New Black Panther Party national chairwoman Krystal Muhammad celebrated the removal of the judge who presided over Karmelo Anthony’s murder trial, and immediately demanded that the convicted killer be released from prison.
Standing outside the Collin County Courthouse following Wednesday’s recusal hearing, Muhammad erupted into chants of “Black Power” as Anthony’s supporters celebrated the procedural victory.
“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.”
“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.”
The new Black Panther Party has arrived to support Karmelo Anthony. pic.twitter.com/m89T25AGpx
— Fanatic 🇺🇸 (@crusade_enjoyer) August 20, 2026
Muhammad was reacting to visiting Judge Sid Harle’s decision to remove District Judge John Roach Jr. from Anthony’s post-trial proceedings.
Roach presided over Anthony’s murder trial and later told a reporter that the jury “got it right.” Anthony’s attorneys argued that those comments created the appearance that Roach could not impartially consider their motion for a new trial.
The recusal does not erase Anthony’s conviction or 35-year prison sentence. It merely places the pending motion for a new trial before a different judge.
That did not stop Muhammad and other Anthony supporters from treating the ruling as the beginning of a campaign to spring a convicted killer from prison.
So, who exactly is Krystal Muhammad?
According to the organization’s own biography, Muhammad joined the New Black Panther Party in 2002, previously led its Houston chapter, and has served as its national chairwoman since 2013.
The New Black Panther Party is not officially connected to the original Black Panther Party.
As The Gateway Pundit previously reported, police body-camera footage captured Anthony effectively admitting to the stabbing immediately after officers arrived.
“I’m not alleged. I did it,” Anthony told police.
The Gateway Pundit also previously reported that New Black Panther Party members gathered outside the courthouse following Anthony’s conviction and attempted to transform the murder case into a racial crusade.
“We got to tell our kids the truth that this is a racist-ass country!” one activist shouted. “This is a war!”
Muhammad’s demand for Anthony’s release came just one day before prosecutors disclosed explosive evidence that had not been presented to the original jury.
During Thursday’s new-trial hearing, Collin County prosecutor Bill Wirskye told the court that Anthony’s former girlfriend reported him for allegedly stalking her on the morning Metcalf was killed.
Prosecutors also described text messages in which Anthony allegedly wrote that he was “on the verge” and fantasized about stabbing someone and licking the blood from the blade.
Approximately one hour after his former girlfriend reportedly contacted school officials, Anthony stabbed Metcalf at the track meet.
The disturbing evidence was withheld from the original trial under an agreement between prosecutors and defense attorneys limiting the introduction of damaging character evidence about both Anthony and Metcalf.
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