Man seen swinging folding chair in brawl on Alabama riverfront pleads guilty to misdemeanor

MONTGOMERY, Ala. (TND/WBMA) — A man caught on camera swinging a folding chair during an altercation on the Alabama riverfront over the summer has pleaded guilty.

The man pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor disorderly conduct charge and was ordered to perform community service on Monday, according to the Associated Press.

Montgomery Municipal Judge Milton Westry told The National Desk that he received Reggie Bernard Ray's guilty plea. Ray's arrest got attention after he was seen on video defending the Black riverboat worker, who was being attacked by a group of white people, when he used a folding chair to thwart the attackers.

The riverfront brawl in Montgomery drew nationwide attention over the summer after a video was captured showing white boaters hitting a Black riverboat worker. Bystanders and crew members rushed to the worker's defense, sparking the large fight.

The video showed people being shoved, punched and kicked, and a Black man hitting a white person with a chair. At least one person was knocked into the water.

“It was just absolutely unnecessary and uncalled for,” Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey said at the time.

According to Montgomery police, the brawl started when the boaters refused to move their pontoon boat so the Harriott II riverboat, which was owned by the city, could dock in its designated spot. The boat's co-captain told authorities he was attacked after he moved the pontoon boat a few feet to make room.

Four boaters were charged in connection and pleaded guilty to misdemeanor charges ranging from harassment to assault, according to the Associated Press.

The Associated Press contributed to this report

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