James Talarico claims justice system 'not working' for black people, cites lack of black jurors in Karmelo Anthony case

Texas Democrat US Senate candidate James Talarico has claimed that the justice system "is not working" for black people, citing the trial of Karmelo Anthony trial for the stabbing murder of Austin Metcalf and that there were no black people on the jury.

Talarico made the comments while speaking to the hosts on "The Breakfast Club" radio show when he was asked why he had nodded in agreement that the conviction was a "tragedy" just a few weeks beforehand.

"I've done a lot of work in the state house on justice reform, and right now we've got a system that doesn't serve all Americans equally, and we know that black Texans have been have not gotten the justice they deserve in many cases. I'm not an expert on this particular case, but I know that there were no black members of the jury."

"To me, that's the only evidence you need to really prove that this system is not working for black Texans," Talarico added.

The hosts had been asking about a clip where Talarico was seen nodding in agreement with a woman who said that the conviction in the case was a "f*cking tragedy." Talarico could be seen nodding in agreement with her point on video.

Talarico has also claimed that law enforcement has been "weaponized against black and brown communities" in Texas when he was asked about "over policing."

Anthony was convicted for the murder of Austin Metcalf and then sentenced to 35 years in prison on June 9. The killing took place in Spring 2025 after the two got into an argument under Metcalf's team's tent at a track meet and Anthony pulled out a knife. Metcalf was unarmed.

Witnesses in the trial said that Anthony, who was 17 at the time of the stabbing, threatened Metcalf and then brandished a knife, stabbing Metcalf fatally in the chest. Metcalf died from the injuries, bleeding out in his twin brother's arms.

Despite being found guilty of the murder and admitting to the stabbing before the trial, Anthony was able to raise over $630,000 with GiveSendGo after the killing. Anthony's defense team is currently trying to challenge the conviction, saying that there were no black jurors in the jury pool when he was convicted.

Talarico is running for Senate against GOP nominee Ken Paxton in a tight race to take the seat which will be left behind by incumbent Texas Senator John Cornyn.