Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

[Black] Kid Holding ‘Free Hugs’ Sign at Protest Attracts [white] Cop’s Attention
theblaze.com ^ | November 28, 2014 | Dave Urbanski

Posted on 11/29/2014 10:51:34 PM PST by grundle

Full title: Kid Holding ‘Free Hugs’ Sign at Protest Attracts Cop’s Attention. What Happens at the End of Their Encounter Goes Viral.

Police Sergeant Bret Barnum was wearing protective head gear and patrolling a protest earlier this week in Portland, Oregon — one of several flashpoint U.S. cities that have seen demonstrations after a grand jury decided not to indict a white police officer who fatally shot a 18-year-old black man in Ferguson, Missouri, in August.

But amid the and anger and loud voices on Nov. 25, something altogether different got Barnum’s attention: A kid with tears in his eyes holding a sign that read ”Free Hugs.”

The 21-year police vet motioned over 12-year-old Devonte Hart and the pair chatted about the demonstration, school, art and life, the Oregonian reported. When their chat was over, Barnum reportedly pointed to Hart’s sign and asked, “Do I get one of those?” Here’s the kid’s answer:


(Excerpt) Read more at theblaze.com ...


TOPICS: Miscellaneous; US: Missouri; US: Oregon
KEYWORDS: blackkk; bretbarnum; devontehart; ferguson; freehugs; kenyanbornmuzzie; missouri; oregon; portland

1 posted on 11/29/2014 10:51:34 PM PST by grundle
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: grundle

https://www.facebook.com/ktla5/photos/a.440942949613.222741.72391084613/10152901792849614/?type=1&theater
When a police officer asked Devonte Hart why he was crying, he said it was over the level police brutality toward young black kids.

The officer, Sgt. Bret Bertnum, sighed and replied, “Yes. I know. I’m sorry. I’m sorry.”


2 posted on 11/29/2014 11:10:14 PM PST by Haddit
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Haddit

Send the sergeant to Ferguson; he can show his compassion and understanding there...


3 posted on 11/30/2014 1:35:26 AM PST by kearnyirish2 (Affirmative action is economic warfare against white males (and therefore white families).)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: kearnyirish2

He sounds like a tool.


4 posted on 11/30/2014 1:41:01 AM PST by Politicalkiddo ("It is the first responsibility of every citizen to question authority."- Benjamin Franklin)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: Politicalkiddo

He IS a tool; he was just used as propaganda against a vindicated brother cop, and he doesn’t even know it. He wanted his fifteen minutes of fame; why is he touching that young boy?


5 posted on 11/30/2014 1:43:03 AM PST by kearnyirish2 (Affirmative action is economic warfare against white males (and therefore white families).)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: kearnyirish2

“...why is he touching that young boy?”

It’s Portland. They love that kind of “love”.


6 posted on 11/30/2014 1:47:49 AM PST by Politicalkiddo ("It is the first responsibility of every citizen to question authority."- Benjamin Franklin)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]

To: Politicalkiddo

If he was a school teacher he’d be fired; he just wants to be on a Time magazine cover, and wants to believe there is hope for our permanent underclass.


7 posted on 11/30/2014 1:50:35 AM PST by kearnyirish2 (Affirmative action is economic warfare against white males (and therefore white families).)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 6 | View Replies]

To: kearnyirish2

“If he was a school teacher he’d be fired”

Not in Portland, I’d bet.


8 posted on 11/30/2014 1:53:28 AM PST by Politicalkiddo ("It is the first responsibility of every citizen to question authority."- Benjamin Franklin)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 7 | View Replies]

To: Politicalkiddo

Maybe; I guess their parents are more enlightened over there...


9 posted on 11/30/2014 1:54:12 AM PST by kearnyirish2 (Affirmative action is economic warfare against white males (and therefore white families).)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 8 | View Replies]

To: kearnyirish2

I’m sure they allow a lot in public schools in Oregon. They sure do in California.


10 posted on 11/30/2014 2:04:29 AM PST by Politicalkiddo ("It is the first responsibility of every citizen to question authority."- Benjamin Franklin)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 9 | View Replies]

To: Haddit

This was probably staged as well. I have a hard time believing anything in the MSM. Call me skeptical.


11 posted on 11/30/2014 2:07:53 AM PST by Catsrus (al)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: grundle

Are those real tears or are those tear gas tears?


12 posted on 11/30/2014 5:34:00 AM PST by equaviator (There's nothing like the universe to bring you down to earth.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: grundle

Was it necessary to put {black} in the title?


13 posted on 11/30/2014 5:48:41 AM PST by mylife
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: grundle

It’s a nice moment. I hope it was not staged, because that would mean somebody was using the 12 year-old, as much as the adult.

Also, I don’t think the policeman could easily have gone into a long-winded explanation of the grand jury verdict, or the statistics of black-on-black crime, etc. Some other time.


14 posted on 11/30/2014 8:25:20 AM PST by married21 ( As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: grundle

Filtered: A white police officer who fatally shot a 18-year-old black man in Ferguson, Missouri, in August.

Unfiltered: A white police officer who defended himself against a 18-year-old black man in Ferguson, Missouri, in August.


15 posted on 11/30/2014 8:31:34 AM PST by Vaduz
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: married21; chris37

You can’t stage the expression on that child’s face.

I nominate this Photo of the Year.


16 posted on 11/30/2014 8:32:02 AM PST by txhurl (2014: Stunned Voters do Stunning Things!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 14 | View Replies]

To: married21
I hope it was not staged, because that would mean somebody was using the 12 year-old, as much as the adult.

Of course it was staged. Who brings a kid to a riot? Then they put a sign in his hands. The tears are probably real but brought on by total lies. The cop played into it. If only he'd asked the kid if hugs were some of that brutality and handed him a copy of the GJ report. Yes, that was the perfect time to set the record straight with the truth.

17 posted on 11/30/2014 10:04:42 AM PST by bgill (CDC site, "we still do not know exactly how people are infected with Ebola")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 14 | View Replies]

To: txhurl

Yeah, tx, that is one of those photographs that is worth all the words in the world.

True humanity is a glorious thing to behold.


18 posted on 11/30/2014 10:13:17 AM PST by chris37 (heartless)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 16 | View Replies]

To: married21

I think it’s a nice moment too.

If everyone’s honest on all sides of these race issues we might be able to make things better for everyone. Kindness is always a good start.


19 posted on 11/30/2014 10:28:05 AM PST by GOPJ (Stephanopoulos is a snake in the grass and a dem operative. Wilson should never have trusted him.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 14 | View Replies]

To: mylife

No, it wasn’t necessary.


20 posted on 11/30/2014 6:01:44 PM PST by grundle
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 13 | View Replies]

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson