Sisters who trashed Charlie Kirk memorial beg for money online after job losses

Two sisters, Kerri Rollo, 23, who uses they/them pronouns, and Kaylee Rollo, 22, were arrested last week in Bentonville, Arkansas, on criminal mischief charges for vandalizing a makeshift Charlie Kirk memorial outside the Benton County Courthouse. Video recorded by a witness shows Kerri ripping signs and kicking candles at the memorial, and Kerri can be heard telling the camera, "Record all you want" while giving two middle fingers. Police said surveillance footage from the courthouse also shows Kaylee taking part in the vandalism, though authorities described the incident as a vandalism of a public memorial connected to a high-profile conservative figure who rose to prominence through student organizing and political commentary. The sisters were charged with criminal mischief in the first degree, a misdemeanor, and were released on bond on Friday. They are due back in court on October 22.

The pair have since opened a GoFundMe page with a goal of $18,000, described on the campaign as a means "to fight against F4CISM and help pay for our legal fees." The page notes that they have faced online harassment and, in Kaylee’s words, that her sibling was fired from their job. Kaylee wrote that they are "fighting against tyranny" and that anything helps as they seek to cover legal costs. By the time this article was prepared, donations had surpassed roughly $14,000, reflecting a mix of supporters and critics who have contributed and left comments.

Kerri worked at a Bentonville restaurant called Bella’s Table, which publicly distanced itself from the incident after complaints from locals. In a statement, Bella’s Table said the individual who vandalized the Charlie Kirk memorial does not represent the restaurant’s values or standards, and that the restaurant would handle the matter internally while continuing to serve the community with professionalism. The statement also emphasized that the broader staff’s dedication should not be overshadowed by the actions of one person.

In another online exchange related to the arrests, a woman named Lacy Christian claimed she kicked Kaylee out of her home after learning of the arrest. Christian said Kaylee had been staying with her son’s girlfriend for about a year but countered that she would not permit someone living in her home to celebrate or support acts she deemed as destructive. Christian’s account underscores how the incident has attracted a range of reactions and interpretations on social media, including personal anecdotes about the individuals involved.

Authorities have said the sheriff’s office takes vandalism against community memorials very seriously, and the case remains under investigation as prosecutors prepare for the October court date. The sheriff’s office released a statement reaffirming its commitment to enforcing laws against property damage and to safeguarding public memorials, while stressing the seriousness with which such acts are treated. A Daily Mail spokesman said the outlet reached out to the Rollo sisters for comment on the developing story.

Donors on the GoFundMe page have included a broad cross-section of commentators. Some contributors expressed support, including one user who wrote, "You did a good thing." Others used the platform to frame the actions as a protest of political power or a fight for free speech. Conversely, several donations accompanied hostile messages, reflecting the polarized discourse surrounding the case and the broader culture wars that have animated U.S. politics in recent years.

The case touches on the broader tension in American political life around protest and the use of memorials as political symbolism. Charlie Kirk, a prominent conservative activist and commentator who built a national profile through Turning Point USA, has become a focal point in political debates about free expression, public decorum, and the boundaries of protest. While this incident is anchored in a local Arkansas courthouse lawn, the rhetoric surrounding the episode resonates with national conversations about political dissent, accountability, and how social consequences—such as job loss and online harassment—intersect with second- and first-amendment debates.

In the aftermath of the vandalism, law enforcement officials indicated that the investigation would continue, and the defendants were ordered to appear back in court on October 22. The Daily Mail said it had contacted the Rollo sisters for comment but had not received a response at the time of publication. As the case unfolds, observers will be watching how local authorities balance the protection of public memorials with citizens’ rights to express their views, a balancing act that underpins ongoing political debates in the United States.