Abbott Clears Army Vet Who Received a 25-year Sentence for Protester’s Murder: A Step Towards Justice or Miscarriage of Law?

On Thursday, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R) pardoned Daniel Perry, an Army sergeant convicted of murder for fatally shooting a Black Lives Matter protester in 2020. A jury convicted Perry in April of murdering Garrett Foster at a July 2020 protest in Austin, Texas. The jury did not find him guilty of the aggravated assault allegation.

Perry was sentenced to 25 years in prison, and Abbott requested that the Texas parole board expedite the examination of the case. Conservatives are outraged by Perry’s conviction and punishment, claiming that he was acting in self-defense.

The board, appointed by the governor, made its unanimous recommendation to pardon Perry, and Abbott issued a proclamation shortly after, according to the Associated Press. In a statement issued Thursday, the governor stated that Texas has one of the toughest “Stand Your Ground” self-defense laws.

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The proclamation offers Perry a complete pardon and “restoration of full civil rights of citizenship.” Abbott commended the review board for their unanimous conclusion. Perry, who is white, was convicted of shooting 28-year-old Garrett Foster, a white Air Force veteran, during a 2020 protest after demonstrations began worldwide in response to George Floyd’s death.

Perry, an Uber driver, dropped off a passenger in downtown Austin. He was attempting to maneuver his automobile through a crowd when he claims Foster, who was lawfully armed, pointed his weapon at him.

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Perry was also legally carrying a gun and fired the weapon at Foster out of fear for his life. Prosecutors claimed Foster did not lift his weapon at Perry. Perry shared racist content in private chats, according to evidence presented in court, including a reference to BLM demonstrators as zoo animals.