Free speech on campus sparks debate

By Foster Conner and Ashley Escobar
Staff Reporter and Editor-in-Chief

Preachers from Official Street Preachers and Warriors for Christ came to Amarillo College on Oct. 29, 2024 with signs and shirts promoting the Bible. The preachers’ rhetoric drew attention across campus, sparking discussion among students and staff. 

“I am just here to preach the Bible,” Rich Penkoski, a preacher said. “Repent of your sins and turn to Jesus Christ.” 

The Official Street Preachers is a national organization that believes it is important to preach loudly on the streets and to spread the word of God. 

“Millions of people that walk by our preaching with banners raised both heard and saw a message from God and they are without excuse,” the official website said. “A tract, they can say ‘No’ but what they both heard and saw, they cannot plead ignorance on Judgement Day.”

Students such as mass media major Michael Whitaker said he has a big problem with this sort of preaching on campus. 

“I have a really big problem with intolerance,” Michael Whitaker, a mass media major, said. “They’re preaching these ideas of hatred in the name of a religion that is supposed to be about love and acceptance and all things good.” 

Some students, such as JJ Casias, a general studies major, said she witnessed harmful comments directed personally to certain students. 

“He told a woman to ‘Shut up, the men are talking,’” Casias said. 

Casias said she had the chance to debate these preachers on their stance and try to have a peaceful discussion.

 “I am a Christian woman and it breaks my heart that people who are full of hate and spreading misinformation.” Casias said. “Jesus saved my life and it breaks my heart to see this.”

David Grisham, a preacher and a member of Repent Amarillo said the controversial signs and shirts are on purpose. “It’s called phishing, we got to use bait to draw people in and it works like a charm” Grisham said. 

According to MyHighPlains, the Repent Amarillo organization is in the category of “General Hate” however to Penkoski, he said that all his preaching done all over the country is done in love of the bible and not violent. 

“It’s never our side that’s not peaceful,” Penkoski said. “It’s their side that is not peaceful.”

Penkoski talks about how his actions regarding a shirt he wore gained over 40 million views on X.

“Nobody defends other sins but when we call out homosexuality you see the reaction,” Rich Penkoski, a preacher said. “We went to preach at the Republican national convention and the girl at Subway kicked me out because my shirt said homosexuality is a sin.” 

Amarillo College does not currently have a policy in place to designate a freedom of speech area which is why the group of preachers were able to express themselves freely in front of the Badger Cafe. 

“If you are going to conduct an event on campus, there is a process for that,” Bob Austin, vice president of enrollment, said. “Here is what we know: these guys were engaged in dialogue with certain students and it appears the students were able to hold their own.” 

Due to the design of the campus, Austin said preachers of many kinds have come to campus to have discussions with students. 

“I’m very proud of how our student body acted today,” Hayden Splawn, graphic design major said. “Out of all the students that spoke today, they spoke in defense of others that have been marginalized and disrespected.I was unaware of parts of AC being public property so I was shocked but grateful to know that it was being used as a public forum. The events today proved how unconditionally strong and brave our student body and staff is.”