The head of the U.S. Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division weighed in after videos first published by The Dallas Express showed Fort Worth police interactions with Christian street preachers during Trinity Pride Fest.
Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights Harmeet K. Dhillon responded July 10 after clips of the June 27 encounter drew renewed national attention on X.
“Troubling. ✍🏽 Our @CivilRights team is on it,” Dhillon wrote while reposting a video shared by Libs of TikTok.
As previously reported by The Dallas Express, street preachers Richard Penkoski and David Grisham alleged Fort Worth police officers violated their First Amendment rights during Trinity Pride Fest by preventing them from preaching on public streets and sidewalks surrounding the event and later issuing Grisham a citation for disorderly conduct related to noise.
Footage from the June 27 encounter drew national attention after The Dallas Express published it, including a reply from Elon Musk on X: “In Texas? Wow.”
The clips gained renewed attention after Libs of TikTok shared portions of the same encounter on July 8 and July 9. The July 8 post said a Fort Worth police officer threatened to ticket a retired officer and Christian street preacher for “offensive speech.” The July 9 post said a Fort Worth police supervisor threatened to arrest a Christian street preacher if he attempted to preach in a public space occupied by a Pride event.
Dhillon did not say in her post whether the Civil Rights Division had opened a formal investigation or what specific action, if any, the division may take.
FWPD acknowledged inaccurate statements
The Fort Worth Police Department previously told The Dallas Express that officers issued the citation because of Grisham’s use of a bullhorn outside the festival grounds, not because of the content of the preachers’ message.
Police said business owners in the area complained that the amplified noise disrupted operations and caused them to lose customers.
“At no time did officers prevent any individuals from expressing their views,” FWPD said in a statement previously provided to The Dallas Express. “Officers told the individuals they could continue exercising their rights without using an amplification device.”
FWPD also acknowledged that one officer made inaccurate statements during the encounter, though the department did not specify which statements were inaccurate.
“A video that has circulated online captures only a portion of the interactions between the officer and the individuals involved,” the department said. “FWPD acknowledges that an officer involved in the incident made certain statements that were not accurate.”
Training planned
The department said the City of Fort Worth Law Department will provide refresher training to current officers and new recruits on First Amendment protections and related legal issues involving free speech, protesters, and similar activity.
“FWPD continuously strives to improve its procedures to ensure both constitutional rights and public safety are protected,” the department said.
Grisham is challenging the citation through GFA Law, PLLC, as previously reported by The Dallas Express. The firm has argued that Fort Worth police violated Grisham’s constitutional rights and misapplied city and state noise rules.
The Dallas Express asked FWPD for comment on Dhillon’s post and whether the department had received any inquiry from the Department of Justice. FWPD did not respond before publication.
Fort Worth ranked third among the 50 largest U.S. cities in SmartAsset’s 2025 “America’s Safest Cities” study.
Provided by Dallas Express
