In responding to the events at Charlottesville, former President Barack Obama tweeted a Nelson Mandela quote and a picture taken by former White House Photographer Pete Souza. The tweet has gone on to break records, becoming the most popular of all time.

The former president has been relatively quiet on Twitter recently, but his recent post has quickly skyrocketed. As of this time, the tweet has amassed over 4 million likes and 1.5 million retweets, while continuing to grow:

Pete Souza himself also posted the photo on Instagram, commending the former president for his message and including the same Mandela quote. Souza is widely respected and lauded for his work as the White House Photographer and continues to be highly active in posting his images and issuing political commentary. Of course, this is yet another reminder of the ability of photography to connect with people and the crucial role it serves in society. His powerful work, when combined with Obama’s (and Mandela’s) message, seems to have resonated with many people. 

[via Washington Post]