(WNY News Now) – New York – New York AG Letitia James leads a coalition urging the DOJ to investigate the federal civil rights implications of the controversial pardon of Daniel Perry, convicted for the 2020 murder of protester Garrett Foster.
New York Attorney General Letitia James, supported by a coalition of 13 attorneys general, has called on the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) to launch a civil rights investigation into the July 2020 murder of Garrett Foster, who was killed while protesting racial injustice in Austin, Texas. Despite a jury convicting Daniel Perry of murder in April 2023, Texas Governor Greg Abbott pardoned Perry earlier this month, invoking Texas’ “Stand Your Ground” law, which offers a broad self-defense justification.
“Garrett Foster was exercising his constitutional right to protest when he was murdered by Daniel Perry,” stated Attorney General James. “The facts of this case were egregious, and so too is the reality that a state would so blatantly condone hateful, murderous conduct. When states fail to protect their residents from such violations of our civil rights, it’s imperative that DOJ steps in and ensures that justice is served. We urge DOJ to investigate this incident and demonstrate that this will not be tolerated in America.”
In June 2020, Foster was part of a racial injustice protest in Austin. Perry drove his car into a crowd of protesters, and Foster approached the vehicle to protect others. Perry then shot and killed Foster, later claiming self-defense. Evidence presented at Perry’s trial included his internet searches and communications, which suggested premeditation and a desire to harm protesters.
Perry’s online history revealed that he knew his actions were wrong and sought to cover up his crime. He searched for information on federal ballistics databases and texted friends about potentially needing to kill people at protests. He also shared racist and Islamophobic content and targeted protest locations.
After Perry’s conviction, Governor Abbott swiftly announced his intent to pardon him, a decision supported by several other political leaders opposing racial justice protests. The coalition of attorneys general contends that the pardon implies that “Stand Your Ground” laws might be used to shield individuals who deliberately target and kill protesters.
While Perry’s pardon absolves him of state charges, it does not protect him from federal prosecution. The coalition argues that DOJ must use federal civil rights laws to address hate crimes, particularly when states fail to act.
Joining AG James in the call to action are the attorneys general of Arizona, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, Oregon, Vermont, and the District of Columbia. This initiative is managed for New York by Special Counsel Molly Thomas-Jensen and Assistant Attorney General Martha Grieco of the Executive Division, under the supervision of First Deputy Attorney General Jennifer Levy.
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