On the evening of June 17, 2015, our country was rocked when news broke about a mass shooting at the Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Charleston, South Carolina. The church is one of the United States' oldest black churches and has long been a site for community organization around civil rights. Nine people were killed, including the senior pastor and state senator. 21-year-old Dylann Roof has been charged with nine counts of murder by the State of South Carolina.
In the midst of this shocking tragedy, one father captured a moment that shines brightly through the darkness. John Nettles Jr., his wife Lindsey, and their 3-year-old son Parker, who live in Charleston, attended a memorial service for the nine church members who were killed. Ahead of him and just steps from the church, John saw two women standing outside — one white and one black — holding signs that read “Free Hugs.” John told ABC News that he paused to fix his camera so he could take a photo of the women, but his 3-year-old son ran ahead of him. “As I was getting my camera prepared, Parker just ran up to give them a hug on his own,” he said. “I quickly took a picture and realized that was much better than what I had been planning.” To Parker, it was just a sweet, ordinary hug with a nice person — but his parents knew the gesture was something much more powerful.
The photo is spreading like wildfire. It has become such a strong statement that it will be available as a #charlestonstrong poster. 100% of the proceeds will be going straight to the Mother Emanuel Church Fund. John is partnering with Mahmood Fazal and The Charleston Center for Photography to ensure costs stay low and that they can maximize donations.
John was also approached by CBSN, who wanted to interview him about the now viral photo. He was torn. "Who am I to address the world & tell them about what's going on in Charleston?! My mind is racing & everything is moving so fast. I'm constantly conflicted on what to do: do I respond to this interview, do I forward this link, do I sell these posters, rinse & repeat. Then I check my inbox & others folder and get messages like the ones in this pic, from people all over the world. I see that posters are being preordered left & right and MOST of them are being ordered from out of state! That's when I realize that this is bigger than me and Parker and a hug. This is pretty historic and I'm honored to have been a part of it," he says.
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John, his wife, and their 3-year-old son Parker attended a memorial service for the nine church members who were killed in the mass shooting at the Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Charleston, SC. John snapped a photo as Parker ran ahead of him and straight into the arms of a stranger — a black woman holding a sign for free hugs. "It's probably the most beautiful hug I've ever witnessed," Jiohn says.
The church is one of the United States' oldest black churches and has long been a site for community organization around civil rights. Nine people were killed, including the senior pastor and state senator.
John and his family, pictured below, reside in Charleston. They wanted nothing more than to take part in the memorial service held at the Emanuel AME Church. When they heard "powerful" singing outside the church, they decided to walk over to see. That's when Parker saw the woman outside, and ran up to give her a hug.
The photo has since gone viral, serving as a powerful reminder of faith in humanity. John has turned it into a poster and is selling both a color version and a black-and-white version online, with all proceeds going to Emanuel AME Church.
Please SHARE this incredible photo with your friends on Facebook. It's something everyone should see.
