By Police1 Staff
COLUMBIA, S.C. — White supremacists and African-American protesters clashed during a rally at the South Carolina capitol over the recent decision to take down the Confederate flag from Statehouse grounds, and a photo featuring an officer at the rally has gone viral.
According to Yahoo News, the powerful image shows a black officer helping a man wearing a swastika shirt who was suffering from heat stroke.
Demonstrators, both opposed and in favor of the flag, were holding rallies during a heatwave that led to five arrests. Seven people were taken to hospitals. Many of those who needed medical attention were suffering from heat-related emergencies, a public safety spokesperson told Yahoo News.
The photo going viral shows the officer, Leroy Smith, assisting an unidentified man out of the sun as temperatures hit 98 degrees. The man is wearing a shirt promoting the National Socialist Movement Party.
The photo was taken and uploaded to Twitter by Rob Godfrey, South Carolina Gov.’s deputy chief of staff.
not an uncommon example of humanity in SC: Leroy Smith helps white supremacist to shelter & water as heat bears down. pic.twitter.com/GoF23r3mRe
— Rob Godfrey (@RobGodfrey) July 18, 2015
Officer Smith is a 25-year law enforcement veteran and director of the S.C. Department of Public Safety. He was praised for his professionalism.
“We want to thank the multiple law enforcement agencies involved today for an excellent response and for assistance in keeping protesters and those on the grounds safe during the rallies,” Smith said in a press release.