The Black Lives Matter movement will develop an armed branch of “peace officers” to combat police brutality in black communities during the so-called war on police, according to one of its leaders.

In an interview with the Daily Mail, BLM New York chapter Chairman Hawk Newsome described how the group plans to follow in the footsteps of the Black Panthers Party by matching fire with fire – when necessary.

“We're talking about self-defense. We're talking about defending our communities,” Newsome said. “You know what it's like to see a taser pointed at a 7-year-old, you know what it's like to see a 67-year-old black woman ... pepper sprayed and pushed to the ground?”

“We are preparing and training our people to defend our communities,” Newsome said. He told the British paper that BLM members with military experience, including members of the special forces community, are advising the organization.

Newsome said that BLM "peace officers" would also be armed and open carry guns in states that allow it, Fox News reports.