Arkansas Sisters Arrested for Vandalizing Memorial
Two sisters from Arkansas, Kelly and Kaylee Rollo, aged 23 and 22, were arrested for vandalizing a memorial dedicated to Charlie Kirk, a murdered conservative activist. Following the incident, they’ve set up a GoFundMe page to help cover legal expenses and losses stemming from one sister’s job loss.
It all went down outside the Benton County Courthouse, where the sisters were caught on video damaging the memorial. In the footage, Kelly confronts the camera, making an obscene gesture while loudly denouncing Kirk. Meanwhile, Kaylee can be seen kicking over candles and flowers that were part of the tribute.
Both sisters are facing charges of first-degree criminal mischief, with Kaylee additionally charged with obstructing government operations, as confirmed by the Benton County Sheriff’s Office.
“Sheriff Shawn Holloway takes vandalism, especially against community memorials, very seriously,” stated the Sheriff’s Office.
After the arrest, Kaylee launched a GoFundMe titled “Fighting F4Cism – Helping to pay our legal fees,” claiming it will help cover their legal costs and her loss of employment. In her campaign, she expressed that the backlash against them was unjust and that their First Amendment rights were being infringed upon.
“After the recent death of Charlie Kirk, my brother and I have been doxxed online, and my brother lost his job. This violation of our rights is unfortunate, and any assistance would be appreciated,” Kaylee mentioned in her post.
Benton County Justice Joseph Bollinger addressed the situation, acknowledging the sisters’ right to freedom of expression. However, he emphasized that damaging a memorial affects not just the individual but the broader community as well.
“Everyone has the right to express their freedom but damaging a memorial tramples on people’s memories and our community values,” Bollinger explained.
As of Thursday morning, the sisters had raised over $20,000 of their $22,000 goal from more than 700 contributions. Notably, one donor, using the name “Antifa Supersoldier,” contributed $25, commenting that their actions were justified in the fight against fascism.
In legal proceedings, Kelly’s bond has been set at $15,000, while Kaylee’s is at $7,500. Kelly requested a public defender, while Kaylee opted for her own legal counsel.
