City of Benson officials cited resident Bryan Conwell with criminal trespass and tried to force him to pay a vendor fee in order to peacefully hold a pro-life sign on public property, according to a new lawsuit filed last week.
Conwell, a Christian evangelist and preborn advocate, stood at a public farmers market on two occasions in July holding a sign that expressed his beliefs and spoke with people who voluntarily approached him, the lawsuit explains. According to a press release from the Center for American Liberty, which is representing Conwell, he was not blocking traffic, disrupting any events, or selling products.
Regardless, city officials insisted that Conwell register as a commercial vendor and pay the subsequent $20 fee in order to stand with his sign and talk to people, the lawsuit says. When he refused, police officers cited him with criminal trespass.
When he came back the following week, police cited him a second time.
“The more you come back, the more citations you’re going to get,” an officer allegedly told Conwell.
“Separately, when Mr. Conwell has sought to use a sound amplifier elsewhere in the City, the City has told him he needs a permit, but it admits that it does not have a permitting process in place,” the lawsuit says.
The Center for American Liberty, a nonprofit organization dedicated to defending the constitutional rights of American citizens, filed a lawsuit July 21 on behalf of Conwell against the City of Benson.
“This case is about the price a local government may put on the freedom of speech, in dollars, in permits, and in the unbridled discretion of officials to decide who may be heard. Under the First Amendment, the answer to each of these questions is ‘none,'” the lawsuit argues.
The lawsuit alleges violations of the First Amendment’s protections for free speech and the free exercise of religion.
“The First Amendment doesn’t come with a price tag,” said Mark Trammell, CEO of the Center for American Liberty. “Government officials cannot force Americans to buy a license before they peacefully express their beliefs on public property. If they can silence Bryan today, they can silence anyone tomorrow.”
The lawsuit also challenges the City of Benson’s sound ordinance, which allegedly requires individuals to obtain a permit before using amplified sound in public spaces. According to the press release, city officials admitted that no formal permitting process exists, which gives officials broad discretion over who is allowed to speak in public areas.
In filing the lawsuit, the Center for American Liberty is asking the court to declare the city’s restrictions unconstitutional and prevent Benson officials from enforcing rules that limit peaceful expression.
Alpha News contacted the City of Benson for comment but did not receive a response before publication.
Rachael Van Rossum
Rachael Van Rossum is a journalist and author who studies political science in the Twin Cities. She previously interned with the Illinois House of Representatives and recently published her debut fantasy novel "The Hellburner of Sovi." Rachael is passionate about telling compelling stories and bringing to life the voices of political figures, athletes, and members of her community through engaging writing. She is the Alpha News journalism fellow for the summer of 2026.
