In an exclusive comment provided by veteran preacher Rich Penkoski to Leftover News:
“These officers today aren’t being properly trained in the 1st amendment. Police in America can’t seem to separate their feelings from their job. America is turning into the UK. If we don’t fight for our rights we will lose them!! Where are all the Christians and conservatives?! Over 350,000 republicans were made aware of their pride event in Fort Worth and not 1 showed up to stand against it.”
Street preachers Richard Penkoski and David Grisham provided recordings to Leftover News that show Fort Worth police officers systematically violating their First Amendment rights while they attempted to preach on public streets and sidewalks during the Trinity Pride Fest on June 27, 2026.
According to a detailed incident account and exclusive comments provided to Leftover News, officers immediately blocked the preachers from public property upon arrival, threatened them with trespassing arrests, and later issued a citation for “unreasonable noise” while openly stating that citations could be based on whether attendees found the biblical message “offensive.”
Grisham can be heard reminding officers that he had successfully sued the City of Fort Worth in 2014 over nearly identical conduct at a previous pride event. That case ended in a settlement and an official city apology. One officer allegedly responded: “I don’t care, you can file whatever lawsuit you want.”
After being pushed outside barricades, a female officer told the preachers they would be cited if they said anything “offensive.” When Penkoski correctly noted that offensive speech is protected, the officer reportedly replied that it fell under “disorderly conduct,” stating, “Well, yes, that [speech] is the conduct.”
Another officer confirmed citations would hinge on third-party offense. When Penkoski asked whether calling a biological male a “male” would trigger a citation if someone took offense, the officer said yes if he continued and someone found it offensive, he would be cited.
When Penkoski stated he was deeply offended by half-naked men walking around children at the event, the officer allegedly dismissed it: “There’s really not much I can do about that.”
Penkoski showed an officer clear U.S. Supreme Court precedent establishing that the government cannot bar citizens from traditional public forums such as streets and sidewalks simply because a private group holds a permit. The officer’s only response was reportedly “Huh” before continuing to enforce the exclusion.
As officers continued pushing the preachers farther back, David Grisham received a citation for “unreasonable noise.” When pressed for a definition in this context, officers allegedly could not provide one, vaguely suggesting it might mean “sticking a megaphone in someone’s ear” which did not occur, as the megaphone was held at waist level—or simply offending people.
Penkoski, a veteran willing to die for American liberties, described the officers’ lack of objective justification when asked how they felt about suppressing the constitutional rights of Christians and veterans.
Video of the encounter has begun circulating on X, showing portions of the interaction consistent with the account.
This incident follows a well-documented pattern. Grisham’s earlier federal lawsuit against Fort Worth police for denying him access to public sidewalks during a pride event resulted in a settlement. Yet officers on the scene appeared either unaware of or indifferent to that binding history and established constitutional limits on their authority.
The Trinity Pride Fest took place on public streets in Fort Worth’s Near Southside/South Main Village area, drawing several thousand attendees. The event received city coordination and police presence.
As of publication, Fort Worth police have not issued an official response to the specific allegations. Leftover News staff will be reaching out to the department tomorrow. Check back in for updates with Leftover News.
The core question raised by Penkoski and Grisham remains: When police treat protected religious speech as a potential crime based on listener offense, while dismissing complaints about the event’s own content around children, whose rights are actually being protected and at what cost to the First Amendment?
Full recordings will be shared on the following thread on X. A full report will be issued following up with the Fort Worth police tomorrow. Stay tuned for my exclusive updates.
EXCLUSIVE Reporting from Fort Worth TX Pride Event.
“These officers today aren’t being properly trained in the 1st amendment. Police in America can’t seem to separate their feelings from their job. America is turning into the UK.
If we don’t fight for our rights we will lose… https://t.co/lqpulUSQ2H— Kim Coulter (@coulterculture) June 28, 2026
