On a chilly Wednesday morning outside Fayetteville Christian School, Pat Wiley stood on the sidewalk in camouflage and a white shirt bearing the words “Veterans Against Fascism” in red lettering. Wearing a matching hat, he clutched a crumpled sheet of paper in one hand and a megaphone labeled “MAGA-PHONE” in the other.
“Watch out for false prophets,” Wiley read aloud from Matthew 7:15. “They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves.”
Nearby, protesters held signs reading “Kick Out Kirk!” and “No Kirk, No KKK, No Fascist USA.” Another displayed a large image of Erika Kirk with the words “Stop Grifting With God” and “Religion Is Not a Paycheck.”
About 10 demonstrators gathered outside the private school on Ireland Drive as Kirk, CEO and board chair of the conservative organization Turning Point USA, visited the campus to address junior high and high school students about civic engagement.
The demonstration, organized by the Fayetteville Resistance Coalition, followed concerns raised by parents about the political implications of Kirk’s appearance, student safety, and the school’s decision to host her.
As people left the event, some rolled down their vehicle windows and shouted “God bless you!” toward the protesters. Others waved miniature American flags as they drove past.
Demonstrators responded with chants of “Kick out Kirk!”
Carrie Rose: ‘My Life Matters Too!’
Carrie Rose, a Fayetteville resident, said she learned about Kirk’s visit on social media and quickly decided to join the demonstration.
“I have to get out there and let my voice be heard,” Rose said.
Rose said Kirk uses religion for political and personal gain.
“I feel like she exploits religion—I feel like she’s a grifter,” Rose said. “I feel like she doesn’t value all lives.”
Rose pointed to remarks Kirk made during a March appearance alongside Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders, when she encouraged students to stand up for their beliefs and urged young white men not to feel disenfranchised.
“Don’t let anyone disenfranchise you because you are a young man,” Kirk said at the March 11 event. “Especially if you are a young, white, male man.”
Rose said the remarks overlooked the importance of other people’s lives.
“It’s not a given that our lives matter too, just as much,” she said.
Later, as people leaving the event drove past the demonstrators, Rose stood along the roadside and raised her voice toward the passing vehicles.
“My life matters too!” she shouted.
Joshua Reed: ‘A Weapon of Hate’
Joshua Reed, a Fayetteville State University student, said his opposition centered on what he said are harmful political messages promoted by Turning Point USA.
Reed accused the organization of promoting extremist ideologies and using Christianity to advance political positions that he believes marginalize some groups of people.
“They are turning it into a weapon of hate,” Reed said of the organization’s use of religion.
He said the organization’s messaging harms Black people, women, immigrants and LGBTQ+ people.
“This anti-Black ideology, anti-women rhetoric, anti-queer rhetoric, anti-immigrant rhetoric,” Reed said. “It’s just super harmful and it just divides our communities.”
“I believe in building community. I believe in lifting people up and dignifying them,” he said.
Lindsey Knapp: ‘Religious Exploitation’
Lindsey Knapp, another demonstrator, questioned the school’s decision to invite Kirk.
“Religious exploitation, I think that if we were to sum it up in two words, that sums it up the best,” Knapp said.
“What we’ve got here is a very divisive political figure who is making lives much harder for marginalized communities,” Knapp said.
Knapp also raised concerns about the school receiving taxpayer-funded tuition vouchers through North Carolina’s Opportunity Scholarship program.
Fayetteville Christian School received approximately $4.27 million in scholarship funds for the 2025-26 school year, making it the largest recipient in Cumberland County, according to Public Schools First NC.
Knapp said the funding made the school’s decision to host Kirk particularly concerning.
“We are here to build the community,” Knapp said. “We live in this community, and we are not okay with divisive figures coming down.”
She said she opposed what she believes are messages that “harm women, harm Black and brown people, harm immigrants, harm our LGBTQ community.”
Throughout the morning, Wiley continued reading from his crumpled sheet of Bible passages, including warnings about false prophets and false teachings from Matthew, 2 Peter, 1 John, Jeremiah and 2 Timothy.
As protesters anticipated Kirk’s departure, Fayetteville police officers removed orange traffic cones blocking an entrance to the school, clearing a path for vehicles to exit.
“You can’t even face the people. You’re a coward,” someone shouted as the vehicle carrying Kirk departed.
