Pastor Ronnie Holmes

On October 19, 2024, Pastor Holmes was compelled by his Christian beliefs to visit Brazos Park East, a public park owned and maintained by the City of Waco, Texas, during the annual Out on the Brazos festival hosted by the Waco Pride Network to share his faith with attendees. He was joined by four other members from his local church. During the event, the entire park remained free and open to the public. Everyone was free to walk in and enjoy the park just as they could at any other time of the year.

After entering the park, Pastor Holmes and his group began speaking with several attendees about their faith. They peacefully opened up dialogues and respectfully conversed with others about the gospel.

But approximately one hour later, at least three police officers from the Waco Police Department, one of which was Officer Chris Sharpless, approached and halted their speech. Officer Sharpless informed Pastor Holmes that WPN’s permit allowed them to remove “unwanted activity” to a restricted zone in the park. The officers proceeded to move them, escorting the Open Door group to a 10-foot x 20-foot zone marked off by cones, sitting approximately fifty yards away from the outskirts of the core event area. Pastor Holmes and his companions found the new spot isolating, separating them from and depriving them of their intended audience.

Pastor Holmes informed city officials about his concerns, hoping to come to an agreeable resolution, but Waco double downed on their speech zone policy, assuring Pastor Holmes that they would not let him reach people with his religious message. Pastor Holmes received a copy of a written policy from the City on March 11, 2025, entitled Free Speech and Protest Guidelines for Permitted Events. The policy states that a “designated free speech zone will be set up by event organizers within the Permitted Area, ensuring a space where public speakers can peacefully express their views without disrupting the event.” Furthermore, “[i]f a Public Speaker disrupts the Event within the Permitted Area, event organizers or event security will request said Public Speaker to move to a designated free speech zone.”

In response, First Liberty Institute sent a letter to the City of Waco demanding that officials ensure free speech remains protected and honored in public parks.

“The city of Waco is targeting religious activity precisely because it is religious. That’s wrong, and it’s illegal,” said First Liberty Senior Counsel Nate Kellum. “Free Speech was never intended to only be conducted in remote, isolated areas defined by those who choose to silence speech they don’t like.”