Avast ye scallywags! Two lads be admittin' their wrongdoings in the grand Alabama riverfront skirmish that went viral!
2023-12-08
Avast ye scurvy dogs! A pair o' pale sailors hath admitted their guilt fer harassin' dark-skinned crewmates in a riverfront melee that spread like wildfire this past summer.
Two white boaters have pleaded guilty to harassment charges in connection with a riverfront brawl in Alabama. The incident, which occurred in August, gained national attention when bystanders filmed the boaters hitting a Black riverboat co-captain. The video went viral, resulting in numerous memes and parodies.In addition to the harassment charges, one of the white boaters had filed an assault charge against the riverboat co-captain, but the judge dismissed it. The Montgomery Police Department confirmed that the co-captain was a victim in the assaults.
The brawl began when the white boaters refused to move their pontoon boat to allow the city-owned Harriott II riverboat to dock in its designated space. The co-captain was attacked after moving the pontoon boat a short distance to accommodate the riverboat.
With the guilty pleas, all criminal cases against the four white boaters involved in the brawl have now concluded. One boater had previously pleaded guilty to misdemeanor assault and was given a 32-day jail sentence. Another boater pleaded guilty to misdemeanor harassment. Meanwhile, a Black man who was filmed swinging a folding chair during the fight is facing charges of disorderly conduct and will appear in court next week.
Overall, the incident highlighted the racial tensions and conflicts that can arise in public spaces. The use of social media to share the video also played a significant role in bringing attention to the incident and holding the perpetrators accountable.