Chances are, you’ve seen the above picture floating around social media. People of different races, genders, and religions have been admiring this since it was taken on January 30, 2017, at a protest in Chicago at O’ Hare National Airport on Donald Trump’s travel ban. Seven-year-old Meryem Yildirim, a Muslim girl, sits on her father’s shoulders, looking over at Adin Bendat-Appell, a nine-year-old Jewish boy, who smiles at her and also sits on his father’s shoulders.

The children hold signs that say, “Love” and “Hate has no home here”.  Meryem’s father, Fatih Yildirim, holds one that simply states, “Empathy”. Adin’s father, Rabbi Jordan Bendat-Appell’s sign references the Holocaust as it reads, “We’ve seen this before. Never again.” The group are all holding their signs and smiling while conversing together, which is why so many people love this picture and see it as a symbol of acceptance and diversity.

The Yildirim family came to the protest to take part in it as well as drop off some cookies for the attorneys who had been working very hard with the immigrants detained at the airport. Adin’s family, the Bendat-Appells, came to protest, even though they were of a different religion. Adin’s grandparents had spent time in refugee camps during the Holocaust, so the event was very important to them. Rabbi Jordan Bendat-Appell states, “We went to do something that would bring more light, love and hope into the world. We hope children realize that they have this choice to make.”

Both families are happy they and their children crossed paths at the protest and have been in touch since the event. “I know the tension between the Jews and the Muslims. People think we hate each other. But we’re not fighting. When we come next to each other we can have normal conversations. We can promote the peace together.” Fatih commented. This picture gives America a new spark of hope during this time where opposition to those different than ourselves is much more popular than it should be.