Fort Worth Police Department Confronts Christian Street Preachers at Trinity Pride Fest in Texas Incident

On June 27, 2026, a video capturing an incident at Trinity Pride Fest in downtown Fort Worth, Texas, went viral, exposing First Amendment violations allegedly committed by Fort Worth Police Department (FWPD) officers. The video, shared by Libs of TikTok, shows Christian street preachers, including Richard Penkoski and David Grisham, being confronted by FWPD officers while preaching on public property/sidewalks near the event using amplification. The preachers were warned by the officers that if attendees were "offended" by their speech, it could lead to citations for "offensive speech" or disorderly conduct. This incident is part of a pattern reported in Fort Worth, where multiple videos/incidents involving FWPD restricting Christian preaching at or near Pride events have been documented.

Background

The Trinity Pride Fest event took place on June 27, 2026, in downtown Fort Worth, Texas. Christian street preachers, including Richard Penkoski and David Grisham, were preaching on public property/sidewalks near the event using amplification. The preachers were warned by FWPD officers that if attendees were "offended" by their speech, it could lead to citations for "offensive speech" or disorderly conduct. This incident is part of a pattern reported in Fort Worth, where multiple videos/incidents involving FWPD restricting Christian preaching at or near Pride events have been documented.

Key Facts

According to the video, FWPD officers warned the preachers that if attendees were "offended" by their speech, it could lead to citations for "offensive speech" or disorderly conduct. One female officer stated, "If someone is offended by your talking, then we have a problem." The preachers pushback questioned if they would be ticketed purely for content. A supervisor allegedly threatened arrest for trespassing if they preached in the public space occupied by the Pride event, despite it being described as free and open to the public. Critics argue that this reflects viewpoint discrimination against Christians, prioritizing Pride event sensitivities over constitutional rights.

People Involved

The incident involved FWPD officers, Christian street preachers, including Richard Penkoski and David Grisham, and attendees of the Trinity Pride Fest event. FWPD Spokesman Buddy Calzada stated that the department reviewed the incident and the officer's statements on "offensive speech" were "not accurate." Citation to Grisham was for noise/amplification (bullhorn), not content per se. Additional First Amendment training was promised for officers.

Reactions

Critics argue that this incident reflects viewpoint discrimination against Christians, prioritizing Pride event sensitivities over constitutional rights. Public sidewalks and streets remain traditional public forums with strong free speech protections. Harmeet Dhillon, Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Rights Division at the U.S. Department of Justice, tweeted, "Troubling. Our @CivilRights team is on it." Her team is now investigating FWPD for potential civil rights violations. FWPD's actions have sparked outrage among conservatives and free speech advocates. Many argue that the department's actions constitute viewpoint discrimination and undermine the First Amendment.

Implications

The incident at Trinity Pride Fest has significant implications for free speech and religious liberty in Fort Worth. FWPD's actions have sparked outrage among conservatives and free speech advocates, who argue that the department's actions constitute viewpoint discrimination and undermine the First Amendment. Harmeet Dhillon's involvement signals federal scrutiny on local policing of speech, especially regarding religious liberty. FWPD's response to the incident has been criticized by many as inadequate and insincere. Critics argue that the department's actions reflect a broader pattern of viewpoint discrimination against Christians.

What Happens Next

Harmeet Dhillon's team will investigate FWPD for potential civil rights violations. The incident at Trinity Pride Fest has sparked outrage among conservatives and free speech advocates, who argue that FWPD's actions constitute viewpoint discrimination and undermine the First Amendment. FWPD's response to the incident has been criticized by many as inadequate and insincere. FWPD's training on the First Amendment will be reviewed and potentially re-trained to ensure that officers understand and respect the constitutional rights of all individuals, including those with differing views.

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