Free The Donuts

By Stephen Nass for The Liberty Block

Leavitt’s Country Bakery is being extorted by local authoritarians.

In June 2022, Leavitt’s bakery allowed local high school students to paint a colorful mural above its entryway. Depicting various baked goods and a rising sun, the town politicians of Conway decided that the mural is a ‘sign’ for advertising and not a work of art, and is illegal. In true arbitrary fashion, they insist the mural would be allowed were it smaller, or even if it were above the farm stand next door. Just not where it is on the property of the bakery.

While Conway sits as the third most crime-ridden town in New Hampshire, rather than find better things to do the local government has denied appeals to the local ordinance and is insisting on compliance. The owner, Sean Young, faces fines of $275 each day that the mural remains and faces possible arrest.

Enforcing such a rule is not only a violation of the bakery owner’s constitutional right to Free Speech but also his natural right to property. The bakery visibly has the support of the local townsfolk, and their mural isn’t harming anything but the sensibilities of authoritarian politicians and bureaucrats.

Thankfully, the Institute for Justice has taken up the case and is bringing forward a Federal Lawsuit against Conway.

This Monday, February 6th at noon, join the Free State Food Network and other liberty advocates at Leavitt’s Country Bakery in a show of support. The address is 564 White Mountain Hwy, Conway, NH 03818. We’ll come from all over the state to demonstrate that we won’t be bullied by small-town thugs.

UPDATE May 2023: As reported by FindLaw.com, “Young and the zoning committee agreed to pause the hostilities back in February, deciding to let the townspeople vote on the issue. The election held in April included a vote on a provision that would change a definition in the sign code that would allow the mural to stay put. Unfortunately for Young and the young artists, the townspeople voted against the change in definitions, saying that it would “only further complicate enforcement.” The vote failed, the zoning committee showed no signs of backing down, and Young was left with one option: to resume court proceedings and battle it out in front of a judge.”

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