The Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division is now watching a Fort Worth street clash that has blown up online after video showed officers warning Christian preachers they could be cited for “offensive” speech outside Trinity Pride Fest. The June 27 exchange in the Near Southside has turned what started as a neighborhood noise fight into a national argument over how police juggle crowd control and First Amendment rights.
Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon, who leads the Civil Rights Division, weighed in after clips of the encounter ricocheted across social media, writing, “Troubling. ✍🏽 Our @CivilRights team is on it,” according to The Dallas Express. The outlet reported that Dhillon did not indicate whether a formal federal investigation had been opened.
FWPD says it was about noise, not what was said
Fort Worth police officials have pushed back on the idea that the preacher was targeted for his views, telling reporters the citation stemmed from his use of a bullhorn outside the festival footprint after nearby businesses complained about amplified sound, according to the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. The department conceded that one officer in the video “made certain statements that were not accurate” and said the encounter is under review. Trinity Pride Fest is billed as an open streets event that closed South Main Street and surrounding blocks for the evening, Downtown Fort Worth notes.
Preacher fights back in court
Street preacher David Grisham, who received a disorderly conduct citation during the incident, has retained GFA Law to contest the ticket and any related enforcement, according to The Dallas Express. His attorneys argue officers did not take the required decibel readings and contend that the city’s noise ordinance may run afoul of state law.
Legal stakes and officer training
Grisham’s lawyers say they plan to press the case in court and have urged the city to toss the citation, as reported by The Christian Post. At the same time, Fort Worth police say the City Law Department will provide refresher training on First Amendment protections for current officers and new recruits, the Fort Worth Star-Telegram reports.
With a top federal civil rights official publicly chiming in and local leaders promising retraining and a full review, the standoff could ultimately land in court or draw a formal inquiry from Washington. City officials say the internal review remains underway and that they will release more information once it is finished.
