Protests at a “family-friendly” drag show in Fort Worth this Sunday ended with three in custody, and police have now released video footage capturing multiple assaults and the resulting arrests.
Children were allowed to attend the event hosted by Fort Brewery and Pizza on April 23, much like the “family-friendly” drag shows hosted by BuzzBrews Kitchen in Dallas, which The Dallas Express has previously covered.
Both protesting and counter-protesting groups could be seen outside the venue. The counter-protesters were thought to be members of the Elm Fork John Brown Gun Club (EFJBGC) — an armed Antifa group that aims to protect marginalized groups, per its social media page.
The group, who wore masks and tactical gear and carried weapons, quickly became violent. After one apparent EFJBGC member pepper-sprayed a group of protesters unprovoked, police intervened.
On Monday, the Fort Worth Police Department released a compilation of City camera and bodycam footage depicting the arrests and what led up to them, as well as identifying the arrestees. Alongside this footage was a press release detailing the series of events.
(1 of 2) Video of Protest Report #230030255 pic.twitter.com/HAXzEGp6xC
— Fort Worth Police (@fortworthpd) April 24, 2023
In the video, Fort Worth police can be heard warning the armed counter-protesters not to reach for their weapons and to stand down. Several policemen with bicycles form a barrier and warn onlookers to stay back as their fellow officers make the arrests.
The three suspected EFJBGC members taken into custody were identified as Samuel Fowlkes, 20, Christopher Guillott, 33, and Meghan Grant, 37.
Fowlkes is charged with resisting arrest, assaulting a peace officer, evading arrest, and four counts of assault causing bodily injury. His bond is set at $22,500.
Guillott is charged with assaulting a peace officer and interfering with public duties. His bond is set at $9,500.
Grant is charged with resisting arrest and interfering with public duties. Her bond is set at $4,000.
The Dallas Express was present at Fort Brewery and Pizza to cover the protest and counter-protest.
When The Dallas Express arrived at the scene, the EFJBGC members were already there and could be heard hurling obscenities at Fort Worth police officers as well as those who had come to protest the event.
One of the groups protesting the event was the New Columbia Movement, who were gathered in prayer, as one NCM member told The Dallas Express. It was the assault against these protesters that prompted the initial police response.
“We were there for a couple of minutes just analyzing the situation and decided to pray. We’d just started the prayer. We didn’t even get through it that much when three guys decided to come over to our side. Two of them, they have little ammo packs, one of them has a little stick with two flags on it, transgender or something,” said Kyle Randle.
Randle explained to The Dallas Express that as the three masked individuals confronted his group, one of the NCM members stood up to them.
“One of our guys is saying ‘Go to your side,’” Randle said.
As shown in the Fort Worth Police Department footage, one of the EFJBGC members, later identified by police as Fowlkes, walked toward the group and started spraying pepper spray.
“The guy with the two tiny flags on the stick decides to pull out pepper spray, gets one of our guys, gets another one. I’m right here, but as soon as I saw his hand go up I was like, oh shoot, you know ducking out of the way so it doesn’t get me,” Randle told The Dallas Express.
The spray did not get Randle but landed on a mother named Julia Lockhart, who was attending the protest with her daughter.
As previously reported by The Dallas Express, moments later, Fort Worth police began to pursue the individual previously described by Randle as firing pepper spray.
The Dallas Express captured our own footage of the events that ensued as officers arrived on the scene.
Video from a protest of a family friendly drag show that allows kids to attend the Fort Worth brewery and pizza in fort Worth. Footage shows pursuit and arrest of one of the people dressed in all black. #NewsUpdate #DragonBall #dragshowprotest,#journalism pic.twitter.com/yAVwPvYBkj
— JCarter (@themrcarter_) April 24, 2023
While at the drag show, The Dallas Express spoke with many of those who attended the event, whether in support or in protest.
Lockhart, the mother and NCM member who was pepper sprayed, explained to The Dallas Express why she and her daughter were protesting the show.
“I see a lot of people who are afraid to show their faces. My daughter and I are here showing our faces because we are proud of what we believe, and we are not behaving like that, so I see a true difference in our side versus their side,” said Lockhart. “As you can see, they are attacking police officers and we are standing here peacefully.”
Kelly Neidert, executive director of Protect Texas Kids, also spoke to The Dallas Express.
She explained that PTK has been protesting “family-friendly” drag shows because the venues allow kids to attend.
“We’re here today because the show was promoted as a family-friendly show,” explained Neidert.
Neidert told The Dallas Express that some performers mocked the group’s opposition.
“Some of the performers had even gone on their social media pages after we announced the protest, and they said that they were just kind of mocking us and assuring us that it would be family-friendly, but we know that it never is so that’s why we’re out here today,” said Neidert.
Supporters of the drag show told The Dallas Express that they disagreed with the protest.
“Nobody here is hurting anybody. They’re having fun,” Shawn Sargent, who came to see the show, told The Dallas Express.
“That’s all these people do is love everybody. If you can’t get on board with that, and you’re supposed to be Christian, and you’re going to church, and then you come do this, that’s not Christianlike, that’s not love, you love people,” said Sargent.
Kadince Kepler, 15, attended the drag show with her mother, who gave permission for her daughter to speak to The Dallas Express. Kepler said drag shows are not a problem, but child gender transitioning is.
“Instead of going after the grown adults that make their own decisions, go after the parents who tell their kid that they’re the other gender than they were born,” Kepler told The Dallas Express.
“My 7-year-old daughter asked me where I was going today, and I told her that I was gonna go watch men dressed up as women dancing and singing, and she said I wanna go, and I said one of these days I’ll take you,” Audrey Matthews, another attendee of the drag show, told The Dallas Express.
“This is absolutely normal, this is absolutely child-friendly,” Matthews added. “They’re not doing anything that hurts children in any way, shape, or form. These are performers and they’re here to entertain, and it’s all about love.”
Aaron Hoernke, the marketing director of Fort Brewery and Pizza, previously told The Dallas Express that children are allowed to attend the controversial shows the brewery hosts.
In an email to The Dallas Express, Hoernke explained what the establishment stands for.
“We are a brewery that sells pizza, wine, beer and no hard liquor. The atmosphere is one that was designed to be enjoyed by all,” wrote Hoernke.
In response to The Dallas Express’ question about who funds the drag show, Hoernke replied, “It is funded by the public through the sale of tickets to the event.”
The State of Texas needs a clear law making it unlawful to commit a crime while wearing a mask to conceal identity. It should raise the crime by at least 1 or two levels and mandate maximum sentencing as law. Additionally, if done while carrying, one should face losing the right to own or carry for at least the time sentenced including probation, even if there was no felony.
These criminals assembling with intent to violate the rights of others to peacefully assemble and be heard and to commit violent acts against them need to spend some real time in jails and prisons, not just face a fine and be released. When they prove that they are violent when carrying arms, they should not be allowed to carry them.
At least the police actually did their job, and apparently were properly prepared to hold back the friends and cohorts of the attackers without escalation of violence and thwarted any possibility of gun play. Good Job!
Why don’t we let underage kids in strip clubs with their parents ?? Because it’s the law you CAN NOT make that choice for your kids it’s WRONG. You must be 18 yrs old and up to make your own decisions and not be exposed to what your parents think is right for you. That’s why we have a UNDER AGE LAW to protect our children if the parents are not wise enough our LAW enforcement take over to protect our children. That includes alcohol, sex, Internet, we must have morals for our children to follow God’s word
There were two or more groups involved in this protest. This event was not about the protesters but about family friendly entertainment. You people are hijacking someone else event and making it about what you want it to be.
It’s all about fun right? Fun for who? A pedo is having fun while raping a child….. so it’s just fun right? NOT FOR THE KID. This is grooming children plain and simple. If you’re okay with it then you are a stain on moral society. It’s sad you are so insecure you want to validate it by bringing children in to your “fun”.
You sound like you support pedophilia, Jay.
It IS called grooming. We are not making it up
It is pathetic how our rock-of-truth treasured local “paper of record” excluded the “family friendly” descriptor from their reporting on this incident, leaving the bias-by-omission impression that the protestors were simply “anti-drag” busy bodies.
Such an obviously misdirected implication whitewashes the central issue related to the issue.
Oh well, at least the stockholders that cashed out after getting the property sale special dividend did OK, unlike the reporters that they hire to affix their names to such rubbish.
I got one word for ya scooter….MILLSTONE. This is an excellent job of journalism, and it’s not surprising you don’t recognize what that is. Just because you don’t agree doesn’t make it anything other. If you want to call groomong “family friendly” then what do you call what comes next? adjectives can’t alter TRUTH.
You must be new to the area. You think this upstart against-the-corporate-grain newspaper is considered the rock-of-truth treasured local “paper of record”? Have you ever been to Young and Record Streets in downtown Dallas? There is a landmark building with a Rock of Truth on the front wall of that building that a certain other newspaper used to occupy. That building was recently sold with the proceeds going mostly to shareholders via special dividend.
Now that you are all caught up, maybe you can connect the rest of the dots.
You are welcome.
The question is when do WE start carving the millstones?
It was a very dangerous situation, mainly because the majority of people were carrying guns. EFJBGC is a valid organization with an important cause. Sadly, one of its youngest members made a stupid mistake. But when so many have guns, stupid mistakes can lead to death. Why did he think he could get away with that? The rules are simple. Stay on your side of the street. Do not allow yourself to be provoked. Protect, do not to incite. And your mission is to never participate in an unprovoked attack. Seriously, just how truly dangerous were those sad and shabby people across the street? Yes, they are filled with hate and in many ways clueless. But they too have a right to be there.
because he watches on tv all the other thugs in black get away with it. He is too stupid to realize He is in Ft. Worth, not Seattle.
Now Rudy, I grew up in Oak Cliff, graduated from college in San Marcos and worked in Fort Worth for many years. I assure you, I know exactly where I am and exactly what I am talking about. Plus, unlike you, I was there. These human beings are not thugs. They are politically-minded young people who see the dangerous changes taking place in our home state. I will admit they went too far on Sunday. But their presence is welcome when marginalized human beings are being vilified, bullied and dehumanized. Their cause is a valid one.
Everyone who sees a pedo or pedo sympathizer should be filled with hate.
Good Job to the law enforcement that took control of the situation.
If these criminals were carrying I truly hope they lose their right to carry a firearm. We DO NOT need this violent type carrying firearms. I myself am a true believer of the 2nd amendment but people such as these have zero rights because they apparently have hostile tendencies. As for drag shows, they are disgusting but each is his own and it is NOT for children! The children need protection from demented people that think it’s is acceptable. The youth of today is our future. This great country of ours is coming apart at the seams and we “all” should do our part to keep it together, support our local police fire & rescue and so on. Folks taking a stand for the good cause is the right thing. Let’s continue to keep it without violence. Again, great job to the law enforcement that took control of this situation.
To all, please stay safe and stay healthy during these unsettling times and may God watch over us all.
In my mind the stand your ground law should have applied for an unprovoked attack. Just saying. When you are blinded who knows what happens to you next.
“Fort Brewery and Pizza” Hm, continuation of Pizzagate where children are sold under the guise of selling pizza?
Nobody should bring children to this nightmare scene. The protestor who brought her child is naive at best bringing her daughter into danger. GREAT JOB FWPD. Now let’s see what the prosecutor will do?
Why is the Great State of Texas allowing aunt tiffa any where?