The father of Austin Metcalf, a teenager who was tragically killed at a high school track meet, has criticized protesters who rallied against his son’s accused killer, calling them “race baiters” with their own agendas. Jeff Metcalf spoke out against the group of demonstrators who gathered at the stadium where Karmelo Anthony allegedly stabbed Austin in the heart, accusing them of not caring about his family or Anthony’s family.
The protesters, organized by a group called “Protect White Americans,” condemned local authorities for releasing Anthony, who is black, on bond. Jeff Metcalf referred to the protesters as “race baiters” and expressed his frustration with their actions. Protect White Americans was founded by Jake Lang, a self-proclaimed “political prisoner” who was arrested during the January 6th protest and is now running for a U.S. Senate seat from Florida.
Metcalf revealed that Lang had invited him to speak at the rally, but he declined after realizing the group’s motives. He demanded that Lang remove photos of his son from their website and event flyers, and he plans to file a complaint with the school board for allowing protesters access to the stadium parking lot where his son was killed.
Despite the protesters’ claims that they were supporting the Metcalf family, Jeff Metcalf was adamant that their actions were disrespectful and not in the family’s best interest. The rally drew around 40 protesters and half as many counter-protesters, with a heavy police presence to keep the two sides separated.
The clash between the protesters and counter-protesters led to two arrests, including a woman who allegedly pepper-sprayed a protester wearing a “Trump” hat. One of the counter-protesters, Austin Hunter, plans to press charges against the woman who allegedly pepper-sprayed him, stating his intention to hold Democrats accountable.
The incident at the track meet, which resulted in Austin Metcalf’s death, has sparked a racially charged debate over Karmelo Anthony’s actions. Anthony claims he acted in self-defense when he allegedly stabbed Metcalf after an altercation in the bleachers. The judge lowered Anthony’s bond and allowed him to leave jail on house arrest, leading to further tensions between those supporting the victim and those supporting the accused.
