News Release
For Immediate Release: 6.2.25
Contact: John Manning, media@firstliberty.org
Direct: 972-941-4453
Texas City Bans Church Members From Public Park Over Religious Dialogue with Event Attendees
Banishing people from a public space because the government doesn’t like their speech is unconstitutional.
Waco, TX—First Liberty Institute sent a letter to the City of Waco (TX) demanding that local church members be allowed to freely engage in religious dialogue with local attendees at the Brazos Park East, a public park own and maintained by the city. Pastor Ronnie Holmes and members of his church were forced to move away from event attendees and relocate to the city’s designated “free speech zone.”
You can read the letter here.
“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.”
Compelled by his Christian beliefs to share his faith with attendees, Pastor Holmes and other members of his church visited Brazos Park East, a public park owned and maintained by the City of Waco, during the annual “Out on the Brazos” festival hosted by the Waco Pride Network (WPN) last October. The entire park remained free and open to the public throughout the event. After entering the park, Pastor Holmes and his group moved to an open, grassy area out of the way of pedestrian traffic and spoke with several attendees about their faith until three police officers from the Waco Police Department approached, halted their speech, and escorted them to a 10-foot x 20-foot zone, approximately fifty yards away from the main event area.
Pastor Holmes informed city officials about his concerns, hoping to come to an agreeable resolution, but Waco double downed on its speech zone policy, assuring Pastor Holmes that they would not let him reach people with his religious message.
According to the letter, “the so-called speech zone ‘renders Pastor Holmes’ chosen speech and mission futile, foreclosing any sufficient means of communication.’ Pastor Holmes requests written assurance that the City abandon its policy banishing his religious speech to a speech zone.”
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About First Liberty Institute
First Liberty Institute is a non-profit public interest law firm and the largest legal organization in the nation dedicated exclusively to defending religious freedom for all Americans.
To arrange an interview, contact John Manning at media@firstliberty.org or by calling 972-941-4453.
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