Karen Hunter is calling Karmelo Anthony’s 35-year prison sentence a painful example of how the legal system treats Black children.
During a recent episode of “The Karen Hunter Show,” Hunter reacted to Anthony’s conviction and sentence in Texas after the 19-year-old was found guilty of murder in the fatal stabbing of 17-year-old Austin Metcalf at a Frisco high school track meet.
“Yeah, we’re here,” Hunter said. “I’m still processing.”
“We’re going to keep talking,” she continued. “We’re going to stay in community. We’re going to examine our hearts and minds. And we’re going to strategize.”
Anthony received 35 years in prison.
“Thirty-five years,” Hunter stated. “Thirty-five years for the stabbing of the 17-year-old young man,” before going on to say that she agreed with Cardi B, who called the outcome “disgusting” and accused prosecutors of trying to make Anthony an example.
“I think it was also steeped in heavy racism,” the Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist declared. “I think it was also steeped in a lack of humanity because Karmelo Anthony is not a child that they see as a child, as one of their own, as somebody that is part of their community.”
Hunter acknowledged that Metcalf’s death mattered and should not be minimized.
“Somebody is dead,” she said. “Somebody has lost a life. And we do care about that.”
Still, she said 35 years was too much.
“His life is forever changed,” Hunter continued. “The trajectory of this life of Karmelo Anthony is forever changed.”
Hunter compared the sentence to that of Amber Guyger, the former Dallas police officer sentenced to 10 years for killing Botham Jean.
“She was a police officer. She had a higher responsibility. She got 10 years. Just to put it in perspective, apples to apples, Dallas to Dallas … This is not justice.”
