And let’s not forget that it wasn’t just Austin, but his twin brother was there too. Both of them, 6 ft, 220 lbs, got up from where they were to confront 5’9” 160 lb Karmelo, and then tried getting physical when Karmelo wouldn’t leave.
And you’re correct about the tents at track meets. Athletes fraternize before, during and after meets and are in each other’s areas all the time. White people have conveniently forgotten what it’s like at high school athletic competitions and are trying to act like this was gang territory that had to be defended at all costs by the Metcalf twins, and that Karmelo had violated that territory looking for a fight. Let’s not also overlook the fact the the Metcalf twins had absolutely no authority to demand that anyone do anything, much less put their hands on anyone.
If they had that much of an issue with where Karmelo was sitting they should’ve went and gotten a coach or someone with the proper authority. But if Karmelo had been causing trouble a coach would’ve already told him to leave. Eyewitnesses say Karmelo was just sitting quietly on his phone.
So this is just the old 1800 era law of “if a white man tells you to do something you’d better do it if you’re Black. and if don’t and he decides to physically attack you, if you’re Black, you’re just supposed to take the beating until they get tired of beating on you. and then shuffle off, eyes down, and say “thank you Massa for not killing me suh.”