riverboat brawl memes

Best Memes, Reactions to the Montgomery Riverboat Brawl

• Entertainment
• The Culture
• Beauty + Style

Black people are having a ridiculous amount of fun celebrating the ‘heroes’ of the Montgomery brawl.

Black people know we have to revel in the small victories because they don’t come along often. One of these unforgettable moments happened on Saturday, when an all-out brawl in Montgomery, Ala . led to one of the most viral incidents in the history of Black Twitter (yes, we’re still calling it that). While the mayor is busy talking about how “ Justice will be served ,” the rest of us are getting jokes off. From the folding chair, to fight play-by-play, to the awesome names for our favorite new superhero, these are the best memes and reactions to the Montgomery riverboat brawl.

Wakanda Forever

Come on, you know it took no time at all for someone to blend this brawl with the Blackest superhero movie ever.

Riverfront WrestleMania

Seriously, this commentary is better than anything WWE is currently offering.

A New Holiday

We just got Juneteenth and we’re already starting the campaign for a new Black national holiday.

The Hat Signal

Based on the footage of the brawl, Black folks don’t need a signal—we know exactly when it’s time to show up.

Shoutout to Jason Aldean

Guess this isn’t what the country singer had in mind when he released his controversial single, “Try That in a Small Town.”

Try What in a Small Town?

Jason Aldean is not ready for all the smoke he’s getting right now.

Black Aquaman

The internet has come up with a plethora of names for the young man who swam across the river to get some.

The Reenactment

Hollywood may be on strike, but that doesn’t mean great cinema can’t be found.

Seadris Elba

The names for a young aqua-based hero have been the best part of this whole situation. They’re all spectacular, but “Swimzel Washington” might be the best.

The Heroes We Deserve

Sometimes life gives us the heroes we need and the ones we deserve.

The Chair Speaks

When something like this happens, everyone has something to say...even the folding chair.

History Was Made

We will now celebrate the “Alabama Sweet Tea Party” with the same energy as the Boston Tea Party.

There’s Already a Soundtrack

It only took one day to get a tribute track on the internet.

Shaquille O’Gills

The names just keep getting better.

• Today's news
• Reviews and deals
• Climate change
• 2024 election
• Newsletters
• 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

New on Yahoo

• Privacy Dashboard

Best Memes, Reactions to the Montgomery Riverboat Brawl

Black people know we have to revel in the small victories because they don’t come along often. One of these unforgettable moments happened on Saturday, when an all-out brawl in Montgomery, Ala . led to one of the most viral incidents in the history of Black Twitter (yes, we’re still calling it that). While the mayor is busy talking about how “ Justice will be served ,” the rest of us are getting jokes off. From the folding chair, to fight play-by-play, to the awesome names for our favorite new superhero, these are the best memes and reactions to the Montgomery riverboat brawl.

Wakanda Forever

Lemme post this on twitter where it won’t get taken down. #montgomerybrawl #riverboatbrawl #MontgomeryAlabama pic.twitter.com/JnMO1i0UyS — Jadyn 🤍 (@jjalise05) August 7, 2023

Come on, you know it took no time at all for someone to blend this brawl with the Blackest superhero movie ever.

Aside from Halle Bailey, Here Are Other Black Disney Actors and Characters We Love

Black Gen-Zers, You're Driving Your Boss Nuts

15 Priceless Black Twitter Moments Worth Remembering [Updated]

Riverfront WrestleMania

Riverboat Wrestlemania??? (Stay to the end and retweet it 😂) 🎙️ pic.twitter.com/ieSnB7n7Ws — Mic Tyson (@bigcory00) August 6, 2023

Seriously, this commentary is better than anything WWE is currently offering.

A New Holiday

#Montgomery #riverboatbrawl pic.twitter.com/2l1jg7nxlc — Pucci 161 (@Pucci161) August 7, 2023

We just got Juneteenth and we’re already starting the campaign for a new Black national holiday.

The Hat Signal

The Hat Signal 😂😂😂 pic.twitter.com/Y4Mn7KwN3H — Rod (@rodimusprime) August 7, 2023

Based on the footage of the brawl, Black folks don’t need a signal—we know exactly when it’s time to show up.

Shoutout to Jason Aldean

#Montgomery #riverboatbrawl pic.twitter.com/VsQiz8RS9d — Pucci 161 (@Pucci161) August 7, 2023

Guess this isn’t what the country singer had in mind when he released his controversial single, “Try That in a Small Town.”

Try What in a Small Town?

#GumpPower #Alabama #Montgomery #MontgomeryRiverboatBrawl #MontgomeryBrawl #RiverBoatBrawl #MontgomeryMelee #BlackAugust pic.twitter.com/14yzVnty6M — Black Lives Matter 860 (Hartford CT) (@blm860) August 7, 2023

Jason Aldean is not ready for all the smoke he’s getting right now.

Black Aquaman

They’re thinking of names for the young guy that jumped in the water… #Montgomery Best so far: - Sea Murda - Scuba Gooding Jr. - Aqua Mane 😭😭😂😂😂😂 I am hollering! pic.twitter.com/KyaybqFvrB — 𝓿𝓲𝓬 𝓳𝓪𝓰𝓰𝓮𝓻 • ♡ (@TheVJExperience) August 7, 2023

The internet has come up with a plethora of names for the young man who swam across the river to get some.

The Reenactment

This is fine theater right here. Give everybody an independent spirit award or something. #FadeInTheWater pic.twitter.com/2LVeXhg0qh — Naima Cochrane (@naima) August 7, 2023

Hollywood may be on strike, but that doesn’t mean great cinema can’t be found.

Seadris Elba

I’m a whole mess for these names 😂 Seadris Elba Nautical King Cole Swimzel Washington OJ Swimpson Underwater Brother #Alabamaboatbrawl — Britt Loves Quincy ♒️ (@britlovesquincy) August 7, 2023

The names for a young aqua-based hero have been the best part of this whole situation. They’re all spectacular, but “Swimzel Washington” might be the best.

The Heroes We Deserve

NIGGAVENGERS…ASSEMBLE!!! I’m so proud of us I’m still on it today 😂😂😂 pic.twitter.com/Lg5xa6bxYI — #MrMac22 (@CJMac824) August 7, 2023

Sometimes life gives us the heroes we need and the ones we deserve.

The Chair Speaks

the chair from the montgomery riverfront brawl speaks out pic.twitter.com/fMXpejcuUV — Tré Melvin (@TreMelvin) August 7, 2023

When something like this happens, everyone has something to say...even the folding chair.

History Was Made

When I text you 🪑, that means you better have a seat before I hand you a seat. #AlabamaSweetTeaParty 🤭🤣 #DontStartNunWontBeNun #montgomerybrawl #MontgomeryAlabama #SweetHomeAlabama pic.twitter.com/EStT99zJI1 — 𝓝𝓲𝓴𝓴𝓲 𝓑𝓵𝓸𝓾𝓷𝓽 𝓙𝓪𝓬𝓴𝓼𝓸𝓷 (@NikkiBJaxx417) August 7, 2023

We will now celebrate the “Alabama Sweet Tea Party” with the same energy as the Boston Tea Party.

There’s Already a Soundtrack

They Made A Song About The #MontgomeryBrawl 🤣 pic.twitter.com/sO73OSnlNl — GMACCASH (@GmacCash) August 7, 2023

It only took one day to get a tribute track on the internet.

Shaquille O’Gills

Top 10 names given to this young hero: 10. Black Aquaman 9. JJ Fish 8. Michael B Phelps 7. Captain Hook 6. Catfish Cuz 5. Kofi Kingfish 4. Tyrone Lochte 3. 21 Tilapia 2. Lil' Namor 1. Shaquille O'Gills pic.twitter.com/a6c4lbe4HP — Mike Kincaide (@mikekincaide) August 7, 2023

The names just keep getting better.

More from The Root

Fierce Females: TV’s Most Badass Black Women

The Richest Black People in the World

24 Political Karens Who Need To Sit Down Somewhere

Sign up for The Root's Newsletter. For the latest news, Facebook , Twitter and Instagram .

Click here to read the full article.

Recommended Stories

Texas qb quinn ewers leaves utsa game with 'strained abdomen,' arch manning throws td on next play.

Manning then rushed for a 67-yard TD on his third play.

Report: Twins release minor-league catcher Derek Bender for tipping pitches to opposing hitters

The Minnesota Twins released minor-league catcher Derek Bender after he tipped pitches to opposing hitters in a game in which his team was eliminated from playoff contention.

What a bigger-than-expected Fed rate cut would mean for the stock market

Recent market history shows the Federal Reserve typically only starts interest cuts with 50 basis point reductions when the economy is significantly weakening.

Yahoo Top 10: Should Georgia be concerned after tight win over Kentucky?

Florida State's fall from grace continued Saturday and Week 3 went according to script for the most part. But some teams have played tougher competition than others.

‘Serious energy deflation’ is coming whether Trump or Harris wins, says analyst

No matter who wins the election, energy prices are poised to drop.

Formula 1: McLaren takes over constructors lead with Oscar Piastri win in Azerbaijan; Sergio Perez crashes

Perez crashed with Carlos Sainz on the penultimate lap.

UFC 306: Merab Dvalishvili mauls Sean O'Malley to grab UFC bantamweight title

Valentina Shevchenko also reclaimed the UFC women's flyweight belt with a masterclass against Alexa Grasso.

Driver accused of killing NHL's Johnny Gaudreau and brother denied bail, had .087 blood-alcohol level

Sean Higgins is charged with two counts of death by auto, reckless driving, possession of an open container and consuming alcohol in a motor vehicle.

'Sister Wives' returns: Where the Brown family left off — and what to expect this season

The Brown family returns to TLC on Sept. 15 for Season 19. Here’s everything the former polygamists struggled with last season.

Caitlin Clark's next WNBA game: How to watch the Indiana Fever vs. Las Vegas Aces tonight

Watch Caitlin Clark's next WNBA game when the Indiana Fever play the Las Vegas Aces tonight.

How A Folding Chair Won The Montgomery Brawl — and The Internet

By CT Jones

When the historic riverboat Harriott II attempted to dock in its usual spot on the Alabama river on Saturday, the resulting argument between its co-captain and the boating group blocking the way turned into an instantly viral brawl — one that ended with at least three people with criminal charges , dozens of clips posted to social media, and an instant deluge of memes .

But the real winner of this whole thing, at least in the eyes of social media users, is a single plastic folding chair. 

According to police and multiple videos of the incident (which are shot from almost every conceivable angle), the fight that is now being referred to as the “ Montgomery Brawl ,” began with a simple request that the riverboat captain, Damien Pickett, move the boat. The Harriott II was attempting to dock in its usual spot along the city’s Riverfront Park, but was blocked by a pontoon filled with boaters.

But while Pickett, who is Black, began the fight outnumbered by the boaters, who are largely white, several Black bystanders came to his defense, eventually turning the fight into an all-out battle. Footage captured by bystanders shows a Harriot II employee jumping in the river and swimming to Pickett’s aid, a group of three men cantering up to join the fight, and even a pair of white Crocs being turned into anklets by the sheer force of body slams. But the clip that seems to have resonated with people the most is footage of an older Black man indiscriminately hitting the white assailants over the head with a simple white folding chair, WWE-style. 

Editor’s picks

The 100 best tv episodes of all time, the 250 greatest guitarists of all time, the 500 greatest albums of all time, 25 most influential creators of 2024.

In the past five days, the chair has gone from a one-off prop to the hero of the whole fight. One day after the fight, several Montgomery residents posted photos of themselves at the dock, holding up what appears to be the same chair in the video. At least two TikTok users have even claimed that the chair has gotten so popular that stock is low at Montgomery’s Walmarts and Targets. Singer Joy Oladokun even got the folding chair tattooed on her arm.

@evadaniel12 Got to teach the young. Preparing them for the next battle of Montgomery. If your seeing this then your kids are late training started at 9am #montgomery #brawl #training #montgomeryalabama #forthepeople #fypシ #blackpanther ♬ original sound – Kwani

@razzi_boo Stay ready you dont gotta get ready 😂😂 #montgomeryalabama #foldingchair ♬ Montgomery Brawl – Gmac cash

@sa.tomaa Replying to @Merci😎 since yall asked 😭😭 #fyp #montgomeryalabama #alabamaboatbrawl ♬ Montgomery Brawl – Gmac cash

@cheddarebiscuit You never know #montgomerybrawl #alabamaboatbrawl #minecraft #blockbench #3dmodeling ♬ Montgomery Brawl – Gmac cash

The Mormon Swinging Moms Got A Reality Show. These Swingers Have Thoughts

Tiktokers keep inventing money 'hacks' that are actually fraud, 'who tf did i marry' gets the tv treatment.

A folding chair? There was a folding chair? Y’all seen a folding chair? I ain’t seen a folding chair. https://t.co/idLNHCvxzf — Caroline Renard (@carolinerenard_) August 9, 2023

Wow, that was fast! The National Museum of African American History already got the "Battle of Montgomery" chair on display. pic.twitter.com/RxlmlYW33q — Karen Thee Russell (@Karen_Russell) August 7, 2023

Not them posing with the chair lol #Montgomery #Alabama pic.twitter.com/UuNbYdSE93 — 🅚🅔🅝🅨🅐 🅜🅞🅞🅡🅔 🅢🅣🅐🅝 (@GossipInformer) August 7, 2023

With meme production in full overload, it’s easy to dismiss the response to the fight as just online humor. But the real reason the videos hit so hard is because of the underlying desire for Black people to see their community fighting back. On an almost daily basis, it feels like there are viral videos of Black people in America being unable to defend themselves, being targeted, or being victims. But for many people online, the Montgomery brawl, as outrageous as it was, represented the opposite: Black people standing up for themselves.

'I HATE TAYLOR SWIFT': Trump Is Big Mad That Star Endorsed Harris

Cher ends conservatorship battle with son elijah blue allman, threats against haitians in ohio heighten as trump claims ignorance, scooter braun hijacks trump's 'i hate taylor swift' post to endorse harris.

Online, the general consensus seems to be that the fight wasn’t just a physical altercation. In a way, it was representative of a Black community willing to take wins as they come — even in the form of a white folding chair. 

“Comedy is basically one of them things that brings [the Black Community] closer,” Gmac Cash adds. “Laughing even through the hard times.”

Ayana E. Johnson, Jason Sudeikis, Roy Wood Jr. Are Throwing a Climate Party

• You're Invited
• By Charisma Madarang

John Early Is Looking for That Special Sound

• By Miles Klee

A Complete Timeline of the Far Right's Tumultuous Relationship With Taylor Swift

• Lovers to Enemies

Raygun, Polarizing Olympic Breakout, Now Ranked the Number One B-Girl. Huh?

• Started From the Bottom
• By Kory Grow

Harvey Weinstein Indicted on New Sex Crime Charges in New York

• weinstein trial
• By Daniel Kreps

Most Popular

Jane's addiction concert ends abruptly after perry farrell throws a punch at dave navarro, is forced offstage by crew, "it's a cult, and walt's the messiah": meet the couple who sued disney over secretive club 33, prince harry & meghan markle made this announcement mere hours after kate middleton’s cancer update video, jay-z explains why kendrick lamar was chosen to perform at super bowl halftime show, you might also like, jean smart wins emmy for ‘hacks’ and playfully mixes up hbo and max: ‘just what we needed, another network’, jennifer aniston shimmers in oscar de la renta allover pearl dress for emmy awards 2024 red carpet, the best yoga mats for any practice, according to instructors, emmys 2024: see full winners list, ufc 306 at sphere pulls in record $22m for ufc, sphere.

Rolling Stone is a part of Penske Media Corporation. © 2024 Rolling Stone, LLC. All rights reserved.

Browse links

• © 2024 BuzzFeed, Inc
• Consent Preferences
• Accessibility Statement

An All-Out Brawl Happened In Montgomery, Alabama This Weekend, And The Internet’s Reaction Has Provided Entertainment For The Next 10 Years

"Lift every voice & swing."

BuzzFeed Staff

So, last Saturday in Montgomery, Alabama, a group of strangers united to help a Black riverfront worker who was purportedly attacked by white boaters after asking them to move their vehicle.

In videos taken by those on the scene, nearby onlookers and dock employees are seen running (and swimming) to the boat worker’s aid as he was pushed to the ground and beaten by the group for “doing his job,” as Montgomery Mayor Steven Reed  said . This soon resulted in an all-out brawl that included dozens of people and ended with  multiple arrest  warrants.

This probably the best view of went down in Montgomery Alabama pic.twitter.com/FrUxk8ES0E — Timmy&Jimmy (@mickeywon234) August 7, 2023

The online reaction to the brawl has been extensive to say the least, due to people meme-ing the wildest moments of the fight. So let's get into it:

1. boston tea party (1773)..

I Hollered…. pic.twitter.com/HiSm3pTIbC — Denim McQueen (@HeSoKautious) August 6, 2023

2. Avengers, assemble!

Nah this edit has me on the floor lmaoo pic.twitter.com/zRZdYh3jIo — Sylvia (@SylviaObell) August 7, 2023

3. The star of the show:

i sat down and spoke with the chair from #montgomery and got the inside scoop. tune in this afternoon pic.twitter.com/NieTgCX8Cw — Tré Melvin (@TreMelvin) August 7, 2023

4. See if you can find all of the details that have been added to this painting.

I love the internet pic.twitter.com/hPS2ZrQqYl — Aaron Busby 🏁 (@MrBusby4o8) August 7, 2023

5. This user found chair earrings:

Facebook has got me rolling!!!!!! Not the chair earrings pic.twitter.com/Uyz1QRxLeu — colorfullstory (@colorfullstory) August 7, 2023

6. "Fade in the water."

Of allll the memes and captions and comments, Fade In the Water is absolutely the winner. I am inconsolable rn 😭😭 — Langston Blues (@dradambanks) August 7, 2023

7. The boat worker throwing his hat in the air before the fight was his bat signal:

BRUHHHH😂😂😂😂😭 https://t.co/GGt9QF9TIP pic.twitter.com/3OQV2MW9qT — TRILLIONAIRE 2❌ (@imvante2x) August 6, 2023

Why is he posing? 😂 pic.twitter.com/2K6fAcjVxi — FunnyMaine.com (@FunnyMaine) August 7, 2023

9. I bet the prices of plastic chairs are skyrocketing:

We got flavors over here 🤣🤣🤣 pic.twitter.com/OivuJtwmTf — Juicy J💋 (@NeiAllure) August 7, 2023

10. "Lift every voice & swing" by James Weldon Johnson:

“Lift every voice & swing” & “A chair is just a chair” are up there too — jordan demi (@jordan_demi1) August 7, 2023

11. How did this guy make a T-shirt of the brawl so quickly?

12. Dr. Miami's social team joining in:

Wish me luck y’all. I’m getting ready to ask Dr. Miami for a raise - Megan pic.twitter.com/RbD0xJcAoy — Dr. Miami (@TheRealDrMiami) August 7, 2023

13. 1855 --> 2023:

Crazy how life comes full circle pic.twitter.com/Le4H6k8wlk — Jay DeBarge (@JalenBr0wn) August 7, 2023

14. An accurate depiction of life right now with this inflation:

I never seen a picture so accurate in my life 😂😂😂 pic.twitter.com/sQy8vH4Lvo — 💓 Nicole Nicole 💓 (@niicole__nicole) August 7, 2023

15. No words for this one:

LMFAO pic.twitter.com/wnmAcpSGAy — K𝚗ₑₑ•Cᵤ𝓱 ✨ (@YoFavAmazon) August 6, 2023

16. Granny had to see it on the big screen:

i showed my granny the montgomery al fight and she found it, put it on the tv, and is replaying it frame by frame with commentary 😭 this fight is historic. liberating black folks around america. pic.twitter.com/cWgHOoQqnC — keiajahh (@blktrippyhippie) August 6, 2023

Which reaction was your favorite? Let us know in the comments below!

Share this article.

Here's what you need to know about the Montgomery, Alabama, riverfront brawl

• A fight broke out in Montgomery, Alabama, after a group of white people punched a Black dock worker.
• Montgomery police have charged three people with assaulting the dock worker and another employee.
• A video of the incident that was shared on social media went viral and sparked a boatload of memes.

The internet is ablaze after a Saturday brawl in Montgomery, Alabama, that began after an unnamed Black worker reportedly asked a group of white people to move their pontoon boat to make way for a large riverboat trying to dock.

Where did the incident occur?

The Montgomery Police Department told Insider that the incident occurred near Montgomery Riverfront Park on the 200 block of Coosa Street.

Who has been charged so far?

Darryl J. Albert, the chief of the Montgomery Police Department, said in a Tuesday press conference that three white men connected to the pontoon boat had been charged so far.

Richard Roberts, 48, was charged with two counts of third-degree assault. Allen Todd, 23, and Zachary Shipman, 25, were charged with one count of third-degree assault, he said.

Albert said that the men had been charged in connection to attacks against the dock worker, who was identified as a cocaptain of the Harriett II riverboat named Damien Pickett, and that Robert "struck" a white 16-year-old boy who worked for the riverboat.

Roberts turned himself in on Tuesday, Albert said, adding that others had been instructed to come forward.

More charges are likely, Albert said. One man, who was seen using a white folding chair against a few people during the brawl, is also being asked to contact the Montgomery Police Department for further interviews as part of the investigation.

Related stories

Will there be hate-crime charges or charges for inciting a riot?

Albert said that the police department examined whether they could bring hate-crime charges or charges for inciting a riot but that the events didn't "fit the criteria" for such charges based on current evidence.

What is city leadership saying happened that day?

Albert said the incident began when the Harriet II, which was carrying 227 passengers on Saturday, attempted to dock in a space designated for the ship. However, the pontoon was parked in the space.

The captain of the riverboat spent 40 to 45 minutes using a PA system to ask the owners to move their boat out of the way, Albert said. The cocaptain was picked up by a smaller boat and taken to the dock to speak with the pontoon-boat owners when they did not move. Albert said the boat owners "only responded to, what I've seen, gestures, curse words, and taunting."

"The co-captain approached the dock and attempted to peacefully move the boat over just enough so that the Harriett II could park," Albert said. "The owners of the boat confronted him in a very hostile manner. There were words exchanged and then it turned into a physical encounter that you've all seen. The co-captain was doing his job. He was simply trying to move the boat just enough to where the ship can park safely in its identified location."

A spokesperson for the Montgomery Police Department told Insider in a statement that officers responded to the incident at about 7 p.m. local time on Monday.

"At the scene, they located a large group of subjects engaged in a physical altercation. Several subjects have been detained and charges are pending," the spokesperson said.

Albert said officers detained 13 people for questioning on Saturday and later released them.

Steven Reed, the mayor of Montgomery, released a statement following the incident that said officers "acted swiftly to detain several reckless individuals for attacking a man who was doing his job."

—Mayor Steven L. Reed (@MayorofMgm) August 6, 2023

What do we know so far based on social-media videos?

Most information about the events leading up to the larger brawl, which included dozens of people, has been pieced together with bystander footage.

Online videos showed the Black worker speaking to the group , apparently asking them to move their boat per onlookers narrating the situation, before one of them ran toward him and swung. The initial swing makes contact, the video shows. The worker then threw his hat in the air before fighting back until more people arrived to aid the white man and began attacking, videos showed.

In the clips, onlookers could be heard shouting requests to help the dock worker before others began running toward the group of white people. One worker, a 16-year-old boy named Aaren who has been called a hero, even swam across the Alabama River to help the man.

The riverboat eventually docked, and additional fights erupted as a group rushed toward the pontoon. One person could be seen using a white folding chair as a weapon.

Police eventually made their way to the scene and began handcuffing individuals, the videos show.

What is the internet's reaction to this?

Although the brawl is over, it lives on as internet legend . Users, many on the side of the dock worker and those who came to defend him, are posting memes about the various characters in the videos, portraying them as superheroes and lionizing the star of the incident: a white folding chair.

—. (@sir_sarcasm) August 6, 2023

Some people have even posed to take photos with the chair and have requested that it be preserved in a museum.

—philip lewis (@Phil_Lewis_) August 7, 2023

Reenactments have also surfaced, with internet users posting their artistic takes on the punch that set off the brawl.

—Naima Cochrane (@naima) August 7, 2023

Users set clips of the brawl to Jason Aldean's "Try That in a Small Town" to turn the tables on a tune critics said was a racist dog whistle aimed at Black Americans .

—Renee (@PettyLupone) August 7, 2023

Watch: Black Lives Matter wins historic police brutality lawsuit over George Floyd protests; NYPD to pay $13 million

• Main content

• Skip to main content
• Keyboard shortcuts for audio player

I've spent my career explaining race, but hit a wall with Montgomery brawl memes

Eric Deggans

When you've built a career around explaining race and racism to people, what happens when you find a moment you just don't want to explain?

That time came for me this week, as memes were rocketing around social media connected to the brawl in Montgomery, Ala ., where a crowd of mostly-Black bystanders ran to help a Black riverboat co-captain who was being assaulted by a group of white people. He had been attempting to move their pontoon boat, since it was blocking the ferry from docking in its regular space.

3 men are being charged with assault for the waterfront brawl in Montgomery

Video from various bystanders around the dock captured it all: The co-captain throwing his hat in the air, once a white man pushed him harshly; a different Black man whaling on people with a folding chair, including a white woman who was just sitting on the ground by then; a young Black man on a boat close by who jumped into the water and swam with amazing speed to the scene, jumping up to throw hands.

And, in moments, Black Twitter jumped to life (I know the social media platform is renamed X, but — for the purposes of this piece — I'm using the term to describe people being Black across lots of social media platforms. Harrumph).

Just got my open carry license 🔥 pic.twitter.com/s9VTUpzhdl — Kofi (@blackkingkofi) August 7, 2023

There were images of people carrying folding chairs like holstered weapons. There was the graphic pointing out that an early design of the folding chair was patented by a Black man ( seems to be true ). The photoshopped picture showing glowing rings around Black folks rushing into the fight, mimicking the climax of Avengers: Endgame , where superheroes rushed in to save the day. A spirited re-enactment of the fight around someone's backyard pool which amped up the absurd humor of it all. Images dubbing the young swimmer Black Aquaman, Aquamayne and Blaquaman.

pic.twitter.com/wwuaLV81QE — Paul Leigh-Some Rascal on the Internet 🟧🇺🇸🇺🇦 (@Pleightx) August 8, 2023

And two of my personal faves: A photoshopped image of the Martin Luther King Jr. statue holding a folding chair. And a version of the video remade as the opening to classic Black sitcom Good Times , with acerbic credits noting the show was "created by Consequences & Repercussions."

I was blown away by how quickly folks across social media — especially Black folks — were converting horror over a narrowly-averted, racialized beat down into funny memes celebrating the reflex of Black folks to stand up for one another, especially when we're faced with danger from white people.

But when I posted the photo of MLK's statue with the folding chair on my social media feeds, I just added one word: Wow.

I wanted the image to speak for itself. And I wanted people who had questions about what it meant to jump into social media and find out for themselves. I felt the image and its implied humor – that the nation's most revered civil rights leader might be hoisting a folding chair to defend Black folks in the modern age – was most powerful when not explained.

Unfortunately, some people on my social media platforms insisted on an explanation. One was pretty persistent about it. And I realized I just didn't want to explain the image, for some reason I couldn't quite put my finger on.

When explaining becomes too much of a burden

Yeah, it's sometimes tiring to always be asked to explain your cultural nuances to the world. But that's the gig I signed up for, many years ago, when I decided to write about race and media regularly. And yes, all the social media joking was hiding a fear that today's political climate has left racists emboldened to attack a Black man in broad daylight for doing his job. So explaining the memes only resurfaced those darker feelings in ways I wasn't quite ready to process right away.

Still, something else was also at play.

I always say social media is often like a giant dinner party, where people forget they are sometimes listening in on conversations between other people. In this case, being asked to explain the folding chair memes felt like having someone barge into an ongoing conversation to ask for an explanation.

As I traded messages with people and retweeted the best memes, this felt like a moment where folks could be hilariously Black online and we could all share the experience together, laughing and consoling each other in one viral social media moment.

Someone popping up to demand an explanation felt like they were re-centering the conversation in a way I just wasn't willing to do right away.

Sometimes, in situations like that, understanding comes best by sitting back, listening widely, and learning. Even for me.

I originally wrote a version of this column for my personal Tumblr page, mostly as a way of processing a response that was new and unfamiliar for me. I don't know if this reaction is fair – especially given how much I've encouraged discussion about race over the years.

But it's all I have left, in a world where I increasingly feel like a frog in pot of steadily heating water, watching racists and racism get bolder — wondering when the heat will begin to burn me, my loved ones, my family, my friends and my people.

Or when I'll need to reach out for aid from a helpful brother with a folding chair.

• Montgomery brawl

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

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.

• Celebrities
• Science & Tech
• Fashion & Beauty
• Food & Drink
• Home & Garden
• Sports & Fitness
• Travel & Outdoors
• Science & tech
• Conversations

Wild Alabama riverboat brawl prompts folding chair and 'Black Aquaman' memes after footage goes viral

At least four people have been arrested after footage of a wild brawl in Montgomery, Alabama, went viral across social media . "There’s a possibility more will follow after the review of additional video," the police told The Independent .

The incident occurred on August 5 near Montgomery Riverfront Park and was captured by several witnesses before being broken up by Alabama police. The alleged turn of events saw two men having an argument with a Black dock worker. Things soon escalated before many more people jumped in to seemingly defend the man.

In one piece of footage, one woman claimed : "These white people jumped this black security guard at the Riverfront. The staff got off the boat and it turned into WWE Smackdown. I’m so proud of Montgomery."

Another person shared a different angle of the brawl, writing : "I HATE when people jump people a majority of the time, & even more so when you want to fight or jump someone for doing their job. I applaud EVERYONE that helped that man out."

Sign up for our free Indy100 weekly newsletter

People were thrown into the water and folded chairs were smashed over people's heads. The police have since urged the man with the chair, identified as Reggie Gray to come forward as “there’s more interviews to conduct with him.”

The footage prompted X users (formerly known as Twitter ) to do what they do best: Memeify it, with the 'inventor' of the folding chair being the centre of memes across the net.

In 1911, Nathaniel Alexander patented a design of the chair for schools, churches and "in small towns when somebody tries you," one person jokingly quipped.

As the jokes rolled in, many users highlighted that the image "of Alexander" was in fact Lewis H Latimer, who invented many things including the light bulb filament.

Warning: Some readers might find the below images distressing.

There were more than a few wrestling memes too given that folding chairs are a very common weapon in sports entertainment.

The internet couldn't get enough of the man who swam from the boat to help, dubbing him 'Black Aquaman.'

Trust us, the internet is obsessed with this brawl.

There have even been recreations.

And a song too.

The Montgomery Police Department have since revealed in a statement that several people have been detained with charges pending.

Officials "acted swiftly to detain several reckless individuals for attacking a man who was doing his job," Montgomery Mayor Steven L. Reed said in a statement. "Warrants have been signed and justice will be served."

Reed continued: "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."

Have your say in our news democracy. Click the upvote icon at the top of the page to help raise this article through the indy100 rankings.

Musk is fanboying Trump again after resharing Truth Social cat meme

Gta 6: live updates as ps5 pro will not run game at 60fps says expert, nigel farage shouted down for repeating right-wing conspiracy theory, birds in france trained to pick up cigarettes in exchange for food, burnout v boreout: what's the difference, these optical illusions 'reveal how you see the world', jenna ortega shares sweet final interaction with cameron boyce, actor ewan mcgregor ‘very touched’ as he gets hollywood walk of fame star, jeremy clarkson warns amazon after final the grand tour episode, david beckham's wholesome farm tour is the internet's latest obsession, tinder launches 'unhinged' makeup line with top us brand, elon musk's daughter calls him 'heinous' over taylor swift comments, 'healthy' foods may be causing a cancer crisis in young people, experts find secret muscles key to strength of world's strongest man.

• Skip to Nav
• Skip to Main
• Skip to Footer
• Saved Articles
• Newsletters

I've Spent My Career Explaining Race, But Hit a Wall With Montgomery Brawl Memes

Please try again

When you’ve built a career around explaining race and racism to people, what happens when you find a moment you just don’t want to explain?

That time came for me this week, as memes were rocketing around social media connected to the brawl in Montgomery, Ala ., where a crowd of mostly-Black bystanders ran to help a Black riverboat co-captain who was being assaulted by a group of white people. He had been attempting to move their pontoon boat, since it was blocking the ferry from docking in its regular space.

Video from various bystanders around the dock captured it all: The co-captain throwing his hat in the air, once a white man pushed him harshly; a different Black man whaling on people with a folding chair, including a white woman who was just sitting on the ground by then; a young Black man on a boat close by who jumped into the water and swam with amazing speed to the scene, jumping up to throw hands.

And, in moments, Black Twitter jumped to life (I know the social media platform is renamed X, but — for the purposes of this piece — I’m using the term to describe people being Black across lots of social media platforms. Harrumph).

There were images of people carrying folding chairs like holstered weapons. There was the graphic pointing out that an early design of the folding chair was patented by a Black man ( seems to be true ). The photoshopped picture showing glowing rings around Black folks rushing into the fight, mimicking the climax of Avengers: Endgame , where superheroes rushed in to save the day. A spirited re-enactment of the fight around someone’s backyard pool which amped up the absurd humor of it all. Images dubbing the young swimmer Black Aquaman, Aquamayne and Blaquaman.

And two of my personal faves: A photoshopped image of the Martin Luther King Jr. statue holding a folding chair. And a version of the video remade as the opening to classic Black sitcom Good Times , with acerbic credits noting the show was “created by Consequences & Repercussions.”

I was blown away by how quickly folks across social media — especially Black folks — were converting horror over a narrowly-averted, racialized beat down into funny memes celebrating the reflex of Black folks to stand up for one another, especially when we’re faced with danger from white people.

But when I posted the photo of MLK’s statue with the folding chair on my social media feeds, I just added one word: Wow.

I wanted the image to speak for itself. And I wanted people who had questions about what it meant to jump into social media and find out for themselves. I felt the image and its implied humor — that the nation’s most revered civil rights leader might be hoisting a folding chair to defend Black folks in the modern age — was most powerful when not explained.

Unfortunately, some people on my social media platforms insisted on an explanation. One was pretty persistent about it. And I realized I just didn’t want to explain the image, for some reason I couldn’t quite put my finger on.

When explaining becomes too much of a burden

Yeah, it’s sometimes tiring to always be asked to explain your cultural nuances to the world. But that’s the gig I signed up for, many years ago, when I decided to write about race and media regularly. And yes, all the social media joking was hiding a fear that today’s political climate has left racists emboldened to attack a Black man in broad daylight for doing his job. So explaining the memes only resurfaced those darker feelings in ways I wasn’t quite ready to process right away.

Still, something else was also at play.

I always say social media is often like a giant dinner party, where people forget they are sometimes listening in on conversations between other people. In this case, being asked to explain the folding chair memes felt like having someone barge into an ongoing conversation to ask for an explanation.

As I traded messages with people and retweeted the best memes, this felt like a moment where folks could be hilariously Black online and we could all share the experience together, laughing and consoling each other in one viral social media moment.

Someone popping up to demand an explanation felt like they were re-centering the conversation in a way I just wasn’t willing to do right away.

Sometimes, in situations like that, understanding comes best by sitting back, listening widely, and learning. Even for me.

I originally wrote a version of this column for my personal Tumblr page, mostly as a way of processing a response that was new and unfamiliar for me. I don’t know if this reaction is fair — especially given how much I’ve encouraged discussion about race over the years.

But it’s all I have left, in a world where I increasingly feel like a frog in pot of steadily heating water, watching racists and racism get bolder — wondering when the heat will begin to burn me, my loved ones, my family, my friends and my people.

Or when I’ll need to reach out for aid from a helpful brother with a folding chair.

Thanks for signing up for the newsletter.

The Most Hilarious Montgomery Riverfront Brawl Memes #FadeInTheWater

Share the post, share this link via, or copy link.

Source: Twitter / Twitter

If anyone thought social media was ready to move on beyond the Montgomery Riverfront brawl, think again. On X, TikTok, and Instagram, folks are going deep into their creativity bag and adding to one of the most hilarious trends we’ve seen in recent times.

As we shared on Monday (August 7), the Montgomery Riverfront brawl has ensnared social media in its grasp, and the jokes and memes have been relentless. As reported, the fight broke out after a Black dock worker removed the rope from a pontoon boat that was illegally trying to park in a spot reserved for a double-decker riverboat named the Harriott II.

An angry mob of white boaters approached the dock worker, and they then began to beat the man but he was swiftly assisted by others in the area, including a Black teen named Aaren who swam from the riverboat to assist in the brawl in epic fashion. So far, four active arrest warrants have been issued with promises more will come.

As some on social media noted, when police arrived on the scene, they seemingly turned their immediate focus onto the Black individuals. Although they weren’t the group to start the brawl, they certainly did end it.

Montgomery police are slated to host a news conference today (August 8). Mayor Steven Reed, the city’s first Black mayor, spoke about the incident on Monday (click here ) and vowed to share more details as they come.

For now, we’ll share some of the newer memes, X posts, and TikTok videos regarding the Montgomery Riverfront fight below.

Photo: Buyenlarge / Getty

RELATED TAGS

Xitter Clowns MAGA Misfits Donald Trump & Laura Loomer Over Allegedly Bumping Uglies

NYPD Commissioner Edward Caban Resigns Amidst FBI Investigation Into Mayor Eric Adams

Man of the Booze: Justin Timberlake Accepts Plea Deal In DWI Case, Gets Slap On The Wrist After Agreeing To Lesser Charge

Pharrell Williams Confirms He And Chad Hugo Aren’t Speaking

Cardi B Announces The Birth Of Her Third Child On Instagram

Angela Rye Cooks Jill Stein On ‘The Breakfast Club,’ Xitter Rejoices

Sign up for the hip-hop wired newsletter.

We care about your data. See our privacy policy .

Hip-Hop Wired

Quick links.

• Breaking News
• University Guide
• Meghan Markle
• Prince Harry
• King Charles III

Alabama river boat fight: Hilarious steamboat brawl video parodies emerge on social media as it lights up with memes

• An avalanche of memes have been posted on social media after a shocking brawl on an Alabama dock went viral
• One group mockingly recreated the fight by a swimming pool, while another even visited the site to see  the iconic chair used in the skirmish 
• READ MORE: Marlon Wayans slammed over comment about Jason Aldean song Try That in a Small Town 

By Will Potter For Dailymail.Com

Published: 19:41 EDT, 7 August 2023 | Updated: 14:12 EDT, 8 August 2023

View comments

The viral brawl between black cruise staff and white pleasure craft owners on an Alabama dock has sparked ridicule online. 

Shocking scenes saw the two groups fly into a frenzy on the Montgomery riverfront - with one man even hitting a woman over the head with a chair . 

But while millions have been stunned by the ugly scenes, some have seen the funny side and have used it to create an avalanche of memes on social media. 

One of the most viewed was a hilarious take on the melee in the style of a comic fight, where the main players were satirized as characters - including a security guard who appeared to throw the first punch and a man who swam across the river to join the action. 

While some made light of the apparent racial divides in the skirmish, others opted to recreate the scuffle with their pals - with one group visiting the site themselves to catch a glimpse of the now-iconic chair used in the fight. 

Select your player MONTGOMERY ALABAMA version💀💀💀 #Montgomery #Alabama #Alabamaboatbrawl #MontgomeryAlabama pic.twitter.com/QywOcFtbQt — TurnMeOut (@SCumsock69) August 7, 2023

The hilarious take on the brawl saw the key players satirized, including a man who hit someone with a chair dubbed 'Chairmageddon'

An avalanche of memes were spawned by the viral footage, with the man who swam across the river gaining online glory and being dubbed 'Aquaman's incarnate' 

Racking up almost 250,000 views in less than a day, the comedy clip of the brawl as a cartoon fight quickly gained traction after it was posted on Twitter.

The video opens with the black security guard squaring off with one of the white party boat owners, stopping at the moment he takes off his hat to avoid losing it in the scrum to brand him 'Hat Man: Attacks at the drop of...' 

As the fighting escalated, one of the cruise staffers hurled himself into the water and swam across the river to throw himself into the clash. 

His heroics have seen him widely praised online, with the compilation naming him as 'Aquaman's incarnate' and 'Barnacle Boy'.

Soon after the wild scenes spread on social media, many commented on the man hitting a fellow boater over the head with a white folding chair. 

The as-yet-unidentified assailant was dubbed 'Chairmageddon' in the clip, while three shirtless men who stormed down the dock to join the lengthy brawl were branded 'The Tugboat Triad'.

One group also claimed they had gone back to the dock the next day to take a picture with the chair, leading one person to joke that the image should hang 'in a Black History Museum now.' 

These folks went back the next day and found the dang chair. Gotta put it in a Black History Museum now. 🤣🤣 #MontgomeryAlabama #riverboatbrawl pic.twitter.com/NefhqFxuV7 — Grim Bastard (@Libra_King73) August 7, 2023

Y’all I’m Dead Af Why We So Unserious 🤣😭😂 #Montgomery #Alabama #brawl #fight #funny #MontgomeryAlabama pic.twitter.com/QskI0kqqAn — X Kalijah Kane (@xKalijahKan3) August 7, 2023

One viral video saw a group hilariously recreate the riverside brawl by a swimming pool

No cause why are we so unserious 😭😭 I've been weak all days with these videos. #riverboatbrawl #MontgomeryAlabama #MontgomeryRiverFront pic.twitter.com/FC7DM65m3a — Britbrat💓 (@true_beautii) August 7, 2023

Social media has been flooded with comedic takes on the brawl, with another group recreating the fight by the dock next to a swimming pool.

The men even depicted the drunken staggering evident among the dozens of people who became embroiled in the melee. 

Just as the original fight went viral, the clip of the men racked up millions of views as numerous accounts circulated it online. 

And while many joked that they 'can't be serious' for the skit, they drew praise for mimicking the brawl to a hilarious degree. At one stage, someone dives across the pool to join in the faked fracas. 

Ancestors are proud #MontgomeryAlabama pic.twitter.com/jxHOoaJrQn — GEORGE MINAJ🦄🎀🇿🇦 (@GEORGE_AKAMINAJ) August 7, 2023

Many of the memes also took aim at the apparent racial divides in the clash. 

While no evidence for racial motivation behind the fighting has been found, many on the internet were quick to note how the two sides seemed to separate between white and black. 

One person noted that the inventor of the folding chair, Nathaniel Alexander, was a black man.

They joked that he was 'clearly a visionary who could see into the future', as his invention helped one of the black fighters in the brawl 112 years later. 

Also among the abundance of memes was a snippet of the man who swam across the river to join the brawl. 

They dubbed the clip to Marvin Gaye's classic hit 'Ain't no mountain high enough', saying that the swimmer was 'if ain't no river wide enough was a person'. 

One person joked that the inventor of the folding chair, a black man named Nathaniel Alexander, could 'see into the future' as his invention helped one of the black fighters 112 years later

Another meme saw someone take a clip of the man who swam across the river to join the brawl, which they dubbed to Marvin Gaye's classic hit 'Ain't no mountain high enough'

An avalanche of memes were created as a reaction to the viral brawl

The wild brawl erupted in Montgomery, Alabama on Saturday evening, with new footage capturing the moment a black man smacked a white boater as the frenzied scenes continued around them. 

The newly emerged angle taken from inside the cruise shows an unidentified black man repeatedly hitting a white man with a white chair. 

Despite the shocking violence, the Montgomery Police Department told DailyMail.com they have not made any arrests and are not releasing names as of Monday.

'There are four active warrants at this time and there's a possibility more will follow after the review of additional video,' police said.

Reports indicate the fight may have kicked off over an argument about mooring, and another angle of the brawl saw a man heard on a megaphone shouting  'don't f**k with the riverboat crew.' 

The large group of people had been returning to the dock after spending time on the Harriott II Riverboat, but after making it back, the space reserved for them had been taken over by a boat owner who parked his vessel and left it.

The riverboat sent a staff member to the dock to untie the smaller vessel so those onboard could return to land, when the fight ensues. 

Share or comment on this article: Alabama river boat fight: Hilarious steamboat brawl video parodies emerge on social media as it lights up with memes

Most watched news videos.

• Football icon David Beckham attends Sven-Goran Eriksson's funeral
• IDF targets residential neighbourhood in north of Gaza City
• Football legend David Beckham attends Sven-Goran Eriksson's funeral
• Lifeboat rescues 55 migrants as Channel crossing turns deadly
• River rages through Polish town as Storm Boris wreaks havoc
• David Lammy complains of no taxpayer budget for Starmer's clothes
• Got old 1p coin! Coin collector reveals valuable items to look for
• Cat-ch me if you can! Fat cat jogs on treadmill at pet diet centre
• Crowds gather after two trains collided in horrifying crash in Egypt
• Pensioner's home sits on edge of cliff above landslide-hit Kent road
• Swarm of flying bugs invade Mexico flight
• James Cleverly calls Starmer 'hypocritical' over wife's clothes donor

Comments 140

Share what you think

• Worst rated

The comments below have not been moderated.

The views expressed in the contents above are those of our users and do not necessarily reflect the views of MailOnline.

We are no longer accepting comments on this article.

• Follow DailyMail
• Subscribe Daily Mail
• Follow @dailymail
• Follow MailOnline
• Follow Daily Mail

From the Makers of Candy Crush

• Back to top

Published by Associated Newspapers Ltd

Part of the Daily Mail, The Mail on Sunday & Metro Media Group

As previously reported by REVOLT , the entire country was tuned into a massive fight that took place at Montgomery, Alabama’s Riverfront Park. Witnesses claimed that an all-white group attacked a Black dock worker after allegedly being told to move their vessel, which was said to have been parked in a spot reserved for the popular Harriett II riverboat. Tables quickly turned for the aggressors after other Black men jumped in to defend the victim, leading to an all-out brawl that was recorded and shared on social media. According to authorities, several people have been taken into custody as a result.

As expected, the aftermath of the incident was quickly filled with bellyaching memes and captions from the Black Twitterverse (and beyond), with many taking heed to a folding chair used in the melee. One tweet shared a TikTok video of an individual practicing what he called “ ChairJutsu ,” while an image from another showed a painting of Harriet Tubman with the flexible furniture in hand. Twitter account sir_sarcasm made it clear that if he shares a picture of a chair, it means that he is about to “take s**t too far.” Elsewhere, tech savants added audio like commentary from veteran wrestling analyst Jim Ross or, in a twist of fate, Jason Aldean’s controversial single “ Try That In A Small Town ” over the footage.

One of the biggest “stars” from that day was a Black man who provided help by swimming over to the dock worker in distress. The courageous act garnered the unidentified individual nicknames like Scuba Gooding Jr., Aquamayne, and a remixed version of a certain decorated Olympian . “Our boy Ja’Michael Phelps definitely earned himself a scholarship, an honorary award, free food for five years, all the things! Give that young man his just rewards!” said Twitter user OnleQueenB .

Check out several of the memes and responses to the Riverfront Park fight below.

• Crossword Tips

Clue: St. Petersburg's river

Referring crossword puzzle answers, likely related crossword puzzle clues.

• Shade of green
• Russian river
• Soviet river
• Leningrad's river
• Gulf of Finland feeder
• Saint Petersburg's river
• River to the Gulf of Finland
• River of St. Petersburg
• St. Petersburg river
• St. Petersburg waterway

Recent usage in crossword puzzles:

• Newsday - April 30, 2023
• LA Times - Sept. 27, 2020
• New York Times - Dec. 23, 2018
• LA Times - March 28, 2018
• LA Times - Aug. 26, 2016
• Merl Reagle Sunday Crossword - Aug. 9, 2015
• LA Times - March 13, 2015
• Merl Reagle Sunday Crossword - March 8, 2015
• New York Times - Oct. 1, 2014
• New York Times - June 4, 2014
• Merl Reagle Sunday Crossword - Dec. 1, 2013
• LA Times Sunday Calendar - Aug. 19, 2012
• LA Times - Aug. 19, 2012
• LA Times Sunday Calendar - Jan. 30, 2011
• Newsday - Jan. 16, 2011
• Wall Street Journal Friday - Dec. 17, 2010
• Washington Post - Sept. 27, 2009
• Pat Sajak Code Letter - July 12, 2009
• LA Times - April 10, 2009
• LA Times - Feb. 21, 2008