed a petition sponsored by LifeNews demanding that Pennsylvania state representative Brian Sims resign after he filmed himself twice bullying and harassing pro-life women and teenagers.
And while Sims has received wide-spread media attention and condemnation from Republicans across the country, his fellow Democrats have been silent. Most of the national mainstream media has been silent, too.
As far as LifeNews can tell, no Democratic leaders have condemned Sims’ behavior thus far. One group, the Temple University Democrats club, tweeted that it was “proud” of Sims. It later deleted the tweet, but several other tweets posted this week on its page support Sims with the hashtag #IstandWithSims.
Meanwhile, earlier this week, the Republican Party of Pennsylvania sent a letter to U.S. Attorney William McSwain, state Attorney General Josh Shapiro and Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner urging that Sims be investigated.
SIGN THE PETITION: Rep. Brian Sims Should Resign for Harassing Pro-Life Women
The pro-abortion Democrat politician has been condemned repeatedly since he posted a video of himself berating a pro-life sidewalk counselor last week in Philadelphia. A second video that he posted earlier in April showed him offering $100 for the identities of three pro-life teenage girls who were praying peacefully outside the abortion facility with their mother.
His requests suggest that Sims, a state representative, may have been trying to intimidate the 13- and 15-year-old girls through doxxing, a practice where a person’s name and contact information are posted publicly online usually to encourage harassment.
In the first video, Sims also appeared to be attempting to doxx another pro-life woman – he called her an “old white lady” – by asking his viewers for her name and address.
“Shame on you!” Sims said as the woman asked him to get his camera out of her face. “You have a problem protesting in public? Don’t protest in public!
“If you know who this woman is and you can give me her address, we’ll protest out in front of her home. Let’s go protest out of her house and tell her what’s right for her body,” he continued.
For most of the video, the woman silently bore Sims’ bullying. The exception was when he got his camera close to her face and she told him not to.
Sims also repeatedly exerted his power and privilege by mentioning that he is a state representative, including when the woman appeared to be calling police.
His bullying continued for more than eight minutes, the length of the video.
In the second video that Sims posted several weeks ago, he made a similar request. He offered his viewers $100 to identify three teenage girls who were peacefully praying outside the same Planned Parenthood.
“What we’ve got here is a bunch of … pseudo Christian protesters who’ve been out here shaming young girls for being here. So, here’s the deal, I’ve got $100 to anybody who will identify these three, and I will donate to Planned Parenthood,” Sims said in the video.
His actions may have violated consent and cyberbullying laws. The Philadelphia police and district attorney’s office said they are looking into the incident.
Sims released a statement late Tuesday where he did not apologize for his behavior. Instead, he chose to attack pro-life advocates even more by claiming they “slur” and “attack” Planned Parenthood patients – without providing any evidence to support his claims.
Several leading pro-life groups are planning a rally on Friday at the Planned Parenthood abortion facility in Philadelphia where Sims filmed himself twice harassing and bullying pro-life women.
A LifeNews petition calling for Sims’ resignation amassed more than 24,000 signatures this week. And a fundraiser started by the family of the teenage girls has raised more than $95,000 for a charity that helps mothers and babies in the city.
The Planned Parenthood abortion clinic where Sims harassed the women has failed 13 of its 23 safety inspections.
