A video shows a Marine unit getting involved in a massive brawl with other young people waiting outside a nightclub.
The incident occurred over the weekend outside the Voodoo Room nightclub on Austin's Sixth Street, Texas, as a heated confrontation between a group of uniformed Marines and civilians escalated into a full-blown brawl. The dramatic scene was captured on video and shared widely on social media.
As seen in the video, the altercation appears to begin when one woman grabs a phone from another, prompting the intervention of a Marine. Then, a man in a white long-sleeve shirt attempts to throw a punch at a different Marine, narrowly missing his target. Fellow soldiers rushed to defend their comrade, leading to a chaotic exchange of blows between the two groups.
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Austin Police and Texas Highway Patrol officers then rush to the scene to break up the fight. At least one person was seen being detained in the video. Bystanders were divided, with some cheering on the Marines and one individual chanting "USA! USA!" during the brawl.
Teachers, civil servants and train drivers walk out in biggest strike in decadeThe video, widely circulated on social media, prompted varied reactions from users. Some expressed concern over the chaotic atmosphere on Sixth Street, while others acknowledged the risky move of confronting Marines in a large crowd.
A commenter with the username Brandi said: "This is why no one should be on 6th Street... it's chaos & no longer protected by law enforcement unless @TxDPS or military men happen to be in the area." Another person with the username Dr Waitman W. Beorn wrote: "I'm not the Marines' biggest fan, but... punching one of them when there is a massive crowd of them there is a very bad idea."
The incident took place on Sixth Street, a renowned downtown bar street in Austin, known for its vibrant entertainment scene. The Austin Police Department, in partnership with the Texas Department of Public Safety, had previously increased its presence on Sixth Street to deter crime.
In the video, no one appears to have been seriously injured during the fight. However, further information on the circumstances under which the brawl occurred and the aftermath has not been released. The Mirror has reached out to Austin Police Department for more details on the incident.