Three Men With Rifles Showed Up at the Ferguson Protest in Dallas — and It Wasn't in Solidarity With Mike Brown

Members of an open-carry group marched alongside demonstrators protesting the Ferguson grand jury decision Wednesday night in Dallas, Texas.

Three individuals belonging to a group called "Come and Take It" trailed protesters, saying they were there to step in and protect private property if things spiraled out of control.

"If, per chance, private property starts to be damaged this evening, we'll put ourselves in between the crowd and private property," member Matthew Short told WFAA-TV.

Three armed men from an "open carry" group called "Come and Take It Texas" following steps behind protester... https://t.co/zMoIXCkkP3

— Jason Whitely (@JasonWhitely) November 27, 2014

"We've watched across the country how those protests have turned into riots — last couple nights in Ferguson and in Oakland there were buildings and places that burned," he continued. "And we don't need our cities burning to the ground for any reason."

According to WFAA, the protest in Dallas on Wednesday remained peaceful. No arrests were made.

The three open carry men say they're just observing but will step in to protect private property if need be. Protesters are peaceful.

— Jason Whitely (@JasonWhitely) November 27, 2014

Protesters chat it up w/ open carry advocates while others stopped in 7/11 on Commerce by Main St. Garden. pic.twitter.com/cpEc3ahtEA

— Jason Whitely (@JasonWhitely) November 27, 2014

The open carry advocates said that they respected the rights of the demonstrators to exercise their first amendment rights. The group even engaged in conversation with some of the protesters, WFAA reported.

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