The freedom to preach the gospel in public is a constitutional right that has been repeatedly upheld by America’s courts. When government officials appear to restrict that right because of the message being shared, it raises serious concerns about religious liberty and free speech.
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That is why the U.S. Department of Justice has opened an inquiry into the actions of a Fort Worth, Texas, police officer who was recorded warning Christian street preachers that they could face citations if their speech offended others. The investigation comes after videos of the encounter spread widely online and prompted questions about whether the officers’ actions respected the First Amendment.
From Breitbart:
The Fort Worth Police Department acknowledged that at least one of their officers made “certain statements that were not accurate,” Fox News reported.
“The City of Fort Worth and the Fort Worth Police Department recognize that incidents involving First Amendment activity require thoughtful consideration and understanding of the law,” a spokesperson for the department told Fox News.
“FWPD remains committed to protecting the constitutional rights of all individuals, regardless of the content or viewpoint of their speech,” the department explained. “A video that has circulated online captures only a portion of the interactions between the officer and the individuals involved. FWPD acknowledges that an officer involved in the incident made certain statements that were not accurate.”
The incident took place during Trinity Pride Fest in Fort Worth on June 27. According to videos shared on social media, Officer Sarah Stogner confronted Christian street preachers Rich Penkoski and David Grisham as they shared their message outside the event.
During the exchange, the officer warned the men that they could be cited if someone was offended by what they were saying. When one of the preachers asked whether they could receive a ticket for “offensive speech,” the officer initially answered yes before later saying they could instead be cited for disorderly conduct.
Those comments quickly drew national attention because the First Amendment protects speech even if others find it unpopular or offensive. Under Texas law, a disorderly conduct charge based on speech requires far more than causing offense. Prosecutors must show that the words were likely to provoke an immediate breach of the peace.
The Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division has since launched an investigation into the incident. In a letter to city officials, Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon warned that government officials may not discriminate against speech based on its viewpoint simply because it is controversial or offensive. The DOJ has requested the city’s First Amendment policies, officer training materials, and records related to similar incidents dating back to 2015.
Although the Fort Worth Police Department acknowledged that one of its officers made inaccurate statements and reaffirmed its commitment to protecting constitutional rights, the Justice Department’s review will seek to determine whether broader policy, training, or enforcement issues contributed to the incident.
The ability to publicly proclaim the gospel is a freedom we have long cherished and one protected by the First Amendment. When questions arise about whether government officials are improperly restricting that freedom, they deserve careful examination. As intercessors, let us pray that truth will come to light, that constitutional liberties will be faithfully protected, and that public officials will exercise both wisdom and integrity as they serve.
Pray for the Department of Justice as it investigates this incident. Ask the Lord to give investigators wisdom to uncover the facts, address any underlying problems, and ensure that the constitutional rights of every American—including the freedom to share the gospel in public—are protected. Pray also for law enforcement officers across the nation, that they would uphold the law with fairness, discernment, and respect for the freedoms they are sworn to defend.
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(Excerpt from Breitbart. Photo Credit: tirc83/Getty Images)
