At Talarico Rally, Jasmine Crockett’s Pastor Calls ICE ‘the New KKK’: Talarico Thanks Him for His ‘Kind Words’

Jasmine Crockett's pastor called U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement "the new KKK" at a boisterous campaign rally for Texas Senate candidate James Talarico on Thursday. Talarico thanked him for the "kind words" and congratulated him on his expected accession to Crockett's congressional seat.

Frederick Haynes, who serves as Rep. Jasmine Crockett's pastor and is running to replace her in Texas's 30th Congressional District, also called to "abolish" the immigration agency at a stump speech for Talarico during an event in Dallas for his "Clear Eyes, Full Hearts" campaign tour.

"You transformed ICE into the new KKK and brought about terror in this nation," Haynes said of President Trump and Republican Senate candidate Ken Paxton. "It's time to melt ICE. It's time to abolish ICE."

"James Talarico, I stand with you," he added.

Talarico, who has said he opposes the abolition of ICE, praised Haynes in his speech, urging the Dallas crowd to "give it up for your next congressman."

"Thank you, Dr. Haynes, for those kind words and your service to this community," said Talarico. Haynes, the pastor of the majority-black Friendship-West Baptist Church in Dallas, is expected to coast to victory in his deep blue district. Crockett abandoned the seat to seek the Senate nomination, which she lost to Talarico.

Haynes's rhetoric, while it could help Talarico with voters in Dallas, may undercut the Senate candidate with other voters across traditionally conservative Texas.

Haynes is also notorious for referring to Karmelo Anthony—a black teenager convicted in the murder of a white athlete, Austin Metcalf, at a high school track meet, when both boys were 17—as "our friend." The pastor and Talarico campaigning together may remind voters of Talarico's own controversial position on Anthony, who was sentenced to 35 years in prison.

Talarico stoked criticism in August for stating in an interview that Anthony's conviction showed the criminal justice system "is not working for black Texans."

"Right now we've got a system that doesn't serve all Americans equally, and, and we know that black Texans have been, um, have not gotten the justice they deserve," said Talarico in a clip uncovered by the Washington Free Beacon.

Talarico suggested that Anthony was either wrongfully convicted or over-sentenced because he is black.

"I'm not an expert on this particular case, but I know that there were no black members of the jury, and to me, that's, that's the only evidence you need to, to really prove this system is not working for black Texans." Talarico said that if elected to the U.S. Senate, he will continue his work in the Texas State House to "reform this system."

Haynes, who has referred to antisemitic preacher Louis Farrakhan as a "great man," has gone even farther in defending Anthony.

"This boy, our friend, can't even defend himself. We are not safe," Haynes said in a sermon at his Friendship-West Baptist church this summer.

Haynes, who attended the Anthony trial, said Anthony was a defenseless "little boy" who was railroaded by an "all non-black jury." Haynes said he was "disgusted" that prosecutors in the case painted Anthony as "a monster of a man."

Witnesses testified that Anthony, who was 17 at the time of the murder, threatened Metcalf and other students before brandishing a large knife and stabbing Metcalf in the heart.

Anthony's family raised $630,000 for his legal defense through GoFundMe, though they reportedly spent the money on moving costs and living expenses.

Talarico's campaign did not respond to a request for comment.

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