No Sympathy: Sisters Who Targeted Charlie Kirk Memorial Lose Jobs, Beg for Legal Funds

In Bentonville, Arkansas, a local act of vandalism has exploded into a national controversy. Two sisters, Kerri Melissa Rollo, 23, and Kaylee Heather Rollo, 22, were arrested last week for damaging a public memorial dedicated to slain conservative activist Charlie Kirk. Now, after being fired from their jobs and facing felony charges, the sisters have launched an online fundraiser, claiming their protest was protected speech and pleading for help with mounting legal bills.

The Benton County Sheriff’s Office announced the arrests after a “swift investigation” into the destruction of the tribute, which had been assembled on the steps of the county courthouse by local supporters mourning Kirk’s death. Cellphone footage, widely shared on social media and news outlets, shows the sisters tearing up handwritten notes, scattering flowers and candles, and making obscene gestures at the memorial. In the video, one woman shouts profanities about Kirk while stomping on candles and placards, while the other discards tributes left by mourners.

Sheriff Shawn Holloway emphasized the seriousness of the crime:
“Sheriff Holloway takes acts of vandalism, particularly those directed toward community memorials, very seriously.”

Both sisters were booked on first-degree criminal mischief, and Kaylee faces an additional charge of obstruction of governmental operations. Court records show Kerri’s bond was set at $15,000 and Kaylee’s at $7,500. Kerri requested a public defender; Kaylee retained private counsel.

Following their arrests and the viral spread of the video, the sisters say they were “doxxed,” harassed, and fired from their jobs. In response, they created a GoFundMe page titled “FIGHT AGAINST F4CISM HELP PAY FOR OUR LEGAL FEES,” seeking $18,000 to cover attorney fees and court costs.

Kaylee Rollo wrote on the page:
“After the recent events of Charlie Kirk’s death, my sibling and I are being doxxed online and my sibling was fired from their job. This is direct violation of their first amendment rights and unconstitutional. Please help my sibling while they look for another job and stand against the tyranny that is creeping into the country.”

The fundraiser quickly garnered thousands of dollars in donations, alongside a flood of critical comments from detractors. The sisters continue to update the page, referencing ongoing harassment and their need for legal counsel.

Local officials condemned the vandalism, making a clear distinction between the right to protest and the criminal destruction of property. Benton County Justice of the Peace Joseph Bollinger told ABC affiliate 40/29 News:
“Everyone has a right to express their freedom of expression. But when you trample on someone’s memorial—the human act of grieving—you’re not just trampling on their freedom of expression; you’re trampling on the memory of a person. You’re trampling on our Benton County values.”

The sheriff’s office shared booking photos and stills from the video, including images of one woman making a middle-finger gesture toward the person filming.

Legal experts interviewed by national outlets noted that while the First Amendment protects protest, criminal mischief statutes apply when property is damaged. Employers in most states can lawfully terminate employees for off-duty conduct that generates public outrage, with limited exceptions.

The sisters have framed their actions as protest, but authorities stress the case is about alleged criminal damage, not political speech. The sheriff’s office has not commented on the sisters’ employment status or alleged harassment beyond the arrests and the general warning against defacing memorials.

The incident unfolded during a week of high-profile memorials and security incidents following Kirk’s killing in Orem, Utah. Thousands gathered at State Farm Stadium in Arizona for a tribute, and law enforcement responded to multiple security threats, including the arrest of an armed man at the venue.

Vandalism investigations have been opened in several states since Kirk’s death. In Arizona, police arrested a 19-year-old man after he was restrained outside Turning Point USA’s headquarters, where another memorial had been set up.

Local officials have centered their comments on community standards and the boundaries between protest and property crime. Bollinger reiterated that mourners’ right to assemble a tribute did not grant others license to destroy it. The sheriff’s office said the case would be forwarded to prosecutors after compiling digital evidence and conducting interviews.

The GoFundMe page remains active, with the sisters publicly pleading for donations and framing their conduct as constitutionally protected protest. Court calendars indicate that preliminary hearings in felony mischief cases follow soon after arrest, with bond conditions typically restricting contact with victims and prohibiting further disruptive conduct at government facilities.

The Bentonville case highlights how quickly local acts tied to national tragedies can be amplified and monetized online. Within hours, the sisters were identified, arrested, and booked; within days, their plea for help reached thousands. As the legal process unfolds, the episode serves as a reminder of the complex intersection between free speech, criminal law, and community values in the digital age.

“Acts of vandalism … are taken very seriously.”

The sisters now await their day in court, with the outcome likely to spark further debate about protest, accountability, and the boundaries of expression in America.