On Sunday, Aug. 21, a group of armed protesters held a demonstration in front of the closed headquarters of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People in Houston.
According to KPRC 2 News, the group cited the July shootings of Dallas, Texas and Baton Rouge, Louisiana police officers as the reason for their protest.
As the protest grew, mounted police and barricades were placed around the demonstrators.
The protesters held “White Lives Matter” signs, assault rifles and Confederate flags while demanding that the NAACP stop affiliating with the Black Lives Matter movement.
“We came here because the NAACP headquarters is here, and that’s one of the most racist groups in America,” Scott Lacy tells reporters in the news clip.
One protester told the Houston Chronicle that he wants the NAACP to be held responsible for the recent unrest in Milwaukee, Wisconsin as well.
“We came out here to protest against the NAACP and their failure in speaking out against the atrocities that organizations like Black Lives Matter have caused the attack and killing of white police officers and the burning down of cities,” White Lives Matter member Ken Reed told the Chronicle. “If they’re going to be a civil rights organization and defend their people, they also need to hold their people accountable.”
However, the group was met with counter-protesters who were thrown aback by the Confederate flags.
“You’re saying Black Lives Matter is a racist organization, but when you’re throwing the Confederate flag up and saying ‘White Lives Matter,’ are you saying you’re racist?” Black resident Quintina Richardson remarked to the outlet.
In response, Black Lives Matter Houston released this statement via Facebook:
“It came to our attention earlier this week that there would be a “White Lives Matter” protest today. While it is always tempting to go and challenge those White people who come out and attack our movement, it is more important that we teach Black people that #BlackLivesMatter. People like these White supremacists are a waste of space and time, their minds are already made up and so are ours, What would we need to discuss with them …”
