Dominique Alexander, a minister and a spokesman for Karmelo Anthony's family, told Newsmax on Tuesday he does not believe the 19-year-old received justice in his murder trial.

Anthony was convicted of murder in the killing of a 17-year-old at a track meet in Texas and was sentenced to 35 years in prison.

A jury rejected Anthony's claims of self-defense in a confrontation with Austin Metcalf in the stadium's bleachers last year.

Students who testified described a heated exchange when Anthony refused to leave a tent belonging to Metcalf's team during a rainy competition.

Alexander argued that Black Americans are repeatedly told that self-defense is part of the law.

"That a knife under 5 inches is legal in the state of Texas. That stand your ground is legal here in the state of Texas," Alexander said on "Finnerty." "But when a Black person try to use those same basic rights and laws, then we're not afforded those things."

The minister said he did not know why Anthony brought a knife to the track meet.

"But I can tell you that the state of Texas made it legal," Alexander said. "So at the end of the day, if a person got a problem with it, they might need to call Gov. Greg Abbott and tell him, why does this state have open carry laws?"

Alexander said Anthony was in the same tent as Metcalf due to a tornado warning, even though 21 students testified that Anthony was told to leave the tent.

Prosecutors and defense attorneys told jurors that the case had nothing to do with race.

Instead, prosecutor Bill Wirskye called the stabbing a "sneak, surprise attack" and accused Anthony of provoking the confrontation. Mike Howard, an attorney for Anthony, said his client acted in a "split-second of fear, chaos" after Metcalf made the first physical contact.

Alexander pushed back on claims that he was bringing race into the situation, saying people on social media were calling Anthony a thug, saying he should be hanged from a tree.

"All we want is our rights and be afforded the same basic rights that everyone is afforded to," Alexander said.

Alexander said Anthony plans to appeal.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

GET TODAY NEWSMAX+:

NEWSMAX is the fastest-growing cable news channel in America with more than 30 million people watching!

Reuters Institute reports NEWSMAX is one of the top news brands in the U.S.

You need to watch NEWSMAX today.

Get it with great shows from Rob Schmitt, Greta Van Susteren, Greg Kelly, Carl Higbie, Rob Finnerty – and many more!

Find the NEWSMAX channel on your cable system – Go Here Now

BEST OFFER:

Sign up for NEWSMAX+ and get NEWSMAX, our streaming channel NEWSMAX2 and our military channel World at War.

Find hundreds of shows, movies and specials.

Even get Jon Voight's special series and much more!

Watch NEWSMAX+ on your smartphone or home TV app.

Watch NEWSMAX anytime, anywhere!

Start your FREE trial now: NewsmaxPlus.com