Little Simone started to cry seeing many armed cops in riot gear during a protest march in Houston. (Source: @iamsimeonb/ Twitter)
As thousands of demonstrators protest against police brutality demanding racial justice across the US, a sweet gesture by a cop towards a little girl is melting hearts online. In a video, an officer in Houston, Texas is seen kneeling on the ground and comforting the 5-year-old girl by saying, “We’re here to protect you.” The poignant moment, captured on camera by the child’s father, is now going viral.
Twitter user Simeon Bartee, who attended one of the George Floyd marches in his hometown, said his daughter got worried seeing many police officers in riot gear and started to cry. Taking to Twitter, he said one of the police officers noticed the girl crying and approached them. When she asked him “Are you gonna shoot us?”, the officer got down on one knee wrapped his arm around her and responded: “We’re not here to hurt you at all.”
Comforting the kid, the officer can be heard saying, “You can protest, you can party — you can do whatever you want. Just don’t break nothing.”
Talking to ABC News, the father of the kid said he wants to thank the officer for “giving him a different perspective”, not just for him but also for his daughter’s perception of how they view police. The man said the Floyd incident has hit him home because as his own brother faced police brutality in 2016.
“We have dealt with a lot of pain from that and it’s kind of gone full circle for me now,” he said. “I just want to tell the officer thank you for giving me a different perspective on what police officers, the good police officers, are like,” he added.
Bartee’s brother was left with a broken nose and an eye socket damaged so badly that surgeons had to put a metal plate in his face. Doctors also said Bartee sustained a facial nerve damage. The incident happened allegedly when he was attacked by a group of five officers during a trip to the medical section of the Harris County Jail.
As the video went viral, many came forward to appreciate the officer’s gesture but also debated if little children should be taken to protests as many in the recent week turned violent.
That’s so sad. https://t.co/Cf8rCrGtMc
— Judge Alex Ferrer (@judgealexferrer) June 6, 2020
God bless that police officer! Everyone in Law Enforcement need to be like him!
He replied to the girl with such comfort “we are here to protect you ….🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸 https://t.co/Y4LWAJXcDI— Ekv2020 (@ekv2020) June 6, 2020
Brilliantly handled by this police officer…however, imagine having to warn your child in 2020 that just because the colour of your skin some police could potentially shoot/kill you. Not something White people have to think about doing. Madness https://t.co/HPD51hYR4q
— Fletch. (@JoshFletcherr) June 6, 2020
This officer is a great example of how 99% of cops feel right now. Love to see it. Idk who you are sir but thanks for leading by example and doing your job with love and compassion! Also thank you @iamsimeonb for sharing this cute video! P. S. You’re daughter is adorable https://t.co/wZuv5waLt7
— Reinah (@ReinahRoo) June 6, 2020
After all of the horrible videos of the worst policing of some of the nation’s worst police officers this video is so refreshing and sweet. Of course this is the best of the best Police officers. https://t.co/mkXuMbSRQd
— Maria Maria (@librarylady69) June 6, 2020
Heartbreaking her 1st thought😢 Grateful for this officer taking time to comfort and clarify his presence for her🤗☀️💞
— Flo (@FloAnniel1) June 6, 2020
Haha exactly ! They get hung up on that like and twist it around making him look like a bad cop when he was being genuine and reassuring her she would be safe .. people forgetting that businesses were smashed that people worked their asses off for! Those same ppl giving those
— Curtis Christian (@CC1BergyFan37) June 5, 2020
😢💔I’m so sad your little girl knew to ask that question. I hope the officer’s response gives a glimpse of hope for positive change.
Our country must fix this. ❣️— MC Literal 🆘 (@McLiteralResist) June 4, 2020
There are many really good cops. It’s just that there are so many BAD cops, and they’re allowed to get away with it. It will be better for everyone if get the bad cops OUT.
— Mask Wearing Amy (@amyriscool) June 4, 2020
This brought tears to my eyes. No child should ever have to ask that question. Thank you again.
— RockstarAngel @ Home (SF) (@ImRockstarAngel) June 3, 2020
This officer is not the only one from Houston Police who won hearts online. Recently, the police chief too earned praise after advising Donald Trump “to keep his mouth shut”. “Let me just say this to the President of the United States, on behalf of the police chiefs of this country: please, if you don’t have something constructive to say, keep your mouth shut,” chief Art Acevedo said after the POTUS urged them to “dominate” over ongoing protests.
This little girl, however, isn’t the only one who got everyone talking online for joining the recent Black Lives Matter marches. Another 7-year-old girl is being hailed as an ‘icon’ after video of her chanting ‘no justice, no peace’ passionately went viral.
Meanwhile, protesters stirred by the death of George Floyd vowed to turn an extraordinary outpouring of grief into a sustained movement as demonstrations shifted to a calmer, but no less determined focus on addressing racial injustice.
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