Sometimes the best way to fight bad situations is with love and compassion. Here are some great moments where empathy triumphed over violence in history.
A man playing piano for police [Kiev, Ukraine, 2013]
Sgt. Bret Barnum hugs 12-year-old Devonte Hart at a demonstration following the police shooting of Michael Brown. [Portland, Oregon, 2014]
An anti-government protester offers a rose to a soldier [Bangkok, Thailand, 2013]
A girl delivers sandwiches to protesters amongst the chaos [Ukraine, 2013]
Flower power during the Vietnam War Protests [Arlington, Virginia, 1967]
Riot police and protesters shed tears together [Sofia, Bulgaria, 2013]
Egyptian woman kisses a policeman during the revolution against the Mubarak Government [Egypt, 2011]
An injured woman is helped by her boyfriend after disappointed hockey fans turn violent [Vancouver, Canada, 2011]
A student protesting education reform leans in to kiss a riot officer [Bogotá, Colombia, 2011]
Christians protecting Muslims as they pray during the revolution [Cairo, Egypt, 2011]
German riot officers take off their helmets and escort Occupy protesters [Frankfurt, Germany, 2011]
Protesters help a dog affected by tear gas [Istanbul, Turkey, 2013]
A brave priest organises a human shield between protestors and police [Kiev, Ukraine, 2013]
Officer Joselito Sevilla is comforted after being berated by a protester [Manila, Philippines, 2013]
Protesters dressed as clowns entertain guards at a G20 meeting [Toronto, Canada, 2010]
A student protesting education reform hugs a policeman [Bogotá, Colombia, 2011]
Child touches his reflection during a KKK demonstration [Georgia, USA, 1992]
A young boy offers a heart-shaped balloon to police [Bucharest, Romania, 2012]
Caring citizens offer tea to British riot police [London, England, 2011]
A Turkish protester plays guitar for police [Turkey, 2011]
A child poses beside National Guard members during the LA Riots [Los Angeles, USA, 1992]
Citizens band together to clean up the mess following London riots [London, England, 2011]
Protesters share crackers with Colombian riot police [Columbia, 2013]
Riot police help a woman affected by tear gas [Ankara, Turkey, 2013]
Woman successfully defends a group of cornered riot officers from angry protesters [Bogotá, Colombia, 2013]
Girl hands water to two officers [Bosnia, 2013]
A young protester embraces a police officer [Lisbon, Portugal, 2012]
Mourners form a 5-mile barrier between a soldier's funeral and the Westboro Baptist Church [USA, 2012]
Protesters in Brazil bring cake to an officer for his birthday [Brazil, 2013]
A Turkish couple moments after being doused by water cannons [Istanbul, Turkey, 2013]
Berkeley professor teaches his class on the side of a building after an evacuation following protest [University of California, USA, 2011]
Occupy protesters help a woman in a wheelchair escape tear gas [Oakland, USA, 2011]
Egyptians embrace army soldiers after they refuse orders to fire on civilians [Cairo, Egypt, 2011]
After a year filled with struggle, perseverance, and progress across every continent, it is important to remember that no matter what values are at stake, we are all on the same team.
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