Maxine Waters has warned her supporters against staging counter-protests to the militia group that’s planning demonstrations outside of her California offices.

The Democratic congresswoman released a statement on Tuesday night after becoming the target of the Oath Keepers, a militia organisation associated with anti-government movements. She said the group’s main goal was to "inflame racial tensions and create explosive conflict in our community," adding that residents throughout district should not get “baited” into confrontations with the group.

"I am requesting those individuals and groups planning a counter-protest to not be baited into confronting the Oath Keepers with any demonstrations in opposition — such an occurrence would only exacerbate tensions and increase the potential for conflict," Ms Waters said. "In order to ensure the peace and security of our community, it is best and preferable if no other demonstrations are scheduled on the same date and time as the Oath Keepers’ planned protest."

The Oath Keepers released a "call to action" against the congresswoman earlier this week, encouraging members to “stand against terrorism” by joining the group on the sidewalk outside of Ms Waters’ district office in Los Angeles beginning Thursday afternoon.

"This is the launch of an ongoing protest that may go on for several weeks," the Oath Keepers website said, inviting other “patriotic groups” to join the demonstration.

Ms Waters, a frequent critic of Donald Trump, has become a controversial Democratic figure in conservative circles for her rebuke of the White House administration. A quote she gave during a recent demonstration in California received heavy criticism for supposedly "inciting violence" — despite her never encouraging any physical harm throughout the speech.

Maxine Waters: Americans should confront Trump cabinet members every time they step out in public

"If you see anybody from that Cabinet in a restaurant, in a department store, at a gasoline station, you get out and you create a crowd and you push back on them," she said. “"You tell them that they are not welcome, anymore, anywhere."

The Oath Keepers slammed the speech, saying Ms Waters was "inciting terrorist violence and threats of violence" in their call to action.

"It is time for all of us “sheepdogs” within the American warrior class (police, military, first-responders) to unite in common defence of the Constitution we all swore to defend, and in defense of our homes, families, and communities against those who would destroy this nation from within, in alliance with enemies from without, such as the drug cartels who now terrorise all of Mexico and who are now bringing their terror, rape, murder, and corruption north into our nation," Oath Keepers founder Stewart Rhodes said in a statement. "Remember, our oath is to defend the Constitution against all enemies, foreign and domestic."

Violence on the streets of Charlottesville Show all 9 1 /9 Violence on the streets of Charlottesville Violence on the streets of Charlottesville Protesters clash and several are injured White nationalist demonstrators clash with counter demonstrators at the entrance to Lee Park in Charlottesville, Virginia. A state of emergency is declared, August 12 2017 Violence on the streets of Charlottesville Trump supporters at the protest A white nationalist demonstrator walks into Lee Park in Charlottesville, Va., Saturday, Aug. 12, 2017. Hundreds of people chanted, threw punches, hurled water bottles and unleashed chemical sprays on each other Saturday after violence erupted at a white nationalist rally in Virginia. AP Photo Violence on the streets of Charlottesville State police stand ready in riot gear Virginia State Police cordon off an area around the site where a car ran into a group of protesters after a white nationalist rally in Charlottesville, Virginia AP Photo Violence on the streets of Charlottesville Militia armed with assault rifles White nationalists, neo-Nazis and members of the 'alt-right' with body armor and combat weapons evacuate comrades who were pepper sprayed after the 'Unite the Right' rally was declared a unlawful gathering by Virginia State Police. Militia members marched through the city earlier in the day, armed with assault rifles. Getty Images Violence on the streets of Charlottesville Statue of Confederate General Robert E Lee The statue of Confederate General Robert E. Lee stands behind a crowd of hundreds of white nationalists, neo-Nazis and members of the 'alt-right' during the 'Unite the Right' rally 12 August 2017 in Charlottesville, Virginia. They are protesting the removal of the statue from Emancipation Park in the city. Getty Images Violence on the streets of Charlottesville Racial tensions sparked the violence White nationalists, neo-Nazis and members of the 'alt-right' exchange insults with counter-protesters as they attempt to guard the entrance to Lee Park during the 'Unite the Right' rally Getty Violence on the streets of Charlottesville A car plows through protesters A vehicle drives into a group of protesters demonstrating against a white nationalist rally in Charlottesville, Virginia. The incident resulted in multiple injuries, some life-threatening, and one death. AP Photo Violence on the streets of Charlottesville Rescue personnel help injured people after a car ran into a large group of protesters after an white nationalist rally in Charlottesville, Virginia AP Photo Violence on the streets of Charlottesville President Donald Trump speaks about the ongoing situation in Charlottesville, Virginia from his golf club in Bedminster, New Jersey. He spoke about "loyalty" and "healing wounds" left by decades of racism.

The Oath Keepers have been among a variety of militia groups showing up at far-right demonstrations across the country.

One such rally became deadly when a car was driven though a crowd of counter-protestors at the Unite the Right march in Charlottesville, Virginia, killing 32-year-old activist Heather Heyer. James Alex Fields Jr, who is not connected to the Oath Keepers, now faces 29 counts of federal hate crimes and first-degree murder charges.

That chaos appeared to be the exact type scenario Ms Waters was hoping to avoid by releasing her statement ahead of the Oath Keepers’ planned protest.