Nationwide — Karmelo Anthony’s parents say one of their biggest regrets following his conviction is listening to repeated advice that their son needed a white attorney to receive a fair trial. Now, as Anthony begins the appeals process after receiving a 35-year prison sentence, his family has assembled a new legal team led by Black attorneys, with support from civil rights organizations, to challenge the verdict and pursue what they believe is justice.
Speaking publicly for the first time since the trial during an interview with Mimi Brown on The Breakfast Club, Andrew Anthony said numerous people—including Black attorneys he consulted—encouraged the family to hire a white lawyer. According to Anthony, they were repeatedly told that a white attorney would have a better chance of persuading the jury. Looking back, he said he believes that advice was a mistake.
“I was told, ‘Don’t talk to this person. Don’t talk to this person,'” Anthony explained. “They told us, ‘Go get white attorneys.'” He added that he now feels the family was “set up” and believes those decisions prevented them from building the defense strategy they wanted.
Anthony also argued that his son became the target of what he described as a coordinated smear campaign. He disputed reports that Karmelo had previously been suspended for possessing a knife, saying those claims were false and contributed to negative public opinion before the trial even began. He said the experience convinced him that stronger Black legal and community networks are needed to support families facing high-profile criminal cases.
The family’s legal strategy has now shifted dramatically. Anthony’s appeal will be led by a newly assembled team of Black attorneys and advocates, working alongside national civil rights organizations, including the Innocence Project and the NAACP. The expanded legal team says it plans to challenge both the fairness of the trial and the legal issues surrounding Anthony’s conviction while pursuing every available avenue on appeal.
Beyond the courtroom, his parents described the devastating impact the case has had on their family. They said relentless online harassment and threats forced them to remove their younger children from school after disturbing videos and abusive social media posts began circulating.
Although the guilty verdict has already been delivered, Anthony’s parents say the fight is far from over. With a new Black-led legal team now directing the appeal, they hope the next chapter of the case will present what they believe is a stronger legal strategy and a renewed opportunity to challenge the conviction.