Red Cross volunteer abused online for hugging Senegalese migrant

A moment that will be remembered for many years to come has captured the world's attention after an aid worker was abused online for consoling an immigrant. 

Viral footage of the heart-wrenching moment shows the Red Cross volunteer tenderly consoling an exhausted Senegalese man a few minutes after he stepped on Spain’s north African enclave of Ceuta.

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The volunteer was identified as Luna Reyes, and news of her being targeted and abused on social media soon made headlines highlighting the disunity societies all over the world struggle with.

Reyes had to set her social media accounts to private after she was targeted by a torrent of abuse from supporters of Spain’s far-right Vox party and other groups infuriated by the arrival of 8,000 migrants in Ceuta.

Reyes told Spanish TV that she did not know the man's name, only that he had come from Senegal.

"He was crying, I held out my hand and he hugged me," she told RTVE.

Watch the video below:

News of the backlash also prompted other social media users to thank her with the hashtag, #GraciasLuna.

Image Credit: Screenshot/Youtube/The Guardian Luna Reyes