In the United States today, free expression and political bias are constantly clashing in public and corporate life. The latest example came out of Portage, MI, where an Office Depot employee flatly refused to print memorial posters of the recently assassinated Charlie Kirk, founder of Turning Point USA. The employee, rather than honoring a grieving community’s request for material to be used at a prayer vigil, labeled the posters “propaganda” and denied service.
The backlash was immediate. Citizens, conservatives, and ordinary Americans alike voiced their outrage. Office Depot, to its credit, quickly issued a statement apologizing and announced that the employee had been terminated. In doing so, the company reaffirmed that political bias and disdain for grieving families have no place in its business.
What Happened In Portage, MI
In the aftermath of Charlie Kirk’s tragic assassination at Utah Valley University, communities across the nation came together to hold prayer vigils. In Kalamazoo County, Michigan, organizers of one such vigil sought to have posters printed in Kirk’s honor. They turned to Office Depot, pre-paid for their order, and expected the simple service of printing the posters.
What they got instead was outright rejection.
A store employee, who identified as a manager, looked at the posters and declared:
“It’s propaganda. I’m sorry, we don’t print that here… because he’s a political figure.”
The customer explained it was for a memorial vigil — not a campaign rally or political event. Still, the employee doubled down, repeating, “It’s propaganda. We don’t print that here.”
The stunned customer left with nothing in hand. In an inspiring show of support, a nearby FedEx store not only printed the posters but did so for free, apologizing for the treatment the customer received at Office Depot.
The Public Outcry
Once video of the incident circulated online, Americans reacted with fury. Conservatives saw the refusal as more than just poor customer service — it was a symptom of the political intolerance that has been seeping into corporate America.
Social media exploded with calls for boycotts. Commentators described the incident as “disgusting,” “insensitive,” and “a slap in the face to free expression.” In a moment of mourning for Kirk, who had been gunned down in cold blood, many argued that branding a prayer vigil poster as “propaganda” was not only offensive but cruel.
The story spread rapidly across conservative media, and within 24 hours, Office Depot was facing a national backlash.
Office Depot Responds
To its credit, the company did not delay. Office Depot issued a strong public statement acknowledging the mistake, apologizing to the customer, and announcing corrective action.
Here is the statement in full:
“We are deeply concerned by the incident that occurred at Store 3382 in Portage, Michigan.
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.We sincerely apologize to the customer affected and to our community for this regrettable situation.
Upon learning of the incident, we immediately reached out to the customer to address their concerns and seek to fulfill their order to their satisfaction. We have also launched an immediate internal review and, as a result, the associate involved is no longer with the organization.
We are committed to reinforcing training with all team members to ensure our standards of respect, integrity, and customer service are upheld at every location. Our customers and communities deserve nothing less.”
This decisive move was the right one. By apologizing and removing the associate, Office Depot demonstrated that political discrimination will not be tolerated in its stores.
Why This Matters
1. Free Expression Under Fire
For decades, America has been defined by its commitment to free speech and open expression. That commitment does not end in the public square — it extends to everyday commerce. If a business begins labeling prayer posters “propaganda,” then Americans lose more than a service: they lose their trust in equal treatment.
2. Political Bias Has No Place In Customer Service
Charlie Kirk was a conservative leader who gave his life advocating for American values. Whether or not one agreed with him politically, refusing to print memorial posters after his assassination was an inhumane act. Office Depot’s apology and corrective action restored some trust, but the fact that it happened at all reveals just how deep political bias runs in corporate America.
3. A Warning To Other Corporations
Office Depot’s experience should be a lesson to other companies: enforce neutrality. Businesses exist to serve their customers, not to push ideology. Companies that allow employees to impose their politics on customers risk losing their credibility — and their customers’ business.
Conservatives Applaud The Outcome
While the refusal itself was deeply offensive, conservatives across the nation applauded Office Depot’s ultimate decision to terminate the associate and uphold respect for the grieving community. Americans understand mistakes happen — what matters is how leadership responds.
By swiftly firing the employee and apologizing, Office Depot sent a message that politics will not dictate customer service. And for that, Americans can say: Office Depot, thank you for taking oiyllut the trash.
Conclusion
The refusal to print Charlie Kirk’s memorial posters was a disgraceful act, a reminder of the intolerance conservatives face daily. But the decisive response from Office Depot — apologizing, firing the associate, and reaffirming its values — was the right call.
In today’s divided America, this incident serves as a wake-up call. Companies must remain neutral, fair, and respectful. Families mourning a murdered conservative leader should never be told their prayer vigil materials are “propaganda.”
For taking swift corrective action and removing the politically biased employee, Office Depot has earned thanks.
About Office Depot
Office Depot, LLC, an operating company of The ODP Corporation, is a leading specialty retailer providing innovative products and services delivered through a fully integrated omnichannel platform of Office Depot and OfficeMax retail stores and an award-winning online presence, OfficeDepot.com, to support the productivity and organization of its small business, home office and education clients. Office Depot is committed to enabling its clients’ success, strengthening local communities and providing equal opportunities for all. For more information, visit officedepot.com, download the Office Depot app on your iPhone or Android and follow @officedepot on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and TikTok.
Featured image credit: DepositPhotos.com
