VIDEO: This former Planned Parenthood director has an encouraging message for pro-lifers harassed outside clinics

Former Planned Parenthood director and pro-life activist Abby Johnson offered some words of encouragement for pro-lifers who face harassment and bullying while peacefully praying and protesting outside abortion clinics.

"I just want to tell them to keep going; keep doing what you're doing," Johnson said in a brief interview with Blaze Media after a major pro-life, anti-bullying rally in Philadelphia.

"In the end, nothing, nothing, no persecution, no bullying that we face is anything compared to what is happening to these children inside of these clinics," Johnson said, motioning toward the abortion clinic behind her. "And that's what has to keep us coming back out here; we cannot be afraid, we cannot back down just because some bullies don't want us to come out here."

Johnson said pro-lifers "have to continue to be a voice for those who have no voice; we have to continue to stand in the gap."

Friday's rally was organized in response to the recent controversy started by Democratic Pennsylvania state Rep. Brian Sims, who posted social media video of himself harassing a woman quietly praying outside a Philadelphia Planned Parenthood clinic. Sims also posted another of him offering cash for personal information of pro-life teenagers at the same location.

Despite invitations from event organizers, Sims did not appear at the rally. He was also not in his Center City office afterward, demonstrators told Blaze Media.

When asked about Sims' absence, Johnson told Blaze Media that she would just "like to have a dialog with him" on the issue of abortion.

"He thinks he knows so much about Planned Parenthood? He thinks he's some sort of Parenthood expert just because he stood out here and walked women in?" Johnson remarked, referring to Sims' volunteer experience as a clinic escort.

"Let me tell you something: I'm a Planned Parenthood expert — I worked there for eight years," Johnson said, noting the time she spent working at one of the organization's clinics in Texas before her now-famous conversion to the pro-life cause, which is detailed in the recent film, "Unplanned."

Johnson said that she wants to talk to Sims about whats "really going on" inside abortion clinics, especially the particular one at which Sims harassed pro-lifers, which has been cited for numerous health and safety infractions, according to public records complied at CheckMyClinic.org.

"I want him to look at me and to defend these failed health inspections that continue to come up year after year after year at this clinic that he continues to defend," Johnson concluded.

Here's video of the interview: