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PHILADELPHIA, May 8, 2019 (LifeSiteNews) — A Pennsylvania Democrat lawmaker who became nationally known over the weekend for a video of himself verbally assaulting an elderly woman praying outside a Planned Parenthood location has garnered even more infamy for another video of himself not only harassing teenage pro-life activists, but soliciting information on how to identify them.
On Monday, LifeSiteNews reported on Democrat state rep. Brian Sims sharing a Twitter video in which he follows a woman quietly walking and praying a rosary, attempts to shove his phone in her face, and repeatedly berates her as “shameful,” “disgusting,” “racist,” and an “old white lady.”
After the original video came to light, another video surfaced that Sims shared to Facebook, which shows him approaching three girls outside Planned Parenthood. “What we’ve got here is a bunch of protesters, a bunch of pseudo-Christian protesters who’ve been out here shaming young girls for being here,” he declares. “So, here’s the deal, I’ve got $100 to anybody who will identify these three, and I will donate to Planned Parenthood.”
An adult woman accompanying them politely attempts to explain to Sims that they’re “actually just here praying for the babies, and we believe women deserve more” but walks away when it becomes clear he is ignoring what they’re saying. Sims then approaches a male protester, asks for his name and address, and asks him, “What makes you think it’s your job to tell women what to do with their bodies?” But before the man can answer, Sims declares, “The truth is, I’m not really asking, because I don’t care. Shame on you,” and walks away.
In this video, State Rep @BrianSimsPA says he’ll pay his followers $100 if they are able to dox three teen girls he films who are quietly praying outside a Planned Parenthood abortion clinic. How is this guy still allowed to be on Twitter? pic.twitter.com/yfNCHhRSqY
— Lila Rose (@LilaGraceRose) May 6, 2019
Sims’s antics received an overwhelmingly negative response, with many asking why he appears to have faced no consequence from Twitter while conservative accounts continue to be suspended for minor or nonexistent infractions:
Democrat Rep. @BrianSimsPA offered $100 to anyone who would help him dox three teenage girls, videos of whom he uploaded to his various social media pages.
James Woods posts MAGA memes.
Guess which one has been suspended from Twitter. pic.twitter.com/sfyWcn5rCw
— Michael Knowles (@michaeljknowles) May 6, 2019
.@BrianSimsPA: I care about women!
Also @BrianSimsPA: Money for anyone who doxes these women and puts their lives in danger! https://t.co/sthBt56DlE
— Eric Spencer (@JustEric) May 6, 2019
Is this incitement? Seems like incitement to me. https://t.co/FrTvGjk50X
— BT (@back_ttys) May 6, 2019
The answers is simple: Most national reporters are on the left and mostly follow people on the left. They assume outrage among people they follow/agree with is worthy of coverage. They assume outrage on the right is just partisan anger unworthy of coverage.
— [1]) (@AG_Conservative) May 7, 2019
NBC Philadelphia reports that State Republican Party chairman Val DiGiorgio has requested that U.S. attorney William McSwain, Pennsylvania attorney general Josh Shapiro, and Philadelphia district attorney Larry Krasner open criminal investigations into Sims for “intimidation and harassment.” Krasner’s office confirmed that it is reviewing the request.
Sims at first responded to his critics with defiance, challenging “Bible Bullies’ to “bring it” because he “see[s] right through” the “fake morals” and “broken values” of “bigots, sexists, and misogynists.” On Tuesday afternoon, however, he released a video admitting to being overly “aggressive” while maintaining that he has spent years witnessing pro-life harassment of girls seeking “routine health care,” which his videos “should have shown” but simply failed to.
I will fiercely protect a woman’s right to make the best choices for her health & her body, unimpeded. I also know that two wrongs don’t make a right, especially on the front lines of a civil rights battle. I can do better, and I will do better, for the women of Pennsylvania. pic.twitter.com/jURL1UX9qE
— Brian Sims (@BrianSimsPA) May 7, 2019
Pro-life commenters were unimpressed by his statement:
Classic bully play. Saw it all throughout my childhood. Your douchtastic exploits get exposed, folks decide to call your fake tough guy bluff and confront you, and then kindly show yourself out with a “why did you make me so mad that I did this to you” even faker “apology.” https://t.co/03TIAidoq2
— Steve Deace (@SteveDeaceShow) May 7, 2019
This “apology” is as bad as your pronunciation of Pap smear. https://t.co/ZWtNVOvSd9
— Allie Beth Stuckey (@conservmillen) May 7, 2019
In response to the incident, conservative commentator Matt Walsh has announced that he and Lila Rose’s Live Action are organizing a “massive rally” for 11 A.M. Friday at the Philadelphia Planned Parenthood, to “show Sims and everyone else that we are not going to sit back submissively while pro-lifers are abused for speaking out in defense of the unborn.” Rose, Abby Johnson, Graham Allen, and Chad Felix Greene are among the conservative and pro-life figures who plan to attend.
“If Sims wants to show up with his camera again, any one of us would be more than happy to engage with him,” Walsh said. “I know he prefers to target elderly women and teenage girls, but now he’ll have the opportunity to pick on someone his own size. The lesson here is simple: If you try to intimidate us into silence, we will only get louder. Bullying tactics will achieve the exact opposite of what you intended.”
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