First Amendment

Video Shows Fort Worth Cop Ticketing a Preacher for 'Offensive' Speech at Pride Event

“The First Amendment does not allow government officials to shut down speech simply on account of it being ‘offensive,’” says a legal expert at FIRE.

Autumn Billings | 7.17.2026 3:55 PM

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(Illustration: truefaithamerica/Facebook)

A Fort Worth Police officer ticketed a preacher in late June, claiming the content of his speech was offensive. This week the Department of Justice's Civil Rights Division launched an inquiry into the incident to determine if the officer violated the First Amendment.

The widely circulated video of the confrontation shows an officer and a protester during the Trinity Pride Fest on June 27. "If someone is offended by your talking, then we have a problem," said Officer Sara Stogner.

"That's a constitutional violation of our rights," responds David Grisham, a street preacher and retired federal law enforcement officer. The two continue to argue when Stogner asserts, "OK, then I'll write you the ticket, and we'll go from there."

"Wait, you're going to ticket us for offensive speech?" the cameraman asks incredulously. To which the officer confidently responds, "Yes, absolutely."

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