Two Boys, One Agenda: How a Texas Far-Right Rally Went Left
Jake Lang, a Jan 6th rioter turned Senate candidate, says white people are under attack. To make that point, he needed two faces—one to mourn and one to provoke outrage.
Over the weekend in Frisco, Texas, organizers and supporters gathered for a “Protect White People” rally. The event was organized by Jake Lang, a January 6th insurrectionist now running for Senate in Florida, who said that White Americans needed to be “protected from Black violence.” Lang used Austin Metcalf’s image to promote the event after Karmelo Anthony, accused of stabbing him in early April, was released on bond. However, a phone call from Metcalf’s father was not the response he expected.
In a clip posted by Robert Downen from the Texas Monthly, Austin’s father, Jeff Metcalf, can be heard telling Lang and fellow protestors: “You’re part of the f***ing problem,” and demanding they stop using photos of his son to further a racist, fear-fueled agenda.
“You’re trying to create more race divide than bridging the gap,” Metcalf added. “I do not condone anything you do.”
Rather than consider a father’s plea, the organizers publicly humiliated him. They accused the father of “white guilt,” blaming him for what they called the rise of “thousands more Austin Metcalfs.”
The irony of the exchange was telling—from an organizer whose agenda was exposed by a father unwilling to let his child’s death become a symbol of white victimhood.
Yet, the stunt wasn’t just about Austin Metcalf’s image, it was about Karmelo Anthony’s, too.
The Boys Behind the Rally
Austin Metcalf, a white teenager from Frisco, was killed earlier this month during an altercation involving Karmelo Anthony, a 16-year-old Black teenager. According to witnesses, Metcalf had confronted Karmelo at a park, where tensions escalated into a physical attack. Footage and multiple testimonies later suggested that Karmelo acted in self-defense after being surrounded and punched repeatedly.
Still, Karmelo was arrested and held without bond for months while far-right commentators framed him as a symbol of so-called “Black violence.” His case was quickly politicized, and Metcalf—whether intentionally or not—also became a symbol, of white vulnerability.
This month, a Black judge lowered Karmelo's bond, and with the support of family and community advocates, he was released as he awaits trial. That decision prompted outrage from the same networks that had elevated his case as proof of “anti-white bias” in the justice system. The Frisco rally was a direct response to that release.
Grief for One, Blame for the Other
Rather than allowing space for the complexity of the tragedy—or the facts of the case—the rally leaned on a dangerous narrative that Metcalf’s death was part of an anti-white agenda, and that Karmelo Anthony should still be in jail. The photo of Austin Metcalf was splashed across posters and flyers, used without family consent to drum up support for the rally and fuel white grievance politics.
But when Metcalf’s father got wind of what was happening, he didn’t stand behind the crowd. He answered a call—and drew a line.
Moreover, while he never showed Karmelo Anthony’s photo, Lang also invoked his presence at every turn—positioning him as the threat, danger, and symbol of so-called Black violence. He used one child to incite sympathy—and the other to provoke outrage.
Has the Script Flipped?
As the case proceeds, it appears that Lang may face consequences for his actions in the meantime. According to The Dallas Morning News, hours after the rally, Frisco ISD announced plans to file charges, stemming from Lang allegedly trespassing at David Kuykendall Stadium (Frisco ISD property)—where the stabbing occurred—to film video evidence. In the footage, Lang points to a dark stain on the ground, claiming it was Austin Metcalf’s blood.
School officials later confirmed the stain wasn’t blood—and wasn’t even near where the stabbing occurred. It was filmed on the opposite side of the stadium.
The man at the center of demanding accountability and consequences in this case may soon find himself on the receiving end of both.
13 & South is a new publication covering news, investigative stories, and insights on social justice, policy, and systemic inequities impacting Southern Black communities. I value your insights, and feedback and invite your perspectives to contribute to future issues. Please feel free to contact me here or follow me on my socials! LinkedIn, Twitter, IG, BlueSky, and Threads.
My question to Lang immediately would be - so you only care about "white" people when they are killed or injured in moments like this? We have thousands of moments where he could have formed a "Protect Black People" or Protect People." This dude is lame.
Very interesting story that I have not followed. I will follow it now. If the father is reacting like this, that is a big deal. He probably just wants the case to play out without the racial overtones.