Swimmer in Montgomery riverfront brawl did what he ‘was taught to do,’ publicist shares

Swimmer in Montgomery riverfront brawl did what he ‘was taught to do,’ publicist shares

The person seen swimming toward a Black man fighting a group of white people on the Montgomery riverfront Saturday night only did “what I was taught to do,” a statement from a family publicist states.

The swimmer is a 16-year-old identified only as Aaren, the statement from Makina Lashea reads.

Montgomery police on Sunday said they have obtained four warrants in connection with the incident and “there’s a possibility more will follow after the review of additional video.” No further update was planned until Monday.

Viral video shows the scuffle beginning as a Black man who appears to be in uniform as a docks worker is talking to a white man.

Another white man, this one shirtless, launches forward and strikes or shoves the Black man in the head.

From there, the incident unfolded largely along racial lines.

The dock worker and the man who struck him engaged in a one-on-one shoving match for a moment before the first white man placed a hand on the Black man in an apparent effort to separate the two.

A video shows someone jump off the riverboat, swimming to the dock to join in.

The scene of him swimming to the shore has attracted widespread attention, even from comedian Roy Wood Jr.

“In the face of adversity, Aaren selflessly came to the rescue of a fellow colleague, showcasing courage beyond his years,” the statement from Lashea read.

Efforts to reach Lashea for additional comment were not immediately successful on Sunday.

The statement thanked the public for the “outpouring of love and support,” saying that it was a reminder “we can create positive change and uplift one another.”

Aaren, it said, “will continue being a force for good in the world.”