The Confederate flag waved in front of the NAACP office Sunday. The red flag with its blue X holding white stars hung over the shoulder of a White Lives Matter member who was joined by others in his group in a protest against the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People.
“We came out here to protest against the NAACP and their failure in speaking out against the atrocities that organizations like Black Lives Matter and other pro-black organizations have caused the attack and killing of white police officers, the burning down of cities and things of that nature,” White Lives Matter member Ken Reed said. “If they’re going to be a civil rights organization and defend their people, they also need to hold their people accountable.”
The protest drew much attention as people took photos of the group which held assault rifles and “White Lives Matter” signs on the Third Ward block.
“We’re not out here to instigate or start any problems,” Reed said. “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.”
Though area residents agreed with the message of equality that, at times, was shouted from the bull horn, some were taken aback by the Confederate flags and the presence of firearms.
“That’s a bold statement,” resident Quintina Richardson said. “You come into their home, front door, and say ‘hey!’ You’ve got some nerve.”
“The Conferderate flag throws me off,” Richardson said. “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?”
“It has nothing to do with racism on our part,” Reed said. “We’re proud to be Southern. It has all to do about heritage, nothing to do with hate.”