"Free hug" photograph stands as symbol of hope in Charleston

In the midst of the grief taking place in Charleston after nine people were shot and killed inside a church, a candid photograph is showing how a simple hug can offer a sign of hope.

A photo captured a three-year-old white child hugging a black stranger during a "free hug" demonstration outside of Emanuel AME Church. The toddler, named Parker, happened to be the son of photographer John Nettles.

Nettles told CBSN that on Sunday, his church was hosting a large gathering not far from Emanuel when they heard someone singing. On their way to see where it was coming from, Nettles and the group he was with noticed two young women giving out free hugs.

"I wanted to get a picture of it," he said. "And before I had a good opportunity, my son decided he was going to run up and give them a hug."

Nettles said he's son is too young to be able to read the women's sign offering hugs. He thinks the little boy may have seen others giving hugs to the two women.

"Maybe he saw that and he just thought, 'Why not?" Nettles said with a laugh. When he got home and began to post the images to Facebook, he realized he captured something special.

"This was a beautiful showing of the type of Christ love that we try to teach him, to love everyone," said Nettles. "That's how we raise him, to love everybody."