The Hootenanny Social Club, a group of local Democrats, meets to eat socialize and listen to guest speakers each month.

"It ranges from 40 to 70 people based on the time of year," Democratic Executive Committee Chair Richard Rian said.

It was at this type of meeting at the Pepitos Restaurant in Fort Walton Beach that Okaloosa County Sheriff Larry Ashley said something that's been turning heads ever since.

According to Rian, the club often hosts guest speaks who are running for office, including Republican candidates, being that there are often few, if any, Democratic candidates.

At this meeting on July 14, Rian said the night's guest speaker was Republican state House candidate Armand Izzo. He said he was well received by the group.

Rian also said a group of Republicans, Ashley included, showed up. In a statement to the public, Ashley said he was invited to the gathering by longtime member Johnnie Pritchard.

While Rian said the group often has and will continue to have Republican guest speakers, the situation surrounding this group's invitation is still unclear. Rian said the man who'd invited the group was not in attendance that evening and Rian was not aware of the invitation.

Rian said they allowed the Republican candidates a few moments to address the crowd and hand out brochures. Sheriff Ashley addressed the group, talking about the successes and challenges of the Sheriff's office.

Then, Rian said, someone asked the Sheriff his views on the Black Lives Matter movement.

"Without missing a beat," Rian said. "He referred to them as a 'terrorist organization.'"

Rian said it did not go over well with the crowd.

"The room got a little disquieted by that and then the meeting abruptly ended," he said.

The Sheriff said he stands by his statement, saying and writing that he'd seen pictures and videos of protesters in another state holding signs and chanting slogans that encouraged death to police.

While denying an on-camera interview with NewsChannel 7, Sheriff Ashley's office shared a copy of Ashley's statement that was printed in the Northwest Florida Daily News as a response to the paper's initial story about his remarks.

In part the Sheriff writes, "I went on to explain that I condemn as terrorists any group that calls for the killing of law enforcement officers. It is my belief that it is impossible to seek reforms of any kind while using threats and intimidation as the means by which to achieve it."

As Thursday's meeting let out, Raymond Nelson's phone began to ring. Nelson is the president of the NAACP of Okaloosa County.

"I started getting phone calls immediately after the meeting," Nelson said.

Nelson said while he had not been at the Hootenanny meeting, he set his own appointment with the sheriff the next day along with the Florida State Conference Area Director Lewis Jennings.

"What we were hoping is that we would come out with an understanding that he would see that his words were not well selected," Nelson said. "But at the end of the meeting that didn't happen."

Nelson said he's upset the Sheriff took what he believes is an isolated incident to color his view of the movement.

"I firmly believe the vast majority of Americans and people in this community have a firm belief in our law enforcement officers," Nelson said. "However, across the country there are improvements that can be made."

Nelson said while he neither advocates nor condemns the Black Lives Matter organization, be believes it's true intent is to work toward progress. He said he believes the incidents of protesters carrying signs provoking death to cops was not even a faction of the real movement, and those people were unaffiliated. He said even the Civil Rights marches of the last century dealt with outside agitators who also incited violence with police.

Nelson said he wants the Sheriff to know that his words have a profound effect on the members of his community. He said the sheriff, while agreeing to disagree, said he would recant his words if Nelson could prove to him the Black Lives Matter organization denounced violence toward law enforcement.

Nelson said he responded by sending Ashley the Black Lives Matter website article called the 11 Misconceptions of the Movement, one of which concerns the perception that the movement desires to bring harm to law enforcement.

The article wrote about cops in part : "Their lives have inherent value. This movement is not an anti-people movement; therefore it is not an anti-police-officer movement. Most police officers are just everyday people who want to do their jobs, make a living for their families, and come home safely at the end of their shift."

The article went on to say, however, "This does not mean, however, that police are not implicated in a system that criminalizes black people, that demands that they view black people as unsafe and dangerous, that trains them to be more aggressive and less accommodating with black citizens, and that does not stress that we are taxpayers who deserve to be protected and served just like everyone else. Thus the Black Lives Matter movement is not trying to make the world more unsafe for police officers; it hopes to make police officers less of a threat to communities of color."

Nelson said he has hope for his community and for the country, and hopes the sheriff will stay true to his word to recant his statement.

"Sometimes we have to put our biases aside and look at what is truly going on here," he said. "Because if not we're headed for disaster."

Nelson said he thinks the community has a "good to fair" relationship with the local law enforcement, and he hopes to have more conversations with local law enforcement about bettering community relations.

Nelson said he's told his community and members of his branch of the NAACP that he is "no drama." He said the organization always has and will continue to more forward with a measured plan and not a knee-jerk reaction.

Rian said as a leader of the Democratic Executive Committee locally, he too denounced the Sheriff's words.

He said Saturday the Democrats of the Panhandle and a branch of the Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority were hosting a candidate forum that includes Democrats and Republicans, Sheriff Ashley among them.

To read the Sheriff's full statement initially written for the Northwest Daily News, see below:

"I would first and foremost say that the article was not complete, fair or representative of the Hootenanny Democratic Club meeting on July 14.

Contrary to Committeeman John Whitley’s statement, I was indeed invited to speak to the group by longtime member Johnnie Pritchard. That is why I was there. I did not attend to be provocative, but rather to provide an update on their Sheriff’s Office and to share the many achievements we have made.

I spoke about numerous topics including body cameras, crime, budgets, mental health and juvenile justice. Upon concluding my remarks, none of which were divisive, I asked for questions from the audience. Mr. Whitley asked what I thought about Black Lives Matter and I did state that I viewed them as a terrorist organization. I went on to explain that I condemn as terrorists any group that calls for the killing of law enforcement officers.

It is my belief that it is impossible to seek reforms of any kind while using threats and intimidation as the means by which to achieve it. The U.S. Code defines Domestic Terrorism as: “Intent to intimidate or coerce a civilian population or influence the policy of government by intimidation or coercion.”

Many people claiming association in the Black Lives Matter group have called for the killing of law enforcement officers. This has come in the form of statements and in parades chanting, “What do we want? Dead cops. When do we want them? Now” to “Pigs in a blanket, fry ’em like bacon.”

Some have come in written missives and photos on social media and other depictions of law enforcement officers with their throats slit at the hands of subjects using similar methods as those utilized by terrorists.

These threats will not foster the trust necessary to achieve the changes or reform that Black Lives Matter states that they seek. Black Lives Matter must speak up and condemn all calls for violence made in their name. Waiting until after they have occurred, as in the recent events in Dallas, is too late.

Before and after the Democratic club meeting, I shook hands and spoke with all who were in attendance. I received many words of encouragement and support. I in no way went to that meeting to be divisive. I was not playing to any particular audience, as suggested by Mr. Whitley. I accepted an invitation to speak and I gave honest answers to the questions that were asked of me.

Law enforcement condemns violence and murder, and we stand on the line every day to fight against those very things. We understand that the unlawful mistreatment or killing of any life is reprehensible and we strive to shine a light on and condemn all evil. There can be no sides or politics played here, as the subject matter is the very fabric that keeps us united. We must remain loving and logical in our debates and seek compromise in our differences.

Okaloosa County is a diverse community made up of all nationalities and races. As sheriff, I serve our entire community by enforcing the rule of law. Our agency has an excellent relationship with all members of the diverse community we serve and strive toward our ongoing commitment to ensure all people are treated equally under the law.

Our track record is outstanding on this front and a reflection of a deep-rooted philosophy and mission statement focusing on fair treatment and respect towards all individuals.

Many positive reforms have been made in the criminal justice profession over the 26 years that I have served our citizens, and I pray that we can unite in peace to maintain a safe community for all of our families.

— Larry Ashley, Sheriff, Okaloosa County, Florida"