“Black Power. It’s about goddamn time. Our power to the people. That’s the first step. Now we need for Karmelo [Anthony] to be released.”
She then accused Roach and the court proceedings of racism.
“All of the racist acts that took place under Judge Roach—from them not letting people come into the courthouse when it’s supposed to be a public hearing, from them not giving the jury instructions on self-defense—so Carmelo would have never got a case in the first place. He would have had—the jury would have had the option of manslaughter—from the racism.”
But Wednesday’s ruling did not overturn Anthony’s murder conviction, vacate his sentence, or order him released.
Instead, Harle’s decision means another judge will handle Anthony’s pending request for a new trial.
Roach oversaw the original murder trial and later publicly said the jury “got it right.” Anthony’s defense team argued that the remark raised questions about whether Roach could fairly evaluate their effort to secure a new trial.
Anthony remains convicted and is serving a 35-year prison sentence.
Who Is Krystal Muhammad?
Muhammad is no newcomer to radical racial politics.
According to her organization’s biography, she became a member of the New Black Panther Party in 2002, eventually headed its Houston chapter, and rose to national chairwoman in 2013.
The New Black Panther Party is a separate organization and has no official affiliation with the original Black Panther Party.
Muhammad’s appearance outside the courthouse also continued a pattern that emerged during Anthony’s prosecution, with supporters portraying the criminal case as part of a broader racial battle.
Following Anthony’s conviction, New Black Panther Party activists gathered outside the courthouse and delivered fiery speeches attacking the country and the verdict.
“We got to tell our kids the truth that this is a racist-ass country!” one activist shouted. “This is a war!”
The rhetoric stands in sharp contrast to evidence presented against Anthony, including police body-camera footage recorded after the fatal stabbing.
When officers encountered Anthony following the incident, he made a remarkably direct statement about what happened.
“I’m not alleged. I did it,” Anthony told police.
Now, while Muhammad and other activists are demanding his freedom, prosecutors have revealed additional allegations that the original jury reportedly never heard.
Prosecutors Reveal Evidence Kept From Original Jury
At Thursday’s hearing over Anthony’s request for a new trial, Collin County prosecutor Bill Wirskye described evidence involving Anthony’s former girlfriend and messages allegedly sent before the killing.
According to prosecutors, Anthony’s former girlfriend reported him for alleged stalking on the same morning Metcalf was killed.
The court also heard about text messages prosecutors attributed to Anthony in which he allegedly said he was “on the verge” and described a fantasy about stabbing someone and licking blood from the weapon.
Roughly an hour after his former girlfriend reportedly contacted school officials, Anthony stabbed Metcalf during the track meet.
Those allegations were not presented to the jury that convicted Anthony.
According to prosecutors, the material was excluded as part of an agreement between the prosecution and defense restricting damaging character evidence involving both Anthony and Metcalf.
That detail adds another layer to the battle now unfolding over Anthony’s conviction.
Muhammad and Anthony’s supporters are pointing to the removal of Roach as evidence that the case deserves another look. The defense has challenged aspects of the original proceedings and is seeking a new trial before a different judge.
But the recusal itself does not establish that Anthony was wrongly convicted.
It changes who will decide the post-trial motion — not what the jury already decided.
For Muhammad, however, even that procedural ruling was enough to trigger a public celebration and a demand that Anthony walk free.
Her declaration outside the courthouse made the movement’s next objective unmistakable.
The fight is no longer simply about replacing a judge.
Anthony’s supporters are now openly pushing to undo the conviction and secure the release of a man currently serving 35 years for murder — even as prosecutors bring previously withheld allegations about his conduct before the killing into the public spotlight.
