ST. PAUL — A planned rally by Confederate battle flag supporters at the Minnesota State Capitol has fizzled.

Instead, around a half-dozen to 10 Confederate flag supporters led by B.C. Johnson regrouped far away at a park in the suburb of Savage for a short demonstration, while a group of around 50 counter-protesters gathered at the Capitol anyway. At least some were affiliated with Black Lives Matter

Johnson said he moved the “Minnesota 10,000 for Southern Heritage” protest because he was afraid his supporters might be assaulted by counter-protesters.

Johnson, who is black and moved to Minnesota from South Carolina two years ago, said he was irritated by the counter-protesters’ description of him as a “white supremacist.”

Johnson said the Confederate flag represents state’s rights and shouldn’t necessarily be associated with hate groups.