The hug shared 'round the world: The touching moment a cop hugs an emotional Ferguson protester in gesture of peace

• During an emotional rally in Portland, Oregon, freelance photographer Johnny Nguyen snapped a photo of a 12-year-old black boy Devonte Hart as he hugged a white police officer Portland Police Sgt. Bret Barnum with tears in his eyes
• Hart held up a sign that read 'Free Hugs' at the rally
• The touching photo has been shared, 'liked,' or viewed on social media more than 100,000 times

By Charlene Adams for MailOnline

Published: 01:36 EST, 29 November 2014 | Updated: 02:13 EST, 29 November 2014

Amid the violence, destruction, protests, and nationwide division since a grand jury's failure to indict a white police officer who killed an unarmed black teen on Nov. 25, hope in humanity has been restored, through, what is being called, the hug shared 'round the world.

During an emotional rally in Portland, Oregon, freelance photographer Johnny Nguyen snapped a photo of a 12-year-old black boy Devonte Hart as he hugged white police officer, Portland Police Sgt. Bret Barnum with tears in his eyes, according to the Oregonian.

'I came upon this boy who had tears in his eyes and I knew this was the place to be,' Nguyen told the Oregonian, 'so I followed him in the crowd.

'Then he came upon the police officer. They talked and he gave him a hug.'

Emotional: During an emotional rally in Portland, Oregon, a 12-year-old black boy, Devonte Hart, with tears in his eyes, embraced a white police officer, Portland Police Sgt. Bret Barnum

Do I?: Hart was holding a sign at the rally that read 'free hugs,' Barnum saw the boy and motioned him over. Barnum motioned toward the boy's sign and asked 'Do I get one of those?'

Hart was holding a sign at the rally that read 'free hugs,' Barnum saw the boy and motioned him over as speakers addressed the crowd.

Barnum told the Oregonian that the two began talking about the demonstration, school, life and art. Afterward, Barnum motioned toward the boy's sign and asked 'Do I get one of those?'

It was then that the 12-year-old embraced the 21-year police veteran, ABC news reports.

After the emotional exchange, the two went their separate ways. Hart went back to his friends and family participating in the rally, and Barnum returned to his duties.

Kindnedd: Devonte's parents were often surprised by his genuine acts of kindness including when he asked to spend his eleventh and twelfth birthdays raising money for charity

ABC reports that seven people were arrested at the rally where several highways were closed down due to protesters entering the roadways.

What may have seemed to be a small, seemingly private exchange between the two quickly became known to the nation.

Since it's capture, the photo has been shared or viewed more than 100,000 on Facebook, it has been tweeted and favorited more than 4,000 times on Twitter and has received more that 900 'Likes' on Nguyen's Instagram account.

Protests: Since a grand jury's failure to indict Darren Wilson, the white police officer who killed an unarmed black teen, the nation has erupted in protest

Hart has an emotional story of his own.

The 12-year-old was born to a drug addicted mother and by the age of four had smoked, consumed alcohol, handled firearms, and suffered severe neglect and abuse, according to Paper Trail.

NBC News reports that Devonte and his two siblings were adopted by a loving couple and has since been a beacon of light to all he encountered.

Paper Trail reports that Devonte's parents were often surprised by his genuine acts of kindness including when he asked to spend his eleventh and twelfth birthdays raising money for charity and the time he hugged musician Xavier Rudd while at a festival.