Saturday, members of the North Carolina's Loyal Knights of the Ku Klux Klan gathered in front of the South Carolina State house in Columbia to protest the recent decision to remove the Confederate flag from the grounds.
The scene got heated as white supremacist groups and anti-racism protesters clashed in spite of a heavy police presence.
Violence has broken out at the KKK rally on the state grounds #ColumbiaSC
Tempers were not the only thing that flared, as temperatures rose to 97.5 degrees in the midst of the protest.
During the protests, photographer Rob Godfrey snapped a photo of South Carolina Director of Public Safety Leroy Smith helping an elderly man wearing a white supremacist shirt escape the oppressive heat, getting him to shade and safety.
not an uncommon example of humanity in SC: Leroy Smith helps white supremacist to shelter & water as heat bears down.
The photo was shared on Twitter, quickly went viral, and has been retweeted over 2,500 times to date.
People took notice and commented on the kindness and humanity Smith showed the elderly man.
@bijancbayne @RobGodfrey @robgreeneII This kindness chokes me up. How do SC people find that well of caring in the midst of so much hatred?
.@RobGodfrey @robgreeneII This is why smart folk say, "I haven't the energy to hate."
@nattyhead77 @RobGodfrey Don't be so sure this act of common decency won't have a good ripple effect. A simple good deed can be a miracle
@robgodfrey @mrayedee A great example of how people should behave - regardless of their positions, emotions and feelings.
@RobGodfrey Way to go Officer Smith!! That is being professional and I salute you sir!!
Smith is a 22 year veteran of law enforcement, and has been the Director of the South Carolina Department of Public Safety since 2011.
Kindness knows no color.
BuzzFeed News has contacted the photographer for comment.