Montgomery Riverfront brawl
| Montgomery Riverfront brawl | |
|---|---|
 A frame from a video of a White man attacking a Black riverboat captain at the Montgomery Riverfront in August 2023 | |
| Date | August 5, 2023 |
| Location | Montgomery, Alabama, U.S. 32°22′56″N 86°18′50″W / 32.3822°N 86.3138°W |
| Caused by | Argument between the individuals and the co-captain |
| Casualties | |
| Injuries | 1 (Pickett) |
| Charged | 6 (including the co-captain) |
A large-scale altercation occurred on August 5, 2023, in downtown Montgomery, Alabama when bystanders intervened in a physical assault by a group of recreational boaters on the dock on Captain Damien Pickett, co-captain of the Harriott II, the City of Montgomery-owned riverboat, and prime attraction at Riverfront Park, located on the Alabama River.[1]
Upon its return from a dinner cruise, the Harriott II was unable to dock due to a privately owned pontoon boat that had blocked its assigned docking space. The ship's crew notified the pontoon's occupants through the ship's loudspeakers, but the pontoon was not moved. After waiting close to 45 minutes, Captain Pickett and a deckhand boarded a smaller boat and sailed to the dock. After moving the pontoon to allow for adequate space to dock, the boaters argued and then attacked Pickett. Observers including riverboat's crew as well as bystanders came to Pickett's aid and defense.[2]
The ensuing brawl was filmed by several witnesses with their phones and gained significant media attention due to its violent nature, the racial undertones, and Montgomery's racially charged history.[3] Five participants were subject to arrest warrants, and all pled guilty to various charges, including misdemeanor assault, harassment, and disorderly conduct.[2]
After the incident, the city of Montgomery partnered with local businesses and increased its surveillance systems to add additional security in the area.
Background and incident
[edit] | This section may contain original research. (September 2023) |
On August 5, 2023, around 7:00 p.m., the city-owned riverboat Harriott II, carrying 227 passengers, was returning to its designated docking space at Riverfront Park on the Alabama River in Montgomery, Alabama, following a cruise.[4][5] In an interview with CNN, the co-captain of the Harriott II, stated the vessel had just completed the "5 to 7" cruise.[6][3]
The riverboat's attempt to dock was obstructed by a privately owned pontoon boat that was moored in the Harriott II's assigned space, preventing the larger vessel from aligning its exit ramp with the dock.[3] Montgomery Police Chief Darryl Albert stated that the dock space is widely known to be for the riverboat.[7]
For approximately 45 minutes, the crew of the Harriott II made multiple attempts to contact the operators of the pontoon boat, requesting that they move their vessel. These attempts included announcements made over the Harriott II's public address system. According to the Harriott II's co-captains, Jim Kittrell and Damien Pickett, the occupants of the pontoon boat were either unresponsive or replied with dismissive and obscene gestures, such as "flipping off" the riverboat crew. This extended period of non-cooperation from the pontoon boaters contributed to escalating tension among the passengers and crew aboard the Harriott II, who were waiting to disembark.[8]
Following the unsuccessful communication attempts, Captain Pickett, who is black, and a 16-year-old white male deckhand disembarked from the riverboat to address the obstruction.[9] Pickett, with assistance from the deckhand, untied the pontoon boat and moved it "three steps to the right" to create the necessary space for the Harriott II to dock. They were then confronted by the boat owners.[10]
Video of the incident shows individuals arguing with the captain. A short time later, the captain was assaulted by a white man, who shouted at him not to touch the boat. The two then began to fight, with another white man joining to attack the captain. Video shows that multiple individuals, white and black, attempted to break up the initial assault. A white woman from the private boat attempted to pull the attackers off the captain. A black man intervened to hold people off and another man held the captain back as multiple people pacified the original attacker. The 16-year-old white dock worker who had driven the captain to the dock was punched by one of the attackers after he attempted to pull attackers off of the captain.[11]
Arguments and fights with Harriott II workers continued. A black teenager was filmed swimming across the river to the dock. He arrived at the dock after the initial assault was defused. Moments later, he fought with two white men and pushed a white woman.[12]
When the Harriott II docked, crew members disembarked and confronted the initial assailants, which led to another altercation.[13] The captain's sister was involved with this new fight and the captain grabbed her and moved her out of danger.[10] At the Harriott II, bystanders and individuals connected to the initial assault begin arguing and punching each other. A black man used a folding chair to hit a white man and a white woman who had been punched and knocked down by multiple black women.[14][15] Some white people were thrown into the river. Police were contacted at 7:00 p.m. and again at 7:15 p.m., arriving at the scene around 7:18 p.m.[5]
The predominant racial lines of the fighting led to allegations that the assailants were racially motivated in their attack.
The altercations were caught on video.[12]
Aftermath and investigation
[edit]13 individuals involved in the brawl—including the co-captain who was hit by a police taser—were detained, questioned, and subsequently released. Montgomery Police Chief Darryl J. Albert confirmed arrest warrants for three men involved in the incident.[3]
Arrest warrants were then expanded to another woman and a man hitting people with a chair. All five surrendered at the police station the following week.[16][17]
The investigation was intensified due to the racial implications surrounding the fight. While the altercation mainly occurred along racial lines, preliminary investigations did not find sufficient evidence for hate crime charges. However, the incident has revived discussions around Montgomery's history, especially given the city's pivotal role in the slave trade in the United States and the Montgomery bus boycott during the civil rights movement.[3]
Public reaction and media coverage
[edit]The video of the brawl quickly went viral, drawing international attention and sparking discussions on race relations in Montgomery.
Mayor Steven Reed condemned the brawl, describing the instigators as "reckless individuals" and commending the swift response of the police department and community members.[3]
Writing for the Montgomery Advertiser, journalist Shannon Heupel detailed positive reactions to the captain. A 16-year-old Black male wearing a blue "crew" shirt, identified publicly as "Aaren", was nicknamed "Michael B. Phelps", "Black Aquaman" or "Aquamane" after he dove off Harriott II to defend the captain. His actions were also praised.[18]
The brawl was recounted in the song "Montgomery Brawl" by Gmac Cash.[19][20][21][22]
References
[edit]- ↑ "Riverfront Facilities | City of Montgomery, AL". www.funinmontgomery.com. Archived from the original on June 12, 2021. Retrieved June 19, 2026.
- 1 2 "Alabama folding chair history: Montgomery Riverboat brawl remembered…". 1819 News. Retrieved June 20, 2026.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 Spells, Alta; Salahieh, Nouran (August 9, 2023). "Police say more charges are likely in the massive brawl at the Montgomery riverfront dock. Here's what we know". CNN. Archived from the original on August 9, 2023. Retrieved August 9, 2023.
- ↑ Pritchett, Elizabeth (August 10, 2023). "Two remaining suspects in massive brawl on Montgomery, Alabama boat dock in custody". Fox News. Archived from the original on September 2, 2023. Retrieved September 2, 2023.
- 1 2 Andone, Dakin; Salahieh, Nouran; Young, Ryan; Spells, Alta; Sayers, Devon M. (August 9, 2023). "Fourth person charged in connection with brawl at Montgomery riverfront dock". CNN. Archived from the original on August 9, 2023. Retrieved September 6, 2023.
- ↑ "Video: Riverboat captain speaks out for first time about the Montgomery brawl". CNN. August 11, 2023. Archived from the original on September 2, 2023. Retrieved September 2, 2023.
- ↑ Jones, Dustin (August 7, 2023). "4 people are being charged with assault for the waterfront brawl in Montgomery". NPR. Retrieved September 1, 2023.
- ↑ "Man attacked in Montgomery brawl describes attack by boaters: Handwritten Account". 11Alive.com. August 11, 2023. Retrieved June 11, 2025.
- ↑ "The riverfront brawl in Alabama reignites national debate over race". Montana Public Radio. August 12, 2023. Retrieved June 11, 2025.
- 1 2 Bunn, Curtis (August 10, 2023). "Black Montgomery riverfront worker describes what sparked viral brawl". NBC News. Archived from the original on August 15, 2023. Retrieved August 15, 2023.
- ↑ Spells, Alta; Salahieh, Nouran; Young, Ryan; Sayers, Devon M.; Andone, Dakin (August 9, 2023). "Fourth person charged in connection with brawl at Montgomery riverfront dock". CNN. Retrieved July 28, 2025.
- 1 2 "Full Video: Viewer records as Montgomery riverfront brawl begins". WSFA. Archived from the original on August 8, 2023. Retrieved August 9, 2023.
- ↑ "4th person charged in riverside brawl in Alabama that drew national attention". AP News. August 10, 2023. Retrieved June 15, 2024.
- ↑ Gray, Jeremy (August 7, 2022). "Swimmer in Montgomery riverfront brawl did what he 'was taught to do,' publicist shares". AL.com. Archived from the original on August 9, 2023. Retrieved August 9, 2023.
- ↑ Zaru, Deena (August 8, 2023). "3 charged with assault after boaters attack dock employee at Montgomery, Alabama riverbank". ABC 7. Archived from the original on August 8, 2023. Retrieved August 9, 2023.
- ↑ "5th suspect arrested in Montgomery riverfront brawl". Wsfa12. August 11, 2023. Archived from the original on August 17, 2023. Retrieved August 17, 2023.
- ↑ Lang, Taylor (August 11, 2023). "5th suspect charged in brawl along Montgomery Riverfront". WVTM. Archived from the original on August 23, 2023. Retrieved September 7, 2023.
- ↑ Heupel, Shannon (August 7, 2023). "'Black Aquaman' and the 'Boston Tea Party': World watches Montgomery riverfront brawl". Montgomery Advertiser. Archived from the original on August 7, 2023. Retrieved August 7, 2023.
- ↑ Barmore, Jasmin (August 8, 2023). "Detroit rapper writes song about Montgomery riverfront brawl, goes viral". Detroit Free Press. Archived from the original on August 10, 2023. Retrieved August 9, 2023.
- ↑ "'Big Gretch' Rapper Goes Viral With Riverfront Park Brawl Track". The Daily Beast. August 9, 2023. Archived from the original on August 10, 2023. Retrieved August 9, 2023.
- ↑ Cummings-Grady, Mackenzie (August 8, 2023). "Detroit Rapper Gmac Cash Turns Alabama Brawl Into Hilarious Rap Song". HipHopDX. Archived from the original on August 10, 2023. Retrieved August 9, 2023.
- ↑ Darville, Jordan (August 8, 2023). "Song You Need: Gmac Cash's "Montgomery Brawl" recaps the feel-good fight video of the year". The Fader. Archived from the original on August 9, 2023. Retrieved August 9, 2023.
