The Trump Department of Justice has taken formal notice of the Fort Worth Police Department's actions at a recent Pride festival, citing potential First Amendment violations. A letter from Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Rights Division, Harmeet K. Dhillon, demands answers from the City of Fort Worth regarding the treatment of Christian street preachers who were threatened with citations for their speech.
The incident occurred on June 27, 2026, at Trinity Pride Fest in downtown Fort Worth, where David Grisham and Richard Penkoski, two Christian street preachers, were preaching on public sidewalks. Officers moved them, restricted their access, and a female officer explicitly told them they could be ticketed for "offensive speech." The preachers argued that offensive speech is protected by the First Amendment and cannot be criminalized merely because someone claims to be offended.
Fort Worth PD later admitted the officer's statements were "not accurate," ordered First Amendment refresher training for officers, and public sidewalks remain open for speech. However, the U.S. Department of Justice's Civil Rights Division has formally asked the City of Fort Worth to provide information regarding First Amendment compliance concerns involving the Fort Worth Police Department.
The letter to Fort Worth City Attorney Leann D. Guzman is clear: "Publicly posted video recordings reportedly show FWPD officers instructing individuals to cease their speech or move the location of their speech based on the content of the speakers' expression. If true, FWPD may be engaging in practices that restrict constitutionally protected speech based upon viewpoint." The Civil Rights Division is determining whether to open a full pattern-or-practice investigation.
The letter reminds the city of the Supreme Court's clear holdings: Government actors may not engage in viewpoint discrimination or restrict peaceful expressive conduct simply because the speech may be unpopular, offensive, or controversial. Dhillon cited Rosenberger v. Rector & Visitors of the University of Virginia and Reed v. Town of Gilbert, emphasizing that these incidents occurred in traditional public forums—sidewalks and streets—where First Amendment protections are at their strongest.
The Department of Justice is demanding, within 30 days, FWPD's current First Amendment policies, all training materials related to First Amendment enforcement, administrative records of any citizen complaints since 2015 alleging interference with protected speech, and all records of enforcement proceedings under the Grisham Consent Decree.
Dhillon stated the principle plainly: "Government actors cannot discriminate against viewpoints or restrict peaceful free speech just because it may be offensive to some. Under this administration, the @CivilRights Division will defend free speech, as protected by the Constitution.
