riverboat brawl music

Full Video: Viewer records as Montgomery riverfront brawl begins

Montgomery Chamber creates program to help military spouses find work

WSFA remembers former news director Scott Duff

Preliminary hearing held for Montgomery triple homicide suspect

Longtime WSFA news director Scott Duff dies

Montgomery Humane Society takes in injured, neglected litter of puppies

Remembering Scott Duff

Things you buy through our links may earn  Vox Media  a commission.

The Montgomery Brawl Is Music to the Internet’s Ears

The breakout star of the Montgomery brawl is a white folding chair. I know this because her name is in Sheryl Lee Ralph’s mouth. “I have one thing to say,” the Emmy-winning Abbott Elementary actor began her remarks on the altercation that saw multiple Black bystanders come to the defense of a Black riverboat captain after white pontooners attacked him. “Lift every chair and swing ,” Ralph sang in the tune of the Black national anthem, per the video she posted on Twitter on August 8. Her lyric change refers to the famous piece of portable furniture that a Black man wielded during the brawl, an object that has now become a symbol of rising up against oppressors by grabbing the nearest weapon and joining the fight. A day before Ralph’s “Lift Ev’ry Voice and Sing” remix hit the Twitter timeline, “Big Gretch” rapper Gmac Cash found the chair to be a source of inspiration for his viral song “Montgomery Brawl,” recounting the events at Riverfront Park on August 5. “Ayy, I’m really proud of y’all (Montgomery Brawl, bitch) / Not one, but them all (Montgomery Brawl),” Cash raps in the chorus. “Shout-out bro with the chair (Montgomery Brawl) / Everybody that was there (Montgomery Brawl, all of y’all).” The first verse sees him prophesize about the significance of the object. “Unc came with the chair like I got some action (bitch),” he describes. “That chair goin’ out in history.” The 16-year-old whom Cash calls “the first Black man to swim to a fight” does get a salute in his track (and many a nod online), but it’s clear that the chair has taken on an importance beyond wildest dreams.

• extremely online
• montgomery brawl
• sheryl lee ralph
• internet culture
• #fadeinthewater

Most Viewed Stories

• Cinematrix No. 113: July 17, 2024
• Shōgun and The Bear Lead 2024 Emmy Nominations
• Have You Ever Heard ‘The Star-Spangled Banner’ Sung in Cursive?
• The Acolyte Season-Finale Recap: Original Sins
• Tom Sandoval Is Suing Ariana Madix for Checking His Phone
• Presumed Innocent Recap: So You Snapped

Editor’s Picks

Most Popular

• Who’s Presumed Guilty on Presumed Innocent ?

What is your email?

This email will be used to sign into all New York sites. By submitting your email, you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy and to receive email correspondence from us.

Sign In To Continue Reading

Create your free account.

Password must be at least 8 characters and contain:

• Lower case letters (a-z)
• Upper case letters (A-Z)
• Numbers (0-9)
• Special Characters (!@#$%^&*)

As part of your account, you’ll receive occasional updates and offers from New York , which you can opt out of anytime.

• Newsletters
• Store (Opens in new window)

How this country star’s hit song unexpectedly catalyzed the Montgomery riverfront brawl

Jason Aldean’s chart-topping, controversial country song, “Try That in a Small Town,” became the soundtrack to the racially-charged confrontation that went viral this week. (GettyImages) (Getty)

Sign up for Reckon’s latest weekly newsletter covering the three topics never to be discussed at the dinner table. Enter your email to subscribe to Matter of Faith.

Country star Jason Aldean’s latest song “Try that in a Small Town” was already criticized for promoting a “pro-lynching mentality,” but now it’s part of social media videos of a fight between a black worker and white boaters in Montgomery, Ala.

The song starts with a list of criminal behaviors including carjacking and harassing police officers as behaviors that would not be tolerated “in a small town,” as the chorus goes. The song also asks “if you’re lookin for a fight, try that in a small town.”

While catchy and clearly a hit, the tune has been criticized by political activists like Shannon Watts , the founder of Moms Demand Action , and country greats like Sheryl Crow , who said “even people in small towns are sick of violence.”

Violence is exactly what happened on Sunday when officials said a Black dock worker and white boaters got into a dispute that turned into a brawl between Black and white boaters at the dock in Montgomery, Ala. The worker had apparently asked the boater to move the boat to make room for the Harriet II Riverboat that usually docks in that location, the Montgomery Advertiser reported .

The song joined the Montgomery River Brawl when TikTok users put the song over videos of the fight. Some users said they were reclaiming the song for the Black community invested in Montgomery.

The Montgomery Police Dept. said the man was attacked “for simply doing his job.” Police have also issued arrest warrants for several people involved in the fight.

Dillon Nettles, a policy analyst for the American Civil Liberties Union , posted on X Monday morning about the fight.

“The significance of the riverfront where this fight took place shouldn’t be lost. This is where our ancestors were transported and marched in shackles up Commerce [Street] to be sold. Montgomery was once one of the most prominent slave trading markets in the country,” Nettles posted.

The story was trending on X Tuesday morning along with the hashtags #Alabamaboatbrawl and #montgomerybrawl. TikTok users were also posting v ideos of the fight with an audio clip from Aldean’s song.

“Probably not how they anticipated this song being used,” TikTok user @dazzlingblu said in a comment.

Other users commented on the use of the song with the clips saying “the flip of the century for that song,” and “uno reverse.”

The song was originally a ballad for “small-town” folks who opposed “big city” ideas (and threatened them with violence). In the comments under one TikTok video, users were reclaiming the song, making it the 180-degree turn no one expected for the song.

TikTok user @abbysworldsastage posted a video about the incident between a white woman and a chair-weilding black man , saying that she thought people who were upset about a man hitting a woman with a chair were deflecting from the real issue at the root of the fight: racial violence.

“When I watched that vid, [sic] I saw a community coming together to protect each other, and an impressive use of available tools. I’m not about to say just swinging on women or anyone is okay, but I certainly don’t think that was the problem with the whole situation, and the focus on it feels like deflection to me,” she said in the video caption.

The fight happened over the weekend after former President Donald Trump visited Montgomery on Friday to attend and give remarks at a Republican Party dinner . However, it’s unclear if those involved in the fight attended Trump’s event.

Trump pleaded not guilty Thursday to new charges related to the classified files discovered at his Florida mansion last year.

The controversy and boycott

The song, music video and resulting controversy around it has led some conservatives to call for a boycott of Country Music Television (CMT) for pulling the music video off its streaming platform.

Last month, CMT canceled Aldean’s music video after backlash related to the song’s suggestions of “looking for a fight.” Speaking of, the music video for the song featured shots of the Maury County Courthouse in Columbia, Tenn., where Henry Choate , an 18-year-old Black man, was hanged in 1927 after he was falsely accused of attacking a white girl.

Featuring the location in the shot led to calls for a boycott of the video, which some critics said represented a “pro-lynching” stance.

Earlier this year Bud Light and Chick-Fil-A were caught with similar backlash, as conservative fans call for a boycott of the entertainment group. Other musicians involved in the political culture wars including Lee Greenwood, have also issued statements criticizing CMT’s decision and offering support for Aldean.

Conservative politicians across the country have also extended their welcome to Aldean in the wake of the music video cancellation.

Anna Beahm | [email protected]

I report on the intersection of religion and sexuality in America. Follow me on Twitter @_AnnaBeahm

You are using an outdated browser. Please upgrade your browser to improve your experience.

AD LOADING...

Detroit Rapper Gmac Cash Turns Alabama Brawl Into Hilarious Rap Song

Detroit rapper Gmac Cash has taken the viral Alabama riverboat fight and turned it into a hilarious new track, and some big-name rappers are showing him love as a result.

The viral brawl took place at Montgomery Riverfront Park on Saturday evening (August 5), and appeared to be racially divided as several white and Black people were seen fighting each other on the dock.

The internet has been having plenty of fun with the incident for a few days now, and Gmac Cash took it one step further on Monday (August 7) by immortalizing the mayhem on wax.

Recapping the wild scuffle in comedic storytelling fashion, Cash gave a special shoutout to the Black guy who swam to join the fight and the Black man who smashed a foldable chair over a white woman’s head.

“Cuz came out the water like, ‘Let’s get it crackin’/ Unc came with the chair like, ‘I got some action’/ Cuz came no short like, ‘I got Sebastian/’ Even the women getting hit like, ‘Damn, what happened?'” he raps.

“Seen a couple of them boys go night-night/And we got the first Black man to swim to a fight/ If you mad at this song, don’t mention me/ But fuck that, that chair going down in history.”

Big Sean , Sexyy Red and GLC were a few that took to Gmac’s Instagram comments section with their support of the new track.

Listen to “Montgomery Brawl” below:

The mass throwdown began between a Black dock worker and a group of white men regarding a pontoon boat that was reportedly blocking dock space needed to park a riverboat.

Footage showed the men arguing with each other for several minutes before one of the white men charged at the Black man, who reacted by spinning his cap around and fighting back.

From there, several other white men jumped in and began hitting the dock worker. One witness, apparently watching from the riverboat, could be heard screaming, “Y’all help that brother!” to onlookers who were on shore.

At least one Black man heeded the call and stepped in to break up the fight. Another even swam to the dock to help out. “Get up there, young buck!” someone off-camera could be heard saying as they cheered him on.

related news

August 7, 2023

The violence didn’t stop there, though, as a group of shirtless Black men were later seen confronting the white pontoon boat driver and his family, with at least one punch being thrown. When a group of white men — and even women — rushed over, chaos ensued.

According to local outlet WSFA 12 , Montgomery Police have issued four arrest warrants over the riverfront brawl and it’s possible more will follow after they review additional footage. Police confirmed that several people have been detained and charges are pending.

“Last night, the Montgomery Police Department acted swiftly to detain several reckless individuals for attacking a man who was doing his job. Warrants are being signed and justice will be served,” Montgomery Mayor Steven Reed said in a statement on Sunday.

“This was an unfortunate incident which never should have occurred. As our police department investigates these intolerable actions, we should not become desensitized to violence of any kind in our community. Those who choose violent actions will be held accountable by our criminal justice system.”

More on Hiphopdx

• Donald Glover Explains Why He’s Retiring The ‘Childish Gambino’ Name

news | Jul 17, 2024

• Ice Spice Reveals Tracklist & Features For Debut Album ‘Y2K'

• Eminem Drops 2 Chainz & DJ Premier Collab Via ‘The Death Of Slim Shady’ Bonus Edition

DX Newsletter

Latest news.

• Chief Keef Postpones His Summer Tour Hours Before It Was Supposed To Begin
• Young Thug’s RICO Trial Chaos Continues As New Judge Recuses Herself
• Ab-Soul’s New Album Hyped By DJ Hed: ‘He Got Some Slaps’
• Cam’ron Walks Off ‘It Is What It Is’ In Protest Of Dwyane Wade’s Nail Polish Plans
• Sexyy Red Teases ‘Dream Collab’ With Unlikely Rapper
• Cash Cobain Raps Over André 3000's Flute & Drake Classic In New Song Snippets
• Janelle Monáe Hilariously Recreates Michael Jackson's Baby Balcony Stunt

Subscribe To DX Newsletter

11 Songs Should Have Played During the Riverboat Brawl In Alabama

Share this link via, or copy link.

Source: Lisa-Blue / Getty

The massive viral brawl at Montgomery’s Riverfront Park in Alabama has been all over social media over the last few days.   USA Today reported that the fight took place Saturday after a small pontoon boat blocked the Harriott II Riverboat’s dock space.

RELATED STORY: Riverboat Brawl In Alabama Draws Strong Reactions From X Users

Videos on social media show a Black security guard trying to get the people riding in the pontoon boat to move out of the way for the riverboat to dock. After a heated exchange of words, several White men started the large fight where quickly several Black people joined in defense of the security guard. Monday, August 7, the Montgomery police department confirmed that several people were detained on Saturday and warrants had been issued for four people involved in the case.

Text “HUSTLE” to 71007 to join The Morning Hustle Show mobile club for exclusive news. (Terms and conditions).

Social media has been buzzing with praise to the Black people who jumped in defense of the security officer and even have been making memes to honor the massive melee.  So we couldn’t help but put together a playlist of  11 songs that should have played during the Riverboat brawl in Alabama.

Sexyy Red Announces Joint Album With Chief Keef

Member of jagged edge shares near death experience, common finds his muse: the rapper-actor talks love and marriage with jennifer hudson, 1. nuck if you buck by crimemob, 2. m.o.p. – ante up remix ft. busta rhymes, teflon, remy martin, 3. bone crusher – never scared (official hd video) ft. killer mike, t.i., 4. move b***h ft. mystikal, i-20, 5. trillville – neva eva (featuring lil’ scrappy & lil jon), 6. who run it three 6 mafia, 7. waka flocka flame – “hard in da paint”, 8. lil jon & the east side boyz – bia’ bia’ (feat ludacris & too short), 9. mama said knock you out ll cool j, 10. hit ‘em up 2pac, 11. kick in the door the notorious b.i.g..

Rest In Power: Notable Black Folks Who We’ve Lost In 2024

Photos Show Blood On Trump’s Face After Shots Reported At Pennsylvania Rally

Free Thugger: Judge Ural Glanville Removed From YSL Rico Trial

Register Here For The Morning Hustle Thousand Dollar CA$H Grab” Game

Diddy Accused Of Threatening Former “VIBE” Editor-In-Chief Danyel Smith Over Magazine Cover

Irv Gotti Accused of Rape In New Lawsuit

Couture For The Culture: 2024 Essence Festival Celebrity Looks We Loved

Winning Celebrity Looks from the 2024 ESPY Awards

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

A Film Festival Just For HBCU Students Is Heading To Detroit

“Sing Sing” Movie: Divine G Calls His Unlawful Time In Prison A “Spiritual Epiphany” From God

Sen. Bob Menendez Convicted in Bribery Trial; New Jersey Democrat Found Guilty of Accepting Gold Bars and Cash

Icon, Champion, Human: Netflix Releases ‘Simone Biles Rising’ Trailer Narrated By EGOT Winner Viola Davis

Skip Bayless To Walk Away From FS1’s ‘Undisputed’ Later This Summer

Sign up for the the morning hustle newsletter.

We care about your data. See our privay policy .

The Morning Hustle

Quick links.

What we know about the Montgomery Riverfront brawl

A group of White boaters attacked a Black co-captain on Saturday on a dock at Riverfront Park in Montgomery, Ala., sparking a massive brawl that resulted in assault charges and the city’s mayor calling for justice to be served to the boaters “for attacking a man who was doing his job.”

Three White men were charged with misdemeanor assault over the brawl after 13 people were initially detained by police for interviews , Montgomery Police Chief Darryl J. Albert said at a news conference with Mayor Steven L. Reed (D) on Tuesday. Those charged were Richard Roberts, 48; Allen Todd, 23; and Zachery Shipman, 25. Several people were detained after video clips of the brawl went viral on social media over the weekend.

Reed said in a statement Sunday that police “acted swiftly to detain several reckless individuals for attacking a man who was doing his job.” He called the fight “an unfortunate incident which never should have occurred.”

Here’s what we know so far about the incident:

Live updates: Best Prime Day 2 deals — up to 85% off

• Share this —

• Watch Full Episodes
• Read With Jenna
• Inspirational
• Relationships
• TODAY Table
• Newsletters
• Start TODAY
• Shop TODAY Awards
• Citi Concert Series
• Listen All Day

Follow today

More Brands

• On The Show
• TODAY Plaza

A waterfront brawl in Montgomery, Alabama, went viral. What happened and why?

The riverfront worker who was attacked said he “held on for dear life” as a group of white boaters jumped him in a large brawl that broke out at the Montgomery Riverfront in Alabama on Aug. 5.

In a handwritten account he filed with law enforcement after the Aug. 5 melee and obtained by NBC News, Dameion Pickett recalled what happened the day when the men refused to move their boat so a dinner cruise riverboat could dock.

“A tall, older white guy came over and hit me in the face. I took my hat off and threw it in the air,” he wrote. “Somebody hit me from behind. I started choking the older guy in front of me so he couldn’t anymore, pushing him back at the same time.”

Pickett has not made a public statement regarding the incident and did not respond to NBC News' request for comment.

Videos that went viral on social media showed a group of white men attacking Pickett. The footage caused an outcry, with the Montgomery mayor addressing the altercation and police issuing arrest warrants.

Allen Todd, 23, and Zachery Shipman, 25, have been charged with one misdemeanor count of assault in the third degree, a spokesperson for the Montgomery Police Department said.

Another man, Richard Roberts, 48, faces two third-degree assault charges and turned himself in on Aug. 8.

A fourth suspect in the case, Mary Todd, 21, turned herself in on Aug. 10 and was charged with misdemeanor third-degree assault.

A fifth suspect, Reggie Ray, 42, turned himself in on Aug. 11 and was charged with disorderly conduct. Police had previously sought Ray after he was seen wielding a folding chair in the melee on social media videos.

So what exactly happened? Read on for a full explanation of this now-viral incident.

What happened at the Montgomery Riverfront

A large brawl broke out Saturday, Aug. 5, shortly before 7 p.m. at the Alabama capital after Pickett attempted to clear a dock along the river so that the Harriott II Riverboat could dock, witnesses told NBC News . The brawl was fueled by alcohol and adrenaline, witnesses also said.

When a group of rowdy boaters refused to move their pontoon at the Montgomery Riverfront, they attacked Pickett when he untied their boat to make way for the riverboat, witnesses said.

In video shared with NBC News , after a group of what appears to be white men ran along the dock to attack the worker, who is Black, more people joined in and appeared to defend Pickett. Other footage shared with NBC News shows people punching and shoving one another, with one person falling into the water as police struggled to contain the chaos.

The Riverfront is a popular destination with a park, stadium, amphitheater and riverboat.

What police say about the fight

Montgomery Police Chief Darryl Albert, in a news conference on Aug. 8 , confirmed that a group of private white boaters had attacked a Black dockworker, identified as Pickett. Later, police would identify Pickett as the assistant boat captain of the riverboat.

He had been trying to move the private boaters' pontoon to make way for the riverboat.

As passengers aboard the riverboat — more than 200 — waited at least 30 minutes, Pickett tried to get the rowdy private boaters to move. Several members of the private pontoon group then attacked Pickett, Albert said.

Albert added that police arrived on the scene at 7:18 p.m. local time — about 18 minutes after the riverboat captain had called. He said 13 people were detained, questioned and then released.

What did the attacked dockworker say about the incident?

In a handwritten statement filed with police and obtained by NBC News, Pickett said he asked the group “five or six times” to move their boat.

When he and a dockhand were ignored and given the finger, he says, they untied the group’s pontoon boat, moved it “three steps to the right” and re-tied it to a post so the Harriott II could dock.

“By that time, two people ran up behind me,” Pickett wrote, adding that a man in a red hat yelled, “Don’t touch that boat motherf---er or we will beat your ass.”

He said the men continued to threaten him and then one of them called another man over.

“They both were very drunk,” Pickett wrote, adding that then the pontoon boat owner went over “started getting loud … He got into my face. ‘This belongs to the f---ing public.’ I told him this was a city dock.”

That’s when the brawl began. Pickett wrote, “A tall, older white guy came over and hit me in the face. I took my hat off and threw it in the air. Somebody hit me from behind. I started choking the older guy in front of me so he couldn’t anymore, pushing him back at the same time.”

Adding, “Then the guy in the red shorts came up and tackled me … I went to the ground. I think I hit one of them.”

Sharing more recollections from the fight, he said, “I can’t tell you how long it lasted. I grabbed one of them and just held on for dear life.”

Pickett was eventually helped by other people but noticed the brawl was getting out of hand, writing, “One of my co-workers had jumped into the water and was pushing people and fighting.”

He added that his nephew joined the melee and he had also seen his sister being choked during the fight.

As more chaos ensued, the riverboat had not been tied to the dock but Pickett helped the passengers off the boat. He wrote that he apologized “for the inconvenience. They all said I did nothing wrong.”

“Some of them were giving me cards with their names and numbers on it. Some said they had it all on film, so I pointed them out to MPD,” he added. After the altercation, he was treated at the emergency room where he was treated for bruised ribs and bumps on his head.

What witnesses say about the brawl

Witnesses told NBC News a similar version of events. Christa Owen said she was aboard the Harriott II with her husband and daughter when the brawl broke out.

“What was hard is we were all on the boat and witnessing our poor crewman being attacked by these guys, and we couldn’t do anything about it,” Owen said.

“It was really difficult to watch, and, like I said, we felt helpless, because we were forced to be spectators,” Owen added.

Owen was among those who recorded the altercations, explaining that it was “inexcusable behavior.”

Additionally, Leslie Mawhorter also on Harriott II, added: “They just didn’t think the rules applied to them. It was so avoidable. This never had to have happened. Everything just spiraled from there.”

“I knew something was going to go down, because their attitude was just, ‘You can’t tell us what to do.’ They were going to be confrontational regardless of who you were,” Mawhorter continued.

Have police made any arrests?

Four men and one woman are facing charges , according to police: Richard Roberts, 48; Reggie Ray, 42; Allen Todd, 23; and Zachery Shipman, 25, and Mary Todd, 21.

“There was no need for this event to take the path it did,” Albert told reporters earlier this week. “The people of Montgomery, we’re better than that. We’re a fun city, and we don’t want this type of activity to shed a dark eye on what this city’s all about.”

Was the fight racially motivated?

In the press conference on Aug. 8, Albert said investigators do not believe the incident was racially motivated.

He said that the local FBI and district attorney’s offices are involved in the ongoing investigation. 

“I don’t think you can judge any community by any one incident. I think it’s important for us to address this as an isolated incident, one that was avoidable,” Albert said. “One that was brought on by individuals who chose the wrong path of action.”

What the mayor of Montgomery said about the altercation

On Sunday, Aug. 6, Mayor Steven L. Reed released a statement saying that “justice will be served” after individuals attacked “a man who was doing his job.”

“Last night, the Montgomery Police Department acted swiftly to detain several reckless individuals for attacking a man who was doing his job. Warrants have been signed and justice will be served,” the statement posted on social media read. “This was an unfortunate incident which never should have occurred. As our police department investigates these intolerable actions, we should not become desensitized to violence of any kind in our community.”

“Those who choose violent actions will be held accountable by our criminal justice system,” the statement concluded.

Reed shared how he felt about the incident during a press conference on Aug. 7.

"I feel like it’s an unfortunate incident. Our statement that we put out the other day is that it’s something that shouldn’t have happened and it’s something that we’re investigating right now," Reed said. "We’ll continue to go through that process before we take any additional steps."

When asked if Reed thought the incident was racially charged, he said the brawl is still under investigation, and that authorities are "investigating all angles."

The investigation is ongoing.

EDITOR'S NOTE (Aug. 11, 2023 at 6:30 p.m. ET): Previous police statements listed the man attacked as Damien Pickett and one of the suspects as Zachary Shipman. On Aug. 11, officials corrected their names' spellings to Dameion Pickett and Zachery Shipman. This story has been updated to reflect the correct spelling.

Liz Calvario is a Los Angeles-based reporter and editor for TODAY.com who covers entertainment, pop culture and trending news.

Anna Kaplan is a news and trending reporter for TODAY.com.

Sam Kubota is a senior digital editor and journalist for TODAY Digital based in Los Angeles. She joined NBC News in 2019.

Mongolia’s viral Olympics opening ceremony outfits are giving gold

Biden tests positive for COVID-19 and will self-isolate in Delaware, White House says

Coronavirus.

Maren Morris reacts after onstage wardrobe malfunction

Andy Reid jokes about Travis Kelce’s roles as Taylor Swift’s boyfriend and ‘waterboy’

Pop culture.

Every surprise song Taylor Swift has performed on the ‘Eras Tour’ so far

Limited Too is back with a new tween line. How it plans to reach original customers

Portland chef Naomi Pomeroy dies at age 49 in tubing accident

A realtor asked his Gen Z employee to edit a video. The result went viral

Glen Powell says the ‘biggest reason’ he got ‘Twisters’ role is Hoda and Jenna — and explains why

Ryan Seacrest says his ‘heart is pounding’ in behind-the-scenes video from his 1st day at ‘Wheel of Fortune’

Heather Shirley Venable Jason Aldean/YouTube @parodeeez/TikTok

Alabama riverboat brawl videos keep getting set to Jason Aldean’s ‘Try That in a Small Town’

The controversial country song has been repurposed to mock the attackers..

Mikael Thalen

Posted on Aug 7, 2023

The viral Alabama riverboat brawl , an incident which saw pontoon boaters and riverboat employees throwing fists in Montgomery, Alabama on Saturday, is being combined with the controversial song “Try That In A Small Town” by country singer Jason Aldean.

The situation unfolded over the weekend after video surfaced showing a group of men refusing to move their pontoon boat that was blocking the city-owned riverboat the Harriot II. One of the men associated with the pontoon boat kicked off the brawl after attacking the riverboat employee attempting to get him to move.

The chaotic scene saw everything from another employee jumping in the water to aid his coworker, a metal folding chair being used as a weapon, and responding police desperately attempting to bring the crowd under control.

Memes regarding the incident have since exploded online, with endless comparisons being made between the fight and Marvel’s the Avengers . But the hottest meme so far appears to be the one that adds the controversial country song to the footage.

Just last month, Aldean faced criticism after releasing a music video for the song that many felt contained racial undertones. Specifically, given the video’s footage of Black Lives Matter protests, allegations were made that the video was calling for violence against the Black community.

Although Aldean vehemently denied the insinuation, the song has now taken on a life of its own. And given the racial aspects of the brawl, which saw the white pontoon boaters fighting with Black employees and onlookers, the incident is being used to highlight what happens when you “try that in a small town” and throw the message back in Aldean’s face.

My favorite coverage of the Montgomery Riverfront brawl… pic.twitter.com/v6KpSGETx8 — Lyrical 💫 (9213140) (@Plussize__Diva) August 6, 2023

Father Gawd, yo chirren have put footage of the Montgomery brawl over *Try That In a Small Town* and I am coming to meet thee. pic.twitter.com/ucbSc1VJSc — Renee (@PettyLupone) August 7, 2023

Some memes using the song even contained images of assassinated civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr., who lived for several years in Montgomery.

“Try that in a Small town in Montgomery Alabama,” one user wrote.

Try that in a Small town in Montgomery Alabama pic.twitter.com/6RjiGlFm2v — JayMo (@crassiux) August 6, 2023

Montgomery is steeped in civil rights history. The Montgomery bus boycott began there when Rosa Parks was arrested for refusing to give up her seat on a bus to a white person.

“They done added ‘Try that in a small town’ lol,” another said of the footage.

They done added “Try that in a small town” lol https://t.co/6lvMBXpvzy — 👎👎 (@ualreedykno) August 7, 2023

Multiple arrests were made in the wake of the incident, although Montgomery police have not released the identities of those involved. The incident is currently under investigation and charges are expected to come in the coming days.

Share this article

Mikael Thalen is a tech and security reporter covering social media, data breaches, hackers, and more.

• Election 2024
• Entertainment
• Photography
• AP Buyline Personal Finance
• AP Buyline Shopping
• Press Releases
• Israel-Hamas War
• Russia-Ukraine War
• Global elections
• Asia Pacific
• Latin America
• Middle East
• Election Results
• Delegate Tracker
• AP & Elections
• Auto Racing
• 2024 Paris Olympic Games
• Movie reviews
• Book reviews
• Financial Markets
• Business Highlights
• Financial wellness
• Artificial Intelligence
• Social Media

Boaters plead guilty in riverfront brawl; charge dismissed against riverboat co-captain

• Copy Link copied

MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) — Two white boaters on Friday pleaded guilty to harassment charges in connection with an Alabama riverfront braw l that drew national attention.

The two men pleaded guilty to the misdemeanor charge as part of a plea deal, according to court records. The August riverfront melee in Montgomery drew national attention after bystanders filmed white boaters hitting a Black riverboat co-captain and then crew members and bystanders rushing to his defense. Video of the fight was shared widely online, sparking countless memes and parodies.

A judge on Thursday also dismissed an assault charge filed by one of the white boaters against the riverboat co-captain. The Montgomery Police Department said the co-captain was a victim in the assaults.

Montgomery police said the brawl began when the white boaters refused to move their pontoon boat so the city-owned Harriott II riverboat could dock in its designated space. The boat’s co-captain said he was attacked after moving the pontoon boat a few feet to make way for the riverboat.

The guilty pleas concluded the last of the criminal cases brought against four white boaters in connection with the melee. The two men were ordered to complete an anger management class and perform community service. They will not serve any jail time unless they violate probation terms.

One white boater previously pleaded guilty to a charge of misdemeanor assault and was sentenced to serve 32 days in jail. Another white boater pleaded guilty to misdemeanor harassment. A Black man, who was filmed swinging a folding chair during the brawl, is charged with disorderly conduct and will go to court next week.

• Skip to main content
• Keyboard shortcuts for audio player

Man accuses riverboat co-captain of assault during Alabama riverfront brawl

The Associated Press

MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) — A Black riverboat co-captain at the center of an Alabama riverfront brawl that drew national attention has been accused of misdemeanor assault in the melee by one of the white boaters charged in the fight.

Court records show one of the white men accused of assaulting the co-captain during the August brawl filed a complaint last month saying the co-captain hit him first during the chaotic melee. The co-captain faces a charge of misdemeanor assault, according to court records.

"I was not trying to fight," the man wrote in a statement. The complaint was filed Oct. 26 ahead of the man's Nov. 16 trial on a misdemeanor assault charge of hitting and kicking the riverboat co-captain.

The August riverfront melee in Montgomery drew national attention after bystanders filmed white boaters hitting a Black riverboat co-captain and others rushing to his defense. Video of the fight was shared widely online, sparking countless memes and parodies.

Montgomery police said the brawl began when the white boaters refused to move their pontoon boat so the city-owned Harriott II riverboat could dock in its designated space. The boat's co-captain said he was attacked after moving the pontoon boat a few feet to make way for the riverboat.

Five other people were previously charged in the brawl. Two white boaters previously pleaded guilty to charges of misdemeanor assault or harassment. Three other people, including a Black man who was filmed swinging a folding chair, have upcoming court dates.

Watch CBS News

More arrest warrants could be issued after shocking video shows Montgomery, Alabama, riverfront brawl

By Jericka Duncan , Analisa Novak

Updated on: August 8, 2023 / 3:35 PM EDT / CBS News

Four arrest warrants have been issued in connection with a riverfront brawl in Alabama, with the potential for more to be issued pending a comprehensive review, according to Maj. Saba Coleman of the Montgomery Police Department. 

Shocking video captured the tumultuous scene that unfolded Saturday as what appeared to be a simple disagreement escalated into a violent clash in Montgomery. The incident, which unfolded at the Harriott II Riverboat docking area, involved a group of White people pummeling a Black riverboat worker, an exchange that sparked a massive fight. The incident has since  gone viral  and ignited discussions about race.

The suspects have been identified as Richard Roberts, a White male, 48, with two warrants pending; Allen Todd, a White male, 23, with one warrant pending; and Zachery Shipman, a White male, 25, with one warrant pending. One suspect has turned himself into the police, and the two others "are expected to follow," said Montgomery Police Chief Darryl J. Albert during a Tuesday afternoon news conference. 

He identified the victims in the case as co-captain Dameion Pickett and a 16-year-old juvenile, who both were struck by people from the private boat.

In a series of videos, Christa Owens recorded the tense moments that transpired when a disagreement began over docking space.

Owens, who was aboard the Harriott II Riverboat, said the boat had just completed a dinner cruise and was attempting to dock, only to find a small pontoon boat occupying the designated spot.  

"There were a few guys and a couple of women that were getting off of the boat and seemingly ignoring the captain's request to move," she said. 

A riverboat crew member stepped in and managed to move the pontoon boat several feet, clearing the way for the riverboat to dock, but was then confronted, which quickly led to a physical altercation between the riverboat worker and an irate, shirtless man.  

Owens said the crew member was simply trying to maintain order. 

"Our crewman was trying to explain over and over and over again, you know, we asked you to move so we can fit," she said. 

As the tension escalated, a group of pontoon boat passengers confronted the riverboat crew member, ultimately leading to a violent fight. 

"It felt a little tense, but then you saw punches and our crewman who is just trying to do his job is getting punched by these guys who are very angry," Owens said.  

Amid the chaos, a separate video showed other riverboat passengers rushing to the scene, some even swimming, in an attempt to assist the outnumbered crew member. At one point, a man   is seen picking up a white chair and hitting multiple people with it, including a woman. Law enforcement eventually intervened to stop the altercation and detain several individuals. 

Police said Tuesday they have identified the man with the chair as Reggie Green, 42, and asked him to contact them.

Mayor Steven Reed of Montgomery said in a statement that police swiftly apprehended "multiple reckless individuals involved in attacking a man who was carrying out his job." 

"This was an unfortunate incident which never should have occurred. As our police department investigates these intolerable actions, we should not become desensitized to violence of any kind in our community. Those who choose violence will be held accountable by our criminal justice system," Reed said.

Jericka Duncan is a national correspondent and the anchor for Sunday's edition of the "CBS Weekend News." Duncan is an Emmy-nominated journalist who has received several awards for her reporting, including two National Edward R. Murrow Awards and honors from the Associated Press and the Philadelphia Association of Black Journalists, which named her Journalist of the Year in 2012.

More from CBS News

Cellphone video shows security failures at Trump rally

Tennessee to drop sex workers with HIV from sex offender list

RFK Jr. confirms video of Trump call is legitimate, apologizes

1st Tulsa Race Massacre victim from mass graves ID'd as WWI vet

• Share full article

Advertisement

Supported by

Police Investigate Alabama Riverfront Brawl

The Montgomery police are seeking the arrest of several people in connection with a fight that broke out over the weekend when a group of white boaters attacked a Black boat captain.

By Remy Tumin and Chang Che

Update: All three men who were wanted in the brawl have turned themselves in . A woman also turned herself in to Montgomery police.

The police in Montgomery, Ala., are expected to charge at least three people in connection with a brawl that broke out over the weekend when a group of white boaters attacked a Black boat captain at the city’s popular Riverfront Park. The violent scene, which bystanders captured on video, has stoked memories of the city’s racist history.

The police issued arrest warrants for three men and more might follow, said Darryl J. Albert, the chief of the Montgomery Police Department, at a news conference on Tuesday. Richard Roberts, 48, faces two warrants for third-degree assault, a misdemeanor; Allen Todd, 23, faces one warrant for third-degree assault; and Zachery Shipman, 25, also faced a warrant for third-degree assault. All three men have been asked to turn themselves in; none of them are residents of Montgomery, the police said.

One of the men has already turned himself in to the police in Selma, Ala., Chief Albert said, and the other two are expected to turn themselves in later Tuesday afternoon.

A fourth man, Reggie Gray, 42, was wanted for questioning by the police after videos showed him wielding a folding chair during the incident, Chief Albert said.

While the police and federal authorities are still reviewing video evidence, the Montgomery police are not pursuing hate crime or riot charges at this time, he said.

“When the incident took place, the Police Department didn’t have the luxury of videos that we all have seen now,” Chief Albert said. “Now that we have more information, more charges are pending.”

Bystanders captured the incident on video from multiple angles that showed how a lively Saturday afternoon on the Alabama River turned into an all-out brawl. The fight, which seemed largely to be divided along racial lines, garnered a large social media response, including cartoons , TikTok videos , a song and even re-enactments , with many users reacting to a seeming reversal of fate along one of America’s most brutal historical markers of the slave trade. The fight occurred at the same dock where enslaved Africans arrived by steamboat to be sold in the center of town.

The altercation began when a group of white boaters docked a pontoon in an area designated for a larger riverboat on the Gun Island Chute portion of the Alabama River in Montgomery. The riverboat, known as the Harriott II, offers cruises with dining and live entertainment along a stretch of the river.

As the Harriott tried to re-dock after an outing with 227 passengers aboard, its captain attempted to contact the owners of the pontoon for 45 minutes via the public announcement service, instructing them to move their vessel, Chief Albert said.

They responded with “gestures, curse words and taunting,” he said.

After this, Dameion Pickett, a co-captain of the Harriott, took a ride on a small boat to the dock so he could talk to them, Chief Albert said. When Mr. Pickett, who is Black, tried to move the pontoon just enough to allow the Harriott to dock, the owners of the pontoon confronted him “in a very hostile manner” and attacked him, Chief Albert said.

“The co-captain was doing his job,” he said.

Several members of the Harriott’s crew “came to Mr. Pickett’s defense,” Chief Albert said, “engaging in what we all have seen since on social media.”

Videos showed one of the white men then punching Mr. Pickett, who was jumped on and beaten by the other white boaters; one of them appears to try to place Mr. Pickett in a headlock. Other videos show another Black man, who appears to be a staff member of the Harriott II, jump off the riverboat and swim to the dock to defend Mr. Pickett as other Black bystanders join them on the deck. Several videos show one Black bystander, whom the police identified as Mr. Gray, hitting a white man with a folding chair.

Chief Albert said that in addition to Mr. Pickett, an unnamed 16-year-old white male, who took Mr. Pickett to the dock, was also attacked by the owners and operators of the pontoon. Mr. Pickett received treatment for injuries on Saturday night, but Chief Albert said he did not know of anyone else seeking medical care.

Mayor Steven L. Reed, Montgomery’s newly elected first Black mayor, said at the news conference that the attack did not characterize the Montgomery community at large, especially since the attackers were not from the city.

“It’s important for us to address this as an isolated incident, one that was avoidable and one that was brought on by individuals who chose the wrong path of action,” Mr. Reed said at the news conference. “This is not indicative of our community at all.”

An earlier version of this article, relying on information provided by the Montgomery Police Department, misspelled the given names of two people. The boat co-captain is Dameion Pickett, not Damien; and a person charged is Zachery Shipman, not Zachary.

How we handle corrections

Remy Tumin is a reporter for The Times covering breaking news and other topics. More about Remy Tumin

Chang Che is the Asia technology correspondent for The Times. He previously worked for The China Project and as a freelance writer covering Chinese technology and society. More about Chang Che

• Today's news
• Reviews and deals
• Climate change
• 2024 election
• Fall allergies
• Health news
• Mental health
• Sexual health
• Family health
• So mini ways
• Unapologetically
• Buying guides

Entertainment

• How to Watch
• My watchlist
• Stock market
• Biden economy
• Personal finance
• Stocks: most active
• Stocks: gainers
• Stocks: losers
• Trending tickers
• World indices
• US Treasury bonds
• Top mutual funds
• Highest open interest
• Highest implied volatility
• Currency converter
• Basic materials
• Communication services
• Consumer cyclical
• Consumer defensive
• Financial services
• Industrials
• Real estate
• Mutual funds
• Credit cards
• Balance transfer cards
• Cash back cards
• Rewards cards
• Travel cards
• Online checking
• High-yield savings
• Money market
• Home equity loan
• Personal loans
• Student loans
• Options pit
• Fantasy football
• Pro Pick 'Em
• College Pick 'Em
• Fantasy baseball
• Fantasy hockey
• Fantasy basketball
• Download the app
• Daily fantasy
• Scores and schedules
• GameChannel
• World Baseball Classic
• Premier League
• CONCACAF League
• Champions League
• Motorsports
• Horse racing
• Newsletters

New on Yahoo

• Privacy Dashboard

Deckhand Assaulted in Viral Alabama Riverboat Brawl Breaks His Silence: 'Just in Shock'

“I went to work to work, not to be in a fight or get jumped on," Damien Pickett told 'GMA' co-anchor Robin Roberts

Julie Bennett/Getty

Damien Pickett, the deckhand assaulted in last month’s viral riverboat brawl in Montgomery, Alabama, is speaking out for the first time since the incident occurred.

Pickett, who is Black, spoke to Good Morning America co-anchor Robin Roberts in an ABC News interview published Monday about his account of events when a brawl spilled across the deck after he confronted a group of white men about moving their pontoon boat so they could dock the Harriott II riverboat.

"I didn't expect this to happen at work today. I was expecting another peaceful, nice crew,” recalled Pickett. “I was in shock, just straight shock.”

On how the fight broke out, he explained: “It was just a lot of people that were in the way of us docking and the boats just wouldn’t move. We could’ve docked but we would end up hitting a couple of boats and be responsible for.”

"Everybody [on the riverboat] was yelling, ‘Could y'all move y'all boat?’ By the captain's orders, we got off and moved the boat. Four steps to the right, that’s it,” he continued. “Words were exchanged and I was like, ‘I'm just doing my job… After we dock, we don’t mind y’all staying there, but not at this time while we’re trying to dock.' ”

Related: 3 Men Charged in Viral Alabama Waterfront Brawl, Police Say More Charges Likely

Pickett said the men then used “some nasty cuss words” in response. He also claimed that “alcohol [was] involved” as the men had “beers in their hands while they [were] on the dock.”

In that moment, Pickett told Roberts, 62, that he was just thinking about “the people of the boat, their safety, getting them in and getting everybody off and getting them home.”

“I’m thinking of his boat also ‘cause if I broke his boat it’s gonna sink,” he added.

Videos show Pickett arguing with a man who was asking him where the sign was to not dock there even though Pickett said he had “been there before [and] knows the rules and regulations.”

That’s when a shirtless white man rushed to punch Pickett, which sparked the melee that spilled all across the dock.

"This man just put his hand on me. I was, like … it's my job, but I'm still defending myself at the same time. So when he touched me, I was, like, 'It's on,'" Pickett said.

Want to keep up with the latest crime coverage? Sign up for PEOPLE's free True Crime newsletter for breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases.

However, Roshein "RahRah" Carlton and Aaren Hamilton-Rudolph immediately sprung to action to defend their colleague.

“Me walking up to the guys and asking them, ‘Well, why did you all jump on him like that? and he, referring to me, [goes,] ‘Who the f--- you think you are?” Carlton recalled, adding that the White men used “a lot of racial slurs.”

Hamilton-Rudolph, 16, meanwhile, jumped into the river and swam to the dock to protect Pickett. “When they first started hitting on him and no one helped, I couldn’t just watch and sit around and just let him get beat on while everybody else was just recording,” he explained.

Montgomery Police Department

Related: 3 More Arrested After Viral Alabama Riverboat Brawl as More Charges 'Likely' Coming

As for how he is doing physically after the fight, Pickett told Roberts, “I'm just a little sore, little bumps and bruises here and there. But I'm here by the grace of God."

Even in the midst of the brawl, “I was still trying to get that boat in while that fight was going on. I’m still telling the captain, ‘We gotta get these folks here safely to this dock,’ ” he said.

“I went to work to work, not to be in a fight or get jumped on. It’s a cause and effect to every situation,” added Pickett.

One day after Richard Roberts, 48, turned himself over to the police and was charged with two counts of third-degree assault in August, the Montgomery Police Department (MPD) said that three others — Mary Todd, 21, Allen Todd, 23, Zachary Shipman, 25 — had turned themselves in as well. They were each charged with one count of third-degree assault but pleaded not guilty.

MPD later arrested Reggie Ray, a Black man who could be seen in videos hitting someone with a folding chair, for disorderly conduct. He pleaded not guilty, according to ABC News.

For more People news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter!

Read the original article on People .

Recommended Stories

Trump turns up heat on fed ahead of expected rate cuts: 'it's something that they know they shouldn’t be doing.'.

New comments from former President Donald Trump are turning up the political pressure on the Federal Reserve just as policy makers make it clear they are getting closer to cutting interest rates.

Brandon Aiyuk's 5 most likely landing spots after his trade request

If Brandon Aiyuk is traded, who will he land with?

Former NFL wide receiver Jacoby Jones, a standout with the Texans and Ravens, dies at age 40

Jones, known for the Mile High Miracle and his two touchdowns for the Ravens in Super Bowl XLVII, died at home days after his 40th birthday.

Trump is starting to move markets

Stocks, bonds, crypto, and other assets are starting to move based on the rising odds of a second Trump term.

Jerry Rice confronts reporters at celebrity golf tournament, threatening violence against them

Hall of Fame receiver Jerry Rice had a bizarre confrontation with reporters at the American Century Championship celebrity golf tournament.

How to watch the 2024 British Open Golf Championship: Tee times, where to stream and more

Golf's 152nd Open Championship runs from July 18-21 at Royal Troon in Scotland.

What is the monthly payment on a $600,000 mortgage?

A $600,000 mortgage monthly payment depends on your loan term and interest rate. Read expert advice to learn whether a $600,000 mortgage is right for you.

MLB All-Star Game: Shohei Ohtani obliterates Tanner Houck splitter for his first All-Star Game home run

There was no doubt about this one.

Pop star Tate McRae on Britney Spears comparisons and why she was initially 'scared' of her hit song 'Greedy'

The Canadian singer-songwriter has blossomed into a full-fledged pop star, with the dance moves to prove it.

How to watch ‘Horizon: An American Saga — Chapter 1’ at home

Are you ready to embark on an epic Western journey alongside Kevin Costner?