MONTGOMERY, ALABAMA: A brawl broke out in a waterfront area of Montgomery, Alabama, during the evening of Saturday, August 5. The viral video of the incident shows a group of White men attacking a Black security guard after he asked them to remove their pontoon boat from the supposed docking place of the city’s riverboat, the Harriot II, as reported by Daily Express.
Soon, those atop the riverboat started singing the 'Move, B***h’ by Ludacris at the group with the pontoon boat. However, when the security guard tried to move the vessel by himself, the members of the group supposedly started physically assaulting him. While several spectators came to the aid of the security guard, it was the heroics of a 16-year-old, who is hailed as the "Black Aquaman," that impressed many.
Who is 'Black Aquaman'?
The 16-year-old boy, who has been a crew at the riverboat, has only been identified as Aaren (and as Aaren Rudolph by the netizens). After noticing the fight that ensued at the dock, he leaped off the vessel and swiftly swum toward the waterfront to help the guard. His courage and prompt reactionary nature earned him the nickname of "Black Aquaman" on the Internet.
When asked about the incident, Aaren said that he only did "what I was taught to do," as per Mirror. He was hailed by the netizens for showing courage in the face of adversity when he jumped off the boat to save his colleague working at the dock. The violence soon subsided when officers reached the scene with four search warrants, according to WSFA. The police said that they received a call at around 7 pm regarding the violence at the waterfront.
'In the face of adversity, Aaren selflessly came to the rescue of a fellow colleague'
A person representing Aaren’s family, Makina Lashea, released a statement saying that the 16-year-old is a "cherished young hero" and thanked people for they have "come together to celebrate the remarkable act of bravery and compassion" of Aaren. They further said that Aaren’s family was indeed proud of the superhero nickname given to him. In a statement, Lashea said, "In the face of adversity, Aaren selflessly came to the rescue of a fellow colleague, showcasing courage beyond his years," as per the New York Post. "The overwhelming love and support pouring in from all corners of the state and surrounding areas have deeply touched Aaren. We are immensely proud of his actions and the values he exemplifies, standing as an inspiration to us all," added the spokesperson. The statement further mentioned, "Your messages and gestures of appreciation have not gone unnoticed, and they have left a lasting impact on Aaren and his family. We assure you that he will continue being a force for good in the world."
'This was an unfortunate incident which never should have occurred'
The Montgomery Police said on Sunday, "Last night, the Montgomery Police Department acted swiftly to detain several reckless individuals for attacking a man for doing his job. Warrants have been signed and justice will be served." They informed about obtaining four warrants in connection with the incident, adding, "There’s a possibility more will follow after the review of additional video." "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," stated the police, as per Mirror.
