Gov. Greg Abbott pardons Daniel Perry

Republican Gov. Greg Abbott pardoned Daniel Perry, the former Army sergeant convicted for the fatal shooting of a protester during a Black Lives Matter march. The decision followed a recommendation from a review board, leading to Perry’s release from prison on Thursday.

Gov. Abbott, known for his staunch support of Texas’ ‘Stand Your Ground’ law, emphasized the state’s strong self-defence laws in his statement.

“Texas has one of the strongest ‘Stand Your Ground’ laws of self-defence that cannot be nullified by a jury or a progressive District Attorney,” Abbott declared.

Gov. Greg Abbott on the investigation

He expressed gratitude towards the board for their thorough investigation, stating, “I thank the Board for its thorough investigation, and I approve their pardon recommendation.”

Perry had been sentenced to 25 years in prison last year for the murder of 28-year-old Garrett Foster, a U.S. Air Force veteran, during a racial justice demonstration in downtown Austin in 2020. Foster, who was legally armed with an AK-47 rifle, was shot by Perry during a confrontation.

Unsealed court records later revealed Perry had shared racist memes and threatening content in private messages and social media posts, including descriptions of killing protesters and minorities.

Perry’s attorney, Doug O’Connell, praised the board for taking the time to review evidence and interview witnesses, claiming it corrected “the courtroom travesty” that led to Perry’s imprisonment. “He is thrilled and elated to be free,” O’Connell said, adding that Perry wished the tragic event had never occurred.

Gov. Greg Abbott placed politics over justice

District Attorney Garza strongly condemned the pardon, arguing that the state board and governor have placed politics over justice. “The Board and the Governor have put their politics over justice and made a mockery of our legal system,” Garza stated, asserting that the pardon sends a message that some lives matter more than others under Texas law.

Amidst this political backdrop, a Travis County resident recently filed a petition to remove Garza from office for official misconduct, which is currently under review. Garza has dismissed the petition as “meritless,” expressing confidence that it will ultimately be dismissed.

As this high-profile case continues to stir controversy, it underscores the deep political and social divisions surrounding issues of self-defence, gun rights, and racial justice in Texas.