A Minnesota Christian man has been ordered to pay for his free speech rights and is currently suing.
In a lawsuit filed by the Center for American Freedom, Brian Conwell accuses Benson city officials of severely violating the First Amendment by putting a “price tag” on free speech after current City Council member Cherry Stielow forced him to purchase a commercial sales license to practice his constitutionally protected right to free speech at the city’s farmers market, which Stielow hosted.
“Government authorities cannot force Americans to purchase a license before they can peacefully express their beliefs on public property,” Mark Trammell of the Center for American Freedom said in a statement about the incident. “If you can shut Brian up today, you can shut up anyone tomorrow.”
According to the complaint, Conwell regularly displays pro-life and gospel-focused placards on public property, waits peacefully and quietly, and speaks only to those who initiate a conversation. The Christian activist “doesn’t block anyone, doesn’t threaten anyone, and doesn’t sell anything,” the lawsuit says, adding, “All he wants is to be left alone to talk.”
According to court documents, Mr. Conwell initially paid a $20 fee to display the sign on public property during the hours the market was operating. When Conwell filled out the form and responded to the request for funds in 2023, he was “unaware of what his rights were and was simply trying to ensure his message was heard,” the complaint states.
The city later allowed Mr. Conwell to be at the market in September and October 2023, but only as long as he remained inside the vendor’s tent.
At the same time that the controversy with Steelo was unfolding, another thread of Conwell’s story was unraveling.
When it all started in late July 2023, a street preacher stood on a grassy area near a farmers’ market and spoke through an audio amplifier. About 30 minutes to an hour after Conwell began speaking, Police Chief Ian Hodge stopped him and told him he needed a permit to continue because he was in violation of the city’s 50-foot sound ordinance, the statement said.
From August 9th to October 24th of that year, Conwell visited City Hall on four separate occasions, repeatedly attempting to apply for and obtain a noise permit. He appears to have gotten away with it, saying city officials were unaware of such a permit, according to court documents. He was also told on more than one occasion that the person involved was unavailable and asked for his contact information, but there was no further contact.
The saga came to an abrupt end on October 24, 2023, when Hodge and the city attorney informed Conwell that no such permit existed.
On July 9 of this year, Conwell returned to Benson and was again approached by Stielow, who offered her a vendor permit and asked for $20, which he flatly refused, reminding her that, just like in 2023, he wasn’t selling anything and was not willing to pay her to hang a sign or peacefully talk to people on public land. He tried the same thing on July 16th.
Conwell was charged with trespassing in both 2026 incidents. He now faces up to 90 days in jail and a fine of up to $2,000.
Even one of the officers who cited Conwell’s name reportedly expressed confusion to the preacher about the city’s policy on constitutionally protected speech.
“Honestly, I want an explanation too,” the officer told Conwell, according to court filings. “There’s a trespassing charge and a disorderly disorder charge, but you have First Amendment rights, so you have to try to figure it out. … I know what you’re doing, I get it. I’m glad somebody’s doing it here.”
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