It’s been one year since the mega-viral brawl in Montgomery, Alabama that inspired songs, dance challenges, tattoos, and memes across social media, while also becoming cultural flashpoint for race relations in America.Videos of the August 5, 2023 incident, known online as the “Montgomery Brawl,” took over social media timelines and ignited discourse about racism in the U.S. It shows a group of white boaters attacking Dameion Pickett, co-captain of the Harriott II, an attraction at Riverfront Park. Their private pontoon boats were docked in the spot designated for the city-owned cruise, with over 200 passengers on board.
“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 recalled during an interview with ABC’s Good Morning America last year.Cellphone footage shows a group of Black witnesses quickly jumping in to defend Pickett, who was tackled on the ground. At one point, teenager Aaren Hamilton Rudolph swam from the Harriott II to the dock to assist.One scene shows a man using a folding chair during the brawl, becoming a defining symbol for the entire ordeal. It became a cultural movement about racial solidarity, experts and community advocates previously said. Although serious conversations were had about the incident, other people took a humorous approach.
“Shoutout to the Unc with the chair,” rapped Gmac Cash on his song “Montgomery Brawl which has 330,000 views on YouTube.
Social media users mark 1 year since viral brawl
Some took to social media to acknowledge the one year anniversary of the brawl on Monday.”Happy Montgomery Brawl Day,” one user posted, along with pictures and a video capturing the chaotic scene.Another user posted an artistic rendering of the brawl beneath a banner that reads “The Alabama Sweet Tea Party”.Others chimed in with clips of Pickett throwing his hat in the air − another memorable moment from the viral fight. And one poster chose to remember the fight with four simple symbols: a hat, a person swimming, a folding chair and a social media-style heart shape.
