Martin Luther King III and Arndrea Waters King released the following statement on the pardon of Daniel Perry:
We strongly condemn the pardoning of Daniel Perry, who was convicted by a Texas jury and sentenced to 25 years in prison for murdering Garrett Foster at a 2020 Black Lives Matter rally in Austin. Gov. Greg Abbott’s decision is the ultimate miscarriage of justice, and it makes a mockery of a decisive verdict by a Texas jury to convict Perry.
Yet again, Texas’ ‘Stand Your Ground’ law of self-defense, has been exploited for political motive against the safety of its citizens. Not only will Perry not face accountability for his actions but this decision compounds a tragedy, setting free a murderer whose full rights will be restored, including access to firearms.
Meanwhile, there are currently an estimated 3,000-9,000 Texans serving sentences due to wrongful convictions. At rates estimated at 33 percent, Black individuals are disproportionately incarcerated in Texas.
This appalling action sends a clear message to America and the world: Only some lives matter in Texas.