Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon has announced that the Department of Justice will open a civil right investigation into the Fort Worth Police Department after a viral video was uploaded of a street preacher being threatened with arrest should he continue preaching outside of a gay pride event.
Advertisement
Ft Worth, Texas, police supervisor threatens to ARREST Christian @wfcpreacher if he attempts to preach in public space occupied by a Pride event, which is also free and open to the public.
Preacher: “So if we preach in here, we are going to be arrested for trespassing if we… https://t.co/1X0tgNE8g2 pic.twitter.com/AWLLE3IQl1
— Libs of TikTok (@libsoftiktok) July 9, 2026
Rich Penkoski, a Warriors for Christ preacher, was threatened with arrest or a ticket for proclaiming that “homosexuality is a sin,” as Fort Worth authorities considered that statement and others to be “offensive speech.”
We just received more footage of the police encounter in Ft Worth, TX
Officers told Christian Preacher @wfcpreacher they would ticket him for “offensive speech” for saying “homosexuality is a sin” or calling someone a “faggot”
These officers need to lose their jobs.
MAKE THEM… https://t.co/1X0tgNE8g2 pic.twitter.com/hIsgDf8qWc
— Libs of TikTok (@libsoftiktok) July 9, 2026
Dhillon, who leads the Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division, announced on Friday that the DOJ would launch an investigation into the incident.
Troubling. ✍🏽 Our @CivilRights team is on it. https://t.co/L78fWxCPam
— AAGHarmeetDhillon (@AAGDhillon) July 10, 2026
🚨 IT’S OFFICIAL: Assistant AG Harmeet Dhillon has launched an INVESTIGATION at DOJ Civil Rights after MULTIPLE Fort Worth, Texas officers were spotted threatening to ARREST or cite a Christian preacher, and exposed by @libsoftiktok
PROTECT CHRISTIANS! 🙏🏻
They should be FIRED.… https://t.co/nVMMk750cC pic.twitter.com/p9sMOIQPic
— Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) July 10, 2026
Advertisement
Under Dhillon’s leadership, the DOJ has made great strides in protecting Christians around the country. Her office managed to bring forward a case against the progressive journalist Don Lemon for his involvement in the storming of a Protestant church by leftist activists during Operation Metro Storm. Another high-profile incident involved numerous MLB players who faced punishment from the League for proclaiming their faith during a team “Pride Night.”
The Fort Worth Police Department has responded to the mass criticism of their actions by blocking those who speak out.
Editor’s Note: Do you enjoy Townhall’s conservative reporting that takes on the radical left and woke media? Support our work so that we can continue to bring you the truth.
Join Townhall VIP and use promo code FIGHT to receive 60% off your membership.
National Headline