The Free Hugs Campaign is a social movement involving individuals who offer hugs to strangers in public places.[1] The hugs are meant to be random acts of kindnessselfless acts performed just to make others feel better. International Free Hugs Month is celebrated on the first Saturday of July and continues until August first.
The Free Hugs campaign in its present form was started by Juan Mann on June 30, 2004, when he began giving out hugs in the Pitt Street Mall in central Sydney.
On October 30, 2006, Mann was invited by Oprah Winfrey to appear on her show Oprah after her producer's doctor saw the Free Hugs video on YouTube.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Free_Hugs_Campaign
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Adding more info on the free hugs campaign.
I'm thinking this well established movement was a standard at peace and love rallies and various protests... Like all the signs and banners, they seem a continuation of the flower power & Earth Day movements. And free hugs fits right in... Imo.
It's interesting to read all the takes on Devonte's viral hug photo. I thought he was a lost kid being comforted by an officer...