Police officer warns street preachers they face citation ‘if someone is offended’ at LGBT pride rally

July 2, 2026

A Texas police department says it will “look into” a viral video showing one of its officers warning a Christian street preaching group that they could be cited for simply saying something considered offensive by others.

The Christian Post reports that Fort Worth police were caught on video threatening to arrest members of a street preaching team led by evangelist Rich Penkoski at Trinity Pride Fest on June 27.

The video allegedly shows police blocking Penkoski and David Grisham from accessing the sidewalk upon their arrival at the event.

When Grisham told officers about a lawsuit he filed in 2014 against the city of Fort Worth for a similar encounter, an unidentified female officer responded, “I don’t care, you can file whatever lawsuit you want.”

As the street preaching group continued to question police, the female officer is heard saying, “If someone is offended by your talking, then we have a problem. … If they are offended by your speech, OK, I will write you a ticket and we’ll go from there.”

According to the Christian Post, Penkoski then asked, “Wait, you’re going to ticket us for offensive speech?”

“Yes, absolutely,” the officer responded, adding that it would qualify as disorderly conduct.

Grisham was ultimately issued a citation for “unreasonable noise,” but no further explanation was provided.

A Fort Worth PD spokesman, in a statement provided to the Christian Post on Monday, said, “The Fort Worth Police Department is committed to protecting the constitutional rights of all individuals, including the right to free speech and peaceful assembly, while also ensuring public safety and enforcing applicable laws and ordinances.”

Photo: top, Credit: Christian Post/Courtesy Photo