Faith in Humanity

Waiter Risks His Job to Defend a Special-Needs Child

Michael Garcia at Laurenzo’s Prime Rib in Houston.
Michael Garcia at Laurenzo’s Prime Rib in Houston. Photo: ABC Local

When Michael Garcia overhead a regular insult a 5-year-old customer with Down syndrome at Laurenzo’s Prime Rib in Houston, he didn’t stay quiet. “My personal feelings just took over,” he told KTRK. “And I told this man, ‘I’m sorry, I can’t serve you.’” As the boy chatted with his family and the restaurant staff about his recent birthday, a group of customers at a nearby table got up and moved to the back of the restaurant. After Garcia overheard one patron say, “Special needs children need to be special somewhere else,” he flat-out refused to serve the table, and the customers promptly left the restaurant. Someone give this man a raise. [NYDN]

Waiter Risks His Job to Defend a Special-Needs Child