December 12th 2023.
Earlier this summer, a brawl erupted at an Alabama waterfront in Montgomery, which went viral after a video of the altercation was released to the public. A Black dock worker was seen being attacked by white boaters after he asked them not to park their boat in a restricted area.
In the footage, several Black people came to the defense of the older dock worker, including Reggie Bernard Ray, who was seen wielding a folding chair at the attackers. After being identified in the video, Ray surrendered to police authorities several days later.
Fast-forward several months later, and Ray has entered a plea of guilty for a charge of disorderly conduct. According to al.com, he has agreed to complete 50 hours of community service and a 90-day suspended sentence, as well as pay $357 in court costs.
The arresting officer said in deposition papers that body camera footage revealed that Ray hit a white man with a folding chair several times. According to the Associated Press, the incident took place after the dock worker asked the boaters to not park their boat in a designated spot. After one of the attackers went after the dock worker, several Black crew members and bystanders came to his defense, including a young boy who jumped in the water and swam to protect him.
Four white boaters were charged for their role in the attack, and all of them pleaded guilty to misdemeanor charges ranging from harassment to assault. Ray's actions on that day have resulted in his conditional guilty plea, allowing him to avoid serving any jail time.
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