A prayer vigil for Charlie Kirk in Portage, Michigan, went forward successfully Friday night despite controversy earlier in the day.
Three teenagers organizing the vigil were initially refused service at a local Office Depot, where employees labeled their posters “political propaganda.”
The Incident
Video shows the teens asking employees why their paid order was not printed.
“We don’t print propaganda,” a supervisor said.
Today at 2:24 PM, the Kalamazoo County Republican Party #KGOP placed an order for a poster of #CharlieKirk for a vigil tonight. At 5:30 “Beryl” the print supervisor (guy on left) called and said they are refusing to print the poster because it is “propaganda.” Hey @officedepot… pic.twitter.com/pKHAQ2OQda
— Matthew S. DePerno, Esq. (@mdeperno) September 12, 2025
The manager echoed the statement, cutting off the students as they tried to explain the posters were for a vigil.
FedEx Steps In
With the vigil hours away, the teens turned to FedEx for help.
Not only did the FedEx store agree to print the posters, but staff provided them free of charge.
A student employee told organizers that Kirk had inspired her to be more confident in her faith.
Posters Delivered, Young Conservatives Speak Out
The finished posters, featuring a black-and-white image of Kirk, were displayed at the event.
Photos shared online showed the teenagers holding them proudly on the courthouse steps.
James Asher (in back), Dayne Webb, Kalamazoo Young Republicans leader (left), and Turning Point Action Field Director for Southwest Michigan Miguel Pilar (right)
Supporters praised FedEx for ensuring the vigil could move forward.
Dayne Webb, Kalamazoo Republican Party Youth Chair, spoke at the vigil.
“The truth only gets washed away when we stop speaking it,” he told the crowd.
He thanked the young organizers for their courage.
Dayne Webb
Dozens gathered at Bronson Park in Kalamazoo for the evening vigil.
Supporters carried flags, flowers, and signs honoring Kirk’s life.
The event opened with the national anthem, prayers, and a moment of silence.
Organizer James Asher urged the community to come together despite differences.
“We just wanted a place for people to pray, mourn, and remember his life,” he said.
Asher also read a statement from Turning Point USA, which Kirk co-founded.
Kalamazoo police monitored the vigil to ensure safety.
The event remained peaceful, with attendees encouraged to share words of remembrance.
A local pastor closed the gathering in prayer.
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Organizers announced another vigil is planned at Western Michigan University on Sunday.
They pledged that Kirk’s message of faith, unity, and free speech would continue to inspire the community.
Office Depot Response
The company later issued an apology.
The company emphasized that its policies prohibit discrimination based on political beliefs.
Office Depot CEO Gerry Smith confirmed the employees had been terminated.
“We continue to closely manage our response to the unfortunate customer experience that occurred at Office Depot Store 3382 in Portage, Michigan on September 12. The behavior displayed by the associates was completely unacceptable and insensitive, violated our company policies, and did not reflect the values we uphold at Office Depot.”
“On behalf of the Company, we sincerely apologize for this regrettable situation. Upon learning of the incident, we immediately reached out to the customer to address their concerns. We also launched an immediate internal review and, as a result, the associates responsible are no longer with the organization.”
