Karmelo Sincere Anthony was 17 years old when he was physically attacked at a high school track meet in Frisco, Texas. His trial begins June 1, 2026 in McKinney, Texas — Collin County. He did not swing first. He defended himself. He walked directly to the police and told the truth. Now he is on trial for surviving — and his family was targeted with a viral disinformation campaign that Snopes has rated FALSE.
Not a headline. Not a charge. A child. An athlete. A teammate. A brother. Someone's son.
This is a case about a child who was attacked and chose to live.
Karmelo Sincere Anthony — 17 years old at the time of this incident — was sitting at a public track meet when he was physically confronted by two athletes who approached him, attempted to take his belongings, and made physical contact with his body.
Karmelo did not swing first.
He defended himself. He did not run. He walked directly to the nearest officer — before anyone questioned him — and told the truth.
"I was protecting myself."
For that act of survival, the State of Texas charged this child with first-degree murder and set his bond at one million dollars.
He was made the villain in the story of his own attack.
April 2, 2025. Kuykendall Stadium, Frisco, Texas. A UIL District Championship track meet. Rain. Karmelo Anthony — 17 years old, a student-athlete, someone's child — was sitting near his team's tent when two athletes approached him.
They were substantially larger. Karmelo weighs 140 pounds. He was outnumbered, outweighed, and outmatched physically before a single word was spoken. What happened next is a matter of documented public record and undisputed witness testimony.
Karmelo did not initiate. He did not escalate. He responded. Under Texas Penal Code § 9.32, that response is called self-defense.
Texas wrote its self-defense statutes for exactly this kind of moment. The elements are clear:
He had a right to be there. It was a public school event.
He was not engaged in any criminal activity.
He did not provoke the confrontation. He was approached.
He was physically assaulted. That is not disputed.
The doctrine of Disparity of Force — established American self-defense law — holds that when a defender faces multiple attackers who substantially outweigh them, the defender is justified in responding with a level of force proportionate to the threat they reasonably perceive. Karmelo Anthony perceived a lethal threat. The record supports that perception.
He did not run. He did not hide. He did not call a lawyer before speaking to police. He walked to an officer and told the truth before any question was asked. He corrected the record himself. He asked if the other person was going to be okay.
That is not the behavior of a murderer.
That is the behavior of a 17-year-old child with a clear conscience who knew exactly what had happened and was not afraid to say so.
The State set a one-million-dollar bond for a teenager with no prior record. His family received death threats. His younger sister was afraid to sleep in her own room. His mother had to hold a press conference under police escort while being disrupted. The full machinery of public outrage was aimed at the child who had been attacked.
That is not justice. That is what happens when a Black teenager chooses to survive.
We believe Karmelo Anthony acted in lawful self-defense under the laws of the State of Texas.
We believe he is a child who had the right to defend himself.
We believe this trial is a test of whether that right means the same thing for a Black 17-year-old as it does for anyone else.
We believe the answer matters. And we will be there on June 1 to say so.
In the State of Texas, a person has no duty to retreat when they are lawfully present, not engaged in criminal activity, and did not provoke the confrontation. Karmelo Anthony satisfies every element of that statute. His defense of his own life is protected by the law of this state.
He was a child at the time this occurred. A multi-sport athlete — football, baseball — who was at a school event. Not a criminal. Not a threat. A 17-year-old who had the right to be there and the right to live.
The record is clear. He was approached. He was assaulted. He responded. That is the sequence. That is the truth. Nothing about what happened before he responded changes the legal analysis.
Before any officer questioned him, he walked to the police and said exactly what happened. He did not run. He did not hide. That is not the behavior of someone who believed they had done something wrong.
We are organizing peaceful, lawful court presence June 1–5 in McKinney, Texas. The courtroom should know that this child does not stand alone. Wear purple. Show up. Be counted.
Whether the right to self-defense means the same thing for a Black teenager as it does for anyone else — that is what this trial will answer. We intend to witness the answer together.
We are Karmelo Anthony's defense. These are the facts. The law is not complicated. The only question is whether it will be applied equally.
Trial begins June 1, 2026 at the Collin County Courthouse in McKinney, Texas. We are organizing a peaceful, lawful court presence June 1–5. Sponsored lodging may be available and is not guaranteed.
Add your name to be notified of logistics and updates. Every name matters. Court presence or remote solidarity — all of it counts.
Court support · Co-sign the manifesto · Remote solidarity · All welcome.
Thank you. We will be in touch with logistics before June 1. You are part of this.