White Lives Matter Protest: Houston NAACP Targeted Over Black Lives Matter Movement

The people of Houston got quite a surprise over the weekend as Confederate battle flags waved outside of the local National Association for the Advancement of Colored People's (NAACP) office. White Lives Matter protesters gathered Sunday outside of the office because they believe it is “one of the most racist groups in America," according to KPRC-TV.

One of the members of the group told the Houston Chronicle that the protest was held because the NAACP has failed to address the actions of groups like Black Lives Matter and other pro-black organizations. The White Lives Matter group was upset from the results of burning cities and the killing of police officers during Black Lives Matter gatherings.

While the protest initially started off small, it eventually turned into a crowd which brought out police officers on horseback and the placement of barricades. Protesters carried confederate flags, “White Lives Matter” signs and assault rifles.

Group member Ken Reed told the media, "Obviously we're exercising our Second Amendment rights but that's because we have to defend ourselves. Their organizations and their people are shooting people based on the color of their skin. We're not. We definitely will defend ourselves, but we're not out here to start any problems."

Residents of the city's Third Ward were shocked by the protest. One women from the neighborhood believed the group was being hypocritical for protesting “a racist organization” by holding up the Confederate flag. However, Reed insisted the flag stood for southern heritage rather than hate.

By 3:30 p.m., police began to clear out the White Lives Matter supporters but a group of African-Americans and Caucasians gathered in a church parking lot that faces the NAACP and held hands in prayer.

USA Today reported that White Lives Matter was created as a response to the Black Lives Matter movement, which started back in 2012, protesting police killings of black people across the country.