Posted on 11/29/2014 10:51:34 PM PST by grundle
Full title: Kid Holding Free Hugs Sign at Protest Attracts Cops 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 Barnums 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 Harts sign and asked, Do I get one of those? Heres the kids answer:
(Excerpt) Read more at theblaze.com ...
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. Im sorry. Im sorry.
Send the sergeant to Ferguson; he can show his compassion and understanding there...
He sounds like a tool.
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?
“...why is he touching that young boy?”
It’s Portland. They love that kind of “love”.
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.
“If he was a school teacher hed be fired”
Not in Portland, I’d bet.
Maybe; I guess their parents are more enlightened over there...
I’m sure they allow a lot in public schools in Oregon. They sure do in California.
This was probably staged as well. I have a hard time believing anything in the MSM. Call me skeptical.
Are those real tears or are those tear gas tears?
Was it necessary to put {black} in the title?
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.
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.
You can’t stage the expression on that child’s face.
I nominate this Photo of the Year.
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.
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.
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.
No, it wasn’t necessary.
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.