Christian street preachers planning to demonstrate outside Saturday’s Pride Kel-So event in Southlake have received death threats and a warning that sprinklers could damage their equipment, according to preacher Richard Penkoski.
The allegations come as organizers prepare for a smaller October 3 gathering after the Southlake City Council rejected a permit for the larger festival.
As previously reported by The Dallas Express, council members unanimously denied a specific use permit on September 15 for the event at St. Martin-in-the-Fields Episcopal Church.
Preacher alerts Southlake officials
Penkoski emailed Southlake officials and police ahead of the demonstration, reporting “numerous hostile remarks, including death threats and warnings that we would ‘find out’ if we showed up.”
He said his group plans to preach from public property and public rights-of-way near the event.
Penkoski also supplied a screenshot showing a Facebook comment under the name John D Albright that referenced the preachers’ equipment.
“And there will be powerful water sprinklers pointed outside,” the comment reads. “Enjoy ruining your equipment and getting soaked.”
Penkoski told officials that his group uses audio and recording equipment valued at more than $1,000 and said deliberately directing sprinklers toward it could cause significant damage.
“I am CC’ing the Chief of Police so law enforcement is fully aware of this premeditated threat ahead of October 3,” Penkoski wrote.
Penkoski characterized the comment as a threat to damage the group’s equipment.
Pride event moves forward
Organizers said in a September 20 announcement that the October 3 Pride event will cap attendance at 999 people on the property and include food trucks, vendors and fundraising for Pride Kel-So and other local LGBTQ+ organizations.
The full festival will move to a Saturday in April, with an exact date to follow, the announcement said.
“SHOW UP. October 3rd for the Block Party. April for Pride Kel-So. Show up and support us,” the organization wrote on Facebook.
The street preachers, meanwhile, say the hostile responses will not deter their plans.
“We are Christian preachers who operate strictly within our constitutional rights on public property and the public right-of-way,” Penkoski wrote.
The Dallas Express has reached out to the Southlake Police Department and Pride Kel-So for comment regarding the reported threats and security surrounding the October 3 event.
Provided by Dallas Express
