Little Rock man discovers racist notes and weapons after confronting a counter protester

Protests Saturday night left a scene that stands in stark contrast at the State Capitol.

In the midst of that chaos, one Little Rock man said he confronted a counter protester who was armed.

Ju'Marcus Lacey said the man was an agitator at a peaceful protest that happened near the intersection of Capitol and Woodlane.

Lacey said once he confronted the protester, the man fell down on his own and then took off running, leaving his backpack. He said what he discovered inside were weapons and racist notes.

“This says your tower of Babel will fall, it is not the kingdom of god, invasion of false prophets,” said Lacey.

Lacey said he found several notes inside the man's green backpack, but there was also a weapon.

“As we went through his bag we actually found a machete type knife," Lacey said. "We also found some other paraphernalia such as racist manifesto."

Lacey said he doesn't understand why anyone would bring a weapon to a peaceful protest, but based on the notes he found, he suspects the man was hoping to frame those protesting with the death of George Floyd.

“Basically we're just trying to say that we're following false prophets and we're actually doing the devil's work,” said Lacey.

Little Rock Mayor Frank Scott, Jr. said if there are extremists in the city, they are not welcomed.

“I despise any type of negativity in our city number one, any reference to Neo Nazi, any reference to the KKK, any reference to anything that will bring forth any type of discrimination towards any resident here in the city of Little Rock,” Mayor Scott, Jr said.

Lacey said those protesting peacefully do not condone looting or violence, but said they just want their voices heard.

Mayor Frank Scott, Jr. said the city thanks those Arkansans who continue to protest peacefully.

The backpack was turned into Little Rock police.