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2 Oct, 2016 04:50

Tensions at rival White & Black Lives Matter protests flare in Houston (VIDEO)

Tensions at rival White & Black Lives Matter protests flare in Houston (VIDEO)

A small group of White Lives Matter activists protested outside of the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) office in southwest Houston on Saturday where they were met by Black Lives Matter counter-protesters and a heavy police presence.

Holding placards and signs while shouting "White Lives Matter!” the group gathered in front of the Jewish non-governmental organization after ADL allegedly accused the activists of being racist.

“They labeled us a hate group, they didn’t label the Black Lives Matter a hate group. That’s why we are here today, to protest the Anti-Defamation League,” Scott Lacy told local CBS affiliate KHOU news.

Meanwhile, counter-protesters from the Black Lives Matter movement also gathered outside the ADL, a group that is known for its work against anti-Semitism and all forms of bigotry.

“Honestly, we just came here to drown them out, protesting and counter protesting is a show of force, showing who can outlast who, when one side is spewing hate, the other side is showing love to each other,” Ashton Woods, from the Black Lives Matter camp told KHOU.

Police had to use metal barricades to keep the two groups separate as tensions ran high at two opposing rallies, and things became personal.

John E. Rebel, from the White Lives Matter group, told Ruptly that “they’re calling Black Lives Matter a civil rights group while they target random white people for acts of violence at their rallies, while they burn cities down and loot, and kill police officers ... it’s a garbage argument. Black-on-white crime is way larger in this country than white-on-black crime. But you only hear about white-on-black crime from these people here and from the mainstream medias.”

Saprina, a counter-protester from the Black Lives Matter (BLM) movement, said, “these people only have to antagonize us. They’re not here because they believe white lives matter, they know they’ve always mattered.”

At one point a Black Lives Matter protester jumped the barrier to attack the White Lives Matter area but Houston police quickly defused the situation. No arrests were made.

“It is a little bit loud, it is a little bit heated, but we are here to keep the peace, let everyone exercise their first amendment rights,” said Asst. Chief George Buenik with the Houston Police Department.

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