Devonte Hart Changes The Outlook Of Ferguson Protest: Portland Native Shares Free Hug With Police Officer, Resulting In Positive Viral Repost

One boy and one police officer might've just turned things positive in the Ferguson protest.

In the photo that has gone viral and has been reposted by thousands, little Devonte Hart might be one ticket to the world of change.

After Hart held up a sign that read "Free Hugs" last week over the grand jury's decision to hand down no indictment for Ferguson Police Officer Darren Wilson, who shot and killed Michael Brown, Hart didn't know that the following week he'd be looked at as a example of positive protesting.

The 12-year-old was greeted and embraced with a hug by Portland police Sgt. Bret Barnum.

According to Hart's mother Jen Hart, she shared the now-viral experience via Facebook.

“He asked Devonte why he was crying. His response about his concerns regarding the level of police brutality towards young black kids was met with an unexpected and seemingly authentic (to Devonte), ‘Yes. *sigh* I know. I’m sorry. I’m sorry.’ The officer then asked if he could have one of his hugs,” Hart wrote, according to Fox 2 Now.

Barnum said he wasn't worried about being a cop on duty at the time he saw Hart, Barnum claims he was just being a human being and noticed someone who needed care. Barnum said when he went up to the 12-year-old he confronted him “not as a police officer but just a human being” when Hart was in tears.

At first Hart was a little scared, but when Barnum started talking he opened up.

“The situation itself is something police officers do every day when they go out on the street and make citizen contacts,” Barnum revealed during an interview with CNN.

The lucky photographer who snapped the history-making photo was 20-year-old freelance photographer Johnny Nguyen.

The Oregonian newspaper published the photo first, and after it was published hundreds began to share the photo via social media. As a result the popular photo was called “the hug shared around the world.”

Barnum revealed that he was in shock that the photo had been so popular. The photo has set a new tone on how one hug could change a lot of feelings toward this difficult time.

“It solidified what all of us do this work for — this job for — to create good will,” Barnum said to CNN.

Nguyen revealed that he attended the rally to snap photos for his own personal collection.

“When I came across Devonte, who was holding a ‘Free Hugs’ sign and tears running down his face, I knew right there and then there was something special about him,” Nguyen described. “My gut told me to stay at the scene despite other photo opportunities in the crowd.”

He added, “I thought, what a great scene. A powerful scene. A scene with a message that needed to be communicated. A scene of coming together.

“They hugged it out, and I got as close as I could, and snapped away.”

Hart hugging Barnum “spread like wildfire” in just one day. Nguyen's history-making photo claims that he has been receiving positive feedback through emails and messages.

“I knew it had something special, something powerful. It had a message I think everyone wanted to see,” Nguyen said.

“I think it goes to show everybody was clamoring for hope in the midst of the violence and conflict going on today. I’m glad my photo has done that. Yes, I’m a photographer, but in the end, I’m a human being who wants better for other human beings, and I’m glad I can play my part by sharing the incredible photo. I wish to see everyone continue to be positive, and spread love, always," he said.