Peace activist tries to calm Charlotte protests with free hugs

Yet, when Nwadike descended into Charlotte and hugged members of the Charlotte Police Department last night, all hell broke loose with the protestors on the other side of the picket line.

Thursday night’s gathering in Charlotte was the most peaceful night of protests there since demonstrations over the fatal police shooting of Keith Lamont Scott erupted into violence on Tuesday.

Kevin Nwadike wants to stop all the Charlotte, North Carolina, protests by a simple method: hugging it out. Police increased their presence Thursday night, including using helicopters and more than 1,000 cameras in place to help monitor the city.

The gripping video shows the outrage of the protesters at Nwadike for hugging the officer and his attempt to reason with them.

But not everyone was moved by the gesture.

People scream at the man, but he continues to stand his ground.

Note: The video below contains profanity.

“Just because he [a black police officer] wears his uniform, doesn’t mean he doesn’t feel the pains that our people feel”.

He told Fox-5 that one of the cops shook his hand afterward, letting Nwadike know that he appreciated his efforts.

The tension was heightened between protesters and police officers wearing riot gear, but Ken Nwadike Jr., founder of the Free Hugs Project, chose to try to mediate between the two sides. “I don’t see it as us vs. the police. You can tell he’s out there for the people”, Nwadike said. “He was the only one who engaged me in conversation”. Embracing representatives of oppressive systems will hopefully open their hearts and minds to listen to our concerns, “said Nwadike, who was one of five kids who along with his mother had lived in homeless shelters”.

Nwadike is no stranger to bringing people together.

“I wanted to figure out a creative way to pay my respects, so I said if there was a bomb there I’m just going to be the ‘love bomb.'” he said. Nwadike, who has attended rallies across the country, said it usually takes perpetrators a day to get into town.

Herb Scribner is a writer for Deseret Digital Media.