Former Florida sheriff John Rutherford tells it like it is, and from his perspective, Black Lives Matter should be considered a hate group.

Rutherford, who is running in a seven way race for the state’s 4th Congressional District, made that omission during a televised debate Wednesday at Jacksonville University’s Swisher Theater, WJXT reports.

Rutherford is running to replace retiring U.S. Rep. Ander Crenshaw and was asked by moderator Kent Justice about alleged comments he made referring to Black Lives Matter as a terrorist organization.

“Specifically Kent, what I said was they should be labeled a hate group. That’s exactly what I said. And look, I stand by that,” Rutherford told Justice. “This group, if you look at the rhetoric that’s coming out, marching down the streets of New York talking about frying police officers like pigs in a … blanket or something like that. Horrible rhetoric to attack police.

“And then a couple of weeks later, we have a couple of police officers that are murdered, sitting in their squad car? Yes, they should be labeled a hate group,” he continued. “Now, they may not go out and commit the violence themselves, but they certainly use their rhetoric to light the fuse.”

His comments drew mixed reactions from political and religious leaders.

“Let me just say, to me, all lives matter. It’s very disappointing that a group that is trying to find solutions is labeled a hate group,” state Sen. Audrey Gibson told the news site. “That, in itself, is hateful.”

Primary opponent, attorney Hans Tanzler III – whom Rutherford has been embroiled in a bitter rivalry with throughout the campaign – seemed to agree with Rutherford, though he made a point of differentiating himself by advocating for the death penalty, as well.

“Well, the hate groups, or any group that is, by design and rhetoric, to incite violence with a view to kill you, it should be labeled a hate group,” he said. “And we should be realistic about that. And we should be in favor of the death penalty, with respect to those who commit those crimes.”

Several Black Lives Matter supporters contacted by WJXT declined to discuss Rutherford’s comments on camera, but “said they were not surprised that a former sheriff would make that statement and that is part of the problem they face.”

Local Pastor Frederick Newbill told the news site he thinks Rutherford is blowing smoke for political points.

“Everybody has a right to be part of, to speak with, they want to speak. So, I guess I agree that it should not be because you are part of Black Lives Matter, we label you a hate group,” Newbill said. “I know these people are not a hate group. But those that are speaking, former sheriff Rutherford, he never had to be profiled. He’s never had police brutality. He’s never had the things that young African Americans have in our community.

“He’s not speaking on my list, he’s just trying to get elected.”

WJXT pointed to a Pew Research Center poll conducted earlier this summer that shows support for the Black Lives Matter movement among adults at 43 percent. When broken down by race, 65 percent of blacks support the cause, as opposed to only about 39 percent of whites.

Even fewer Hispanics – 33 percent – support Black Lives Matter, according to the poll.