The fallout from the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk has now reached the retail world. Office Depot confirmed it has fired an employee at its Portage, Michigan, store after a video surfaced showing them refusing to print vigil posters honoring Kirk.
The now-viral clip, posted by the account @MIForward_Net, shows a tense exchange inside the store. In the video, an employee can be heard telling a customer, “We don’t print propaganda,” while repeatedly rejecting the order. The posters were for a nationwide series of vigils held Friday to honor Kirk, who was fatally shot on September 10 while speaking at a Turning Point USA event in Utah.
After the video ignited backlash online, the company issued a swift statement condemning the worker’s actions.
“The behavior displayed by our associate is completely unacceptable and insensitive, violates our company policies, and does not reflect the values we uphold at Office Depot,” the company said in its statement.
The retailer also confirmed the customer ultimately received their posters “to their satisfaction” and added, “We apologize for the distress this incident caused.”
The controversy has drawn sharp political responses. Michigan Republican Congressman Bill Huizenga called the incident “shameful,” posting on X that “Americans should never face discrimination when grieving or honoring someone they admire.”
Conservative commentators echoed those sentiments, framing the incident as part of a broader cultural battle over free expression.
The killing of Charlie Kirk has sent shockwaves through conservative circles. Kirk, who founded Turning Point USA in 2012, was a fixture in right-wing activism, known for fiery speeches defending free speech and the Second Amendment. Vigils in his memory were organized across the country, from Phoenix to Washington, D.C., drawing thousands of attendees.
For many supporters, the refusal at Office Depot was more than just a customer-service dispute — it felt like another insult in the midst of mourning. As one attendee at a Michigan vigil told local TV: “It’s heartbreaking enough that Charlie’s gone. To have someone call his memorial propaganda is cruel.”
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If employees won’t follow a directive, let th
Thank you for firing them!!!!!
Good. I’m glad they did (fire the employee). Personal beliefs/views have no place at the workplace. You’re there to provide a service/product – in this case, printing. You were not hired to place your personal views above what you were hired to do. Just like pharmacists shouldn’t be allowed to deny filling a prescription because it goes against their religious belief. Just like not making a cake for certain individuals goes against their moral beliefs or anything else. Just like providing legal documents to certain individuals goes against your moral beliefs. And so on.
Do your job and leave the politics, religion, bias and anything else, outside.
Thank you