Better late than never.
And I really mean that.
A Pennsylvania Democratic lawmaker has apologized to female pro-life protesters whom he harassed and tried to doxx.
The apology came in the form of a written note addressed personally to Ashley Garecht, whose teenage daughters, ages 13 and 15, respectively, and their teenage friend were the target of Democratic Pennsylvania state Rep. Brian Sims’ ire in April after he saw them praying outside an abortion clinic in his district.
“Dear Ashley,” Sims’ card reads, “I want to reiterate my sincere apologies to you and your family. I regret the harm that I caused and I have learned a great deal from this. I can only ask for your forgiveness and I wish you all the best in the future. Sincerely, Brian Sims.”
One small quibble on this: He used the word “reiterate.” Sims never actually apologized to Garecht, her daughters, or their friend, though he did apologize publicly in May for his abusive behavior. Just putting that out there for the record.
This detail was not lost on Garecht, who told the Daily Caller News Foundation that Sims has some ways to go, still, though his note is a good first step.
“While we forgive Mr. Sims and appreciate that he has begun to accept responsibility for his actions, we also know that this card is a far cry from the public accountability that was called for at the Stand Against Bullying Rally back in May,” said Garecht, who pointed out the Democratic lawmaker’s note of apology came to her about five months after the fact.
She added, “Mr. Sims should make a public statement of remorse as an appropriate balance to his video of intimidation and harassment that he proudly publicized to the world via Twitter.”
Garecht is right. If Sims wants to right the wrong, he should make his apology as public as his original abuse.
Earlier this year, Sims uploaded a series of videos to social media showing him berating and threatening women, including Garecht and her daughters, praying outside a Planned Parenthood clinic in southeastern Pennsylvania.
“What we’ve got here is a bunch of … pseudo-Christian protesters who’ve been out here shaming young girls for being here,” the state representative said in a video featuring the Garechts as unwilling participants. “So, here’s the deal, I’ve got $100 to anybody who will identify these three, and I will donate to Planned Parenthood.”
Sims was at first defiant, vowing to fight all of his critics, including all the “Planned Parenthood protesters” who “are scum,” “Bible Bullies,” “bigots,” “sexists,” and “misogynists.”
He appears to have moderated his tone since then.
Garecht said in separate statement, “We forgave Mr. Sims many months ago and we extend that forgiveness to him again today. We hope that he will modify his conduct in the future. We also call on him to make a public statement of contrition as an appropriate balance to his public acts of harassment and as a reminder to others that dangerous and threatening behavior toward those they disagree with has no place in our society.”
It is tempting to keep dunking on Sims for his monumentally poor judgment and his past abusive behavior. But you know what? Let’s not do that. He recognized his error and he reached out personally to at least the Garechts. (He has harassed other pro-life protesters; it is unclear whether he has apologized to them as well.) For that, he deserves kudos. All we communicate by denying malefactors redemption even after they offer a seemingly genuine apology is that there is no point in trying to be a better person.
