AUSTIN, TEXAS: A video circulating on social media captures the incident when a brawl erupted between a contingent of uniformed Marines and civilians outside a Texas nightclub on Sunday, November 19, 2023.
The video seems to depict the groups involved in the altercation outside the Voodoo Room on Austin's renowned Sixth Street in the entertainment district.
How did the fight begin?
The altercation seems to initiate when one woman forcibly takes a phone from another's hand, prompting the involvement of a Marine in an attempt to intervene.
Subsequently, a man in a white long-sleeved shirt makes an unsuccessful attempt to throw a punch at another Marine, prompting several of his fellow military personnel to come to his defense.
As certain Marines endeavor to intervene and separate the individuals exchanging verbal insults, tensions escalate, leading to an all-out physical altercation.
As Austin Police and Texas Highway Patrol officers strive to quell the disturbance, citizens and Marines exchange blows, resulting in some individuals being knocked to the ground.
Onlookers applauded the Marines, who appeared to outnumber the civilians involved in the altercation.
In the video, at least one man is seen being arrested. Mounted police arrive towards the end of the footage, accompanied by audible sirens in the background.
This incident follows the news from July of this year when the Austin Police Department and the Texas Department of Public Safety re-established their collaboration to enhance police presence and deter unlawful activities on the bustling downtown bar street.
The DailyMail reported that the Austin Police Department did not respond to requests for additional information on the incident.
The city is a popular destination for young people since it is home to The University of Texas at Austin, ranked ninth in the country and first in the state for public universities per US News & World Report.
Based on current migration patterns, the Texas capital is expected to become one of the most populous cities in the US by 2100.
According to projections, Austin's population is expected to increase more than tenfold, rising from 2.3 million to nearly 23 million by that time.
A recent Bankrate survey reveals Austin is the best city to start a career because of its thriving job market and high quality of life.
However, downtown Austin businesses told CBS Austin that increased violence and homelessness are having an impact on public safety.
How did the Internet react to this viral video of the brawl?
While some individuals supported the Marines based on the viral footage, the majority criticized the apparent inappropriate involvement of the servicemen in a situation where they shouldn't have been.
One X user wrote: “I grew up in Austin. This always happens on Sixth Street. That’s why I barely went to Sixth Street. This isn’t anything new.”
Another user said: “It's not clear what caused the fight. But Austin bars are not the place to start fights at. It was probably a weekend and Police are doubled because this happens all too often.”
An X user asked: “I’ve never been in the military but I assume they will all be in serious trouble for doing this in uniform, right?”
One user remarked: “Those marines will be confined to their barracks or base for a very long time. Along with loss of what little rank they have. They should not have worn their uniforms to go out and have drinks. Makes them easy targets for trouble.”
Another X user said: “Marines in dress blues fighting with civilians? Nope.”
One user further tweeted: “Did any of the Marines get arrested? They should have just because they wear a uniform doesn't mean they get a pass.”
A user remarked: “Austin is a shit show”
Another user wrote: “Unbecoming a Marine…disgusting behavior…some will lose a stripe.”
