Black Lives Matter supporters hold demonstration in Nevada

MINDEN, Nev. (AP) — Some Black Lives Matter supporters continued to protest Saturday after others cut short their participation in a demonstration outside the office of a northern Nevada sheriff and left amid jeers from a larger crowd of counter-protesters

A man wearing a white cowboy hat exhorted counter-protesters, including some who carried American flags and others carrying semiautomatic rifles on slings over their shoulders, to let Black Lives Matter supporters to leave the area in peace.

“Let them out, guys,” the unidentified man said as a black sedan drove slowly through the crowd.

Later, hundreds of counter-protesters lined streets of Minden and a few dozen Black Lives Matter supporters continued to protest by walking around the community being followed by counter-protesters, the Reno Gazette Journal reported.

Douglas County Sheriff Dan Coverley came under fire last month after he posted a letter on his office’s website telling the library not to bother calling 911 for help after the library considered supporting the movement.

Coverley later backed off, saying his department would continue to respond to all 911 calls.

The sheriff said Saturday during an outdoor news briefing before the protest that he only meant that people didn’t have to call his office if they didn’t trust law enforcement. “I never threatened anything," he said.

The sheriff also said law enforcement officers across the country were subjected to “unfair scrutiny based on the events of several officers thousands of miles" away.

Coverley said his office had established “free speech zones" for use by protesters and counter-protesters.

“The whole goal is that everyone can come and exercise their First Amendment rights and say what they want to say ... safety, peacefully and...