In Montgomery, Alabama, five individuals who were charged in connection with a highly publicized riverfront brawl have entered a plea of not guilty to charges of assault and disorderly conduct. The incident, which gained national attention, involved a clash between white boaters and Black riverboat crew members.
According to police reports, four individuals on a boat, who were recorded on video hitting or pushing a Black captain of another boat in Montgomery, entered a plea of not guilty to charges of misdemeanor assault. Meanwhile, a Black man who was also captured on video swinging a folding chair and hitting people during the altercation pleaded not guilty to misdemeanor disorderly conduct charges.
Last week, according to the records of Montgomery Municipal Court, the plea of not guilty was officially entered.
The brawl videos went viral across social media and sparked a range of reactions, including memes, jokes, parodies, reenactments, and customized T-shirts.
According to WSFA, Richard White, the lawyer representing a white boater involved in the Montgomery Riverfront brawl, emphasized the importance of fair treatment for his client, especially given the widespread media coverage of the incident.
Last month, Montgomery Police Chief Darryl Albert briefed the reporters about a brawl that was initiated due to a conflict between the owner of a pontoon boat and the city-owned Harriott II riverboat. The fight began when the owner of the pontoon boat refused to move from a docking spot that was specifically designated for the Harriott II riverboat. To resolve the issue, the riverboat co-captain used a smaller vessel to reach the shore and move the pontoon boat so that the Harriott II could dock and allow its approximately 200 passengers to disembark.
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