Hundreds of Pro-Life People Rally to Condemn Democrat Brian Sims for Bullying Pro-Life Women

National   |   Steven Ertelt   |   May 10, 2019   |   1:03PM   |   Washington, DC

Hundreds of pro-life people gathered outside a Philadelphia Planned Parenthood abortion clinic today to rally in condemnation of Democrat state representative Brian Sims and his behavior. Sims videotaped himself twice in the last three weeks bullying pro-life women and teenagers.

Dozens of people at the “Pro-Life Rally Against Bullying” chanted “resign now”although a couple of Sims supporters appeared with signs supporting him.

Several leading pro-life advocates headlined the rally and called on Sims to apologize for his behavior and to resign his office as a state legislator. Abby Johnson, a former Planned Parenthood abortion center director, along with pro-life advocates Lila Rose, Matt Walsh and others urged Sims to treat pro-life people with respect and dignity.

“We are sending a message to bullies like Brian Sims. That message is simple: we will not be intimidated. We will not be silenced. Brian, maybe you understand now that if you try to shut us up, we will only get louder. If you try to shame us, we will only stand taller. If you try to scare us, we will only get bolder.` We know that our cause is just. We know that we are right. We know that what we have truth on our side. And we will wield that truth like a sword in defense of the unborn,” Walsh said.

The speakers also talked about the reprehensible actions taking place at the Planned Parenthood abortion clinic where his intimidation occurred. The Abortion Center kills more babies and abortions than any other Planned Parenthood in the state and it is also failed the majority of its State Health inspections, which have also indicated the Abortion Center has repeatedly covered up cases of statutory rape.

Walsh said the bigger message to send with today’s rally was not anything to do with Sims. He said it was about the babies who lose their lives in abortion facilities like Planned Parenthood.

“But the abuse that pro-lifers suffer is nothing compared to the suffering of children in the womb. And that’s the first and most important reason that we all are gathered here. We are here for the sake of the 60 million. Sixty million. Sixty million human children have been massacred in this country in the span of 45 years. That’s 1.3 million a year. An average of well over 3,000 a day. Sixy million. We ought to remember that number. It ought to be seared into our conscience. 60 million,” he said.

SIGN THE PETITION: Rep. Brian Sims Should Resign for Harassing Pro-Life Women

Ashley Garecht, the mother of teenage girls who Brian Sims bullied and harassed,also spoke out:

The mother of teenage girls who Pennsylvania state Rep. Brian Sims offered money to identify earlier this spring said she filed a police report against the Democratic politician.

Ashley Garecht told CBS Philadelphia that Sims’ aggressive behavior had her concerned for her daughters’ and their friend’s safety. The girls are ages 13 and 15.

“Absent the pro-life issue, this was about an adult interacting with minors in an aggressive manner and an adult infringing on minors’ speech,” she told the news station. “I don’t need an apology from him. I’m an adult. I’ve already forgiven him.”

She said she would like Sims to apologize to her daughters and their friend.

Last week, Sims posted a video of himself berating a pro-life sidewalk counselor 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 Garecht.

His requests suggest that the 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.

Garecht said she did not realize that Sims was a state representative until earlier this week when the videos went viral.

Lawmaker or not, “no grown man should act that way toward any minor under any situation,” she told NBC 10. Asked if she felt in danger, she said Sims had “an imposing physical presence.” Garecht repeatedly has said her biggest concern was for her daughters and their friend.

A video that Sims posted online showed part of his interaction with Garecht and the girls, who were praying outside a Philadelphia Planned Parenthood abortion clinic on the Thursday before Easter. In the video, Sims offered viewers $100 to identify the teenage girls.

“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.

Metro Weekly reports state lawmakers spoke out against Sims’ behavior on the House floor this week.

According to the report:

Sims’ behavior — as well as that of several other elected officials mired in their own controversies — drew an unofficial rebuke from both the Pennsylvania House Majority and Minority Leaders, who, without naming anyone, urged lawmakers to tone down their rhetoric and be more respectful of each other.

“There is no room for hate in any form in this chamber or in our own lives,” Majority Leader Bryan Cutler said in a speech on the House floor. “The people of Pennsylvania expect better from us, and we all promised to serve the people of our commonwealth to best of each of our abilities.”

Neither Cutler nor House Minority leader Frank Dermody indicated whether any further action would be taken against Sims or other members.

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.

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.

A rally against Sims is slated for 11 a.m. Friday outside of the Planned Parenthood in Philadelphia.

A LifeNews petition calling for Sims’ resignation has nearly 30,000 signatures. And a fundraiser started by the Garecht family earlier this week already raised more than $110,000 for a pro-life charity that supports mothers and babies in the city.

The Planned Parenthood abortion clinic where Sims harassed the women has failed 13 of its 23 safety inspections.