Bill Clinton gives pointed response to Black Lives Matter protesters

While campaigning in Philadelphia for his wife, Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton, former president Bill Clinton got into a heated back-and-forth with Black Lives Matter protesters.

CNN reported that the 15-minute exchange began when the protesters shouted that black youth are not "super predators."

The term was used by Hillary Clinton in a 1996 speech about violent crime and gangs.

"We need to take these people on. They are often connected to big drug cartels; they are not just gangs of kids anymore," she said in the speech. "They are often the kinds of kids that are called ‘super predators.’ No conscience, no empathy."

It has since resurfaced most prominently as Ashley Williams, a Black Lives Matter activist, interrupted the former first lady at a private event in South Carolina in February and asked her to explain her remarks.

Williams was escorted out of the event by Secret Service.

Bill Clinton responded with frustration, asking the protesters to stop interrupting him.

The protesters continued making remarks about Bill Clinton's 1994 crime bill that placed more nonviolent offenders in prison for longer terms and Hillary Clinton's involvement in the toppling of Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi.

"You are defending the people who killed the lives you say matter," the former president said.

"Here's the thing. I like protesters, but the ones that won't let you answer are afraid of the truth," he said. "That's a simple rule."

Clinton went on to say that then-Sen. Joe Biden, now the vice president, gave advice that led to tougher penalties for crimes.

According to Clinton, Biden said an assault weapons ban, more funding for inner-city children's after school activities and more funding for police officers were necessary for Republicans to support the 1994 bill.

"I talked to a lot of African-American groups," Clinton said. "They thought black lives mattered; they said take this bill because our kids are being shot in the street by gangs."

In response to criticism of Hillary Clinton using the term "super predators," he said, "I don't know how you would characterize the gang leaders who got 13-year-old kids hopped up on crack, and sent them out in the streets to murder other African-American children. Maybe you thought they were good citizens -- she didn't."

About her past use of the term, Hillary Clinton has since said, "Looking back, I shouldn't have used those words, and I wouldn't use them today."