ST LOUIS - A conservative African-American social networking group set out Monday morning to criticize the city's NAACP chapter for not supporting a black man who said he was beaten outside a forum on aging earlier this month.

But the effort was cut short when the head of the civil rights group showed up at the news conference and said that no one had asked the NAACP to investigate the claims.

"The St. Louis branch of the NAACP will and does accept and investigate all written complaints filed with us, regardless of the complainant's ideology," said Claude Brown Sr., president of the St. Louis City NAACP. "We regret that a group has decided to protest outside our office before contacting us or filing such a complaint."

The group, Move-On-Up.org, bills itself as a 400-member social network of African-Amercan Republicans, conservatives and moderates. It called a news conference outside of the NAACP office in the Central West End to show its support for Kenneth Gladney, a conservative activist who was selling "Don't Tread on Me" flags and buttons outside a forum Aug. 6 conducted by Rep. Russ Carnahan in south St. Louis County.

Six people were arrested outside the packed Carnahan forum, including the man who Gladney said initiated the beating. The suspect, identified by Gladney and his attorney, David Brown, is black and used a racial slur during the attack, Gladney said.

Chris Arps, who started the online organization nine months ago, said that the NAACP should have taken the initiative to come out in support of Gladney instead of remaining silent.

That is not how the procedure works, Claude Brown said: "We don't respond to headlines."

Gladney said two other men, members of the Service Employees International Union, also joined in the beating. Gladney said he was hit in the face and his glasses were knocked off. Union members and supporters have said Gladney initiated the fight.

In an interview Aug. 6, Gladney, 38, spoke to the Post-Dispatch from the emergency room at St. John's Mercy Medical Center. He said at that time he was awaiting treatment on his knee, back, elbow, shoulder and face.

Two days later, Gladney sat in a wheelchair outside the Service Employees International Union offices with the same buttons and flags he was selling at the Carnahan forum. About 200 protesters, many of them members of the local Tea Party Coalition, had gathered with Gladney, some holding signs that said "Don't Tread on Kenny."

The coalition has begun a nationwide movement to counter President Barack Obama's policies, notably a national health care proposal. The group has been using town hall forums held by senators and congressmen to express its opposition, often shouting and carrying signs.

The forum by Carnahan drew an overflow crowd and dozens of people, many carrying signs about the health care debate, were kept out because of the turnout. Members of the local Tea Party Coalition had urged members to attend the forum.

Gladney, who says he is an independent, stood next to his attorney at the news conference. David Brown interjected when Gladney was asked about his injuries. He said there is a pending civil case and it would not be appropriate to discuss Gladney's health.

GRAPHIC: Kenneth Gladney, who was injured in a scuffle at a health forum on Aug. 6, signs "Don't Tread On Me" flags during a protest Aug. 8 in St. Louis by members of the St. Louis Tea Party. Robert Cohen • rcohen@post-dispatch.com