PORTLAND — A heavy police presence and a handful of protesters surrounded an event hosted by the conservative Christian group Turning Point USA at the Portland Expo on Friday night.

The event was part of a tour by Turning Point’s faith division called Make Heaven Crowded and featured a lineup of speakers that included several pastors and Kayleigh McEnany, a former press secretary for President Donald Trump.

Portland officials received pushback before the event for renting the city-owned Expo to Calvary Chapel Greater Portland, which co-sponsored the event with Turning Point, the organization founded by activist Charlie Kirk. He was assassinated in September and is seen by critics as having stirred hate with his political opinions.

“There are a lot of people who are unsettled with this organization being here today, so I feel like it’s important that we acknowledge how terrifying it is for some of our community members,” said Katie Wagner, who was among four protesters who gathered outside.

She carried a sign that read, “Nazi gathering this way,” with an arrow pointing at the Expo.

Kirk, who was killed on a Utah campus in September, was a polarizing figure. He was critical of gay and transgender rights and had called the Civil Rights Act of 1964 a “mistake” that he said had been turned into “an anti-white weapon,” according to the New York Times.

Conservatives have lauded Kirk for his faith and for inviting debate on controversial topics, especially among young people on college campuses.

His organization is now led by his wife, Erika Kirk, who sometimes speaks at Turning Point USA faith events but was not slated to be in Portland. Staff said media were not allowed inside the Expo to cover the event on Friday night, and pointed a reporter to a live stream.

Several of the speakers on the livestream talked about Bible passages, prayer and praising God. At least one speaker took on the topic of abortion, celebrating decisions by women to not have abortions and calling abortion a “sin issue.”

McEnany talked about Kirk, her personal faith, and how her faith helped her get through hard moments in her life, including in her job as Trump’s press secretary.

In response to push back to the event earlier this spring, city officials said they were “bound by the First Amendment” when renting the Expo for performances and events.

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More than a dozen Portland police officers could be seen on the street outside, including several armed officers on a rooftop. The event and protest appeared to be peaceful, and as the event was starting officers at the scene said they hadn’t had any issues.

A young woman, who declined to give her name as she headed into the event, said she was excited about Turning Point and “the difference they’re making in bringing conversation.”

“I’m excited to support Turning Point and am excited this is a Christian event,” she said.

Dustin Whitcomb, who traveled from Whitefield, expected to hear a mix of both political and religious messaging. “I think (Turning Point) is welcoming of all ideas,” said Whitcomb, 30. “They may not agree with all ideas but it’s welcoming a conversation about all of it.”

Also on Friday, a group of congregations were expected to hold an alternative event at the First Parish Unitarian Universalist Church on Congress Street.

The Rev. Norman Allen, minister at First Parish, said last month that while freedom of speech is a core American value, he and others were uncomfortable with a large gathering that openly rejects “our neighbors, our transgender siblings, and the many immigrants that are vital to life in Maine,” and they wanted to provide a peaceful alternative.