The owner of a café in the center of Madrid, Spain has become a hero of sorts and internet phenomenon after standing up to riot police and allowing protestors to seek refuge in his establishment. The incident took place yesterday, when thousands of protestors took to the streets to demonstrate against the government of Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy.
The man, Alberto Casillas, tells Eco Diario that he saw the whole drama unfold near the Neptune fountain, when police finally charged protestors and people began to flee the scene. "I saw a boy who was being beaten up by the police — he was bleeding — and I went to help him," said Casillas, who let protestors inside his café. "I then stood in front of the restaurant and didn't let the riot police in." He also fed all of the protestors that had flocked to his business. You can see video of the incident, and much more, below:
Video: "25S crónica 2 25 septiembre 2012" (The Scene Unfolds at 4:19)
· El hostelero que se enfrentó a los antidisturbios [Eco Diario via Reddit]
· 25S crónica 2 25 septiembre 2012 [YouTube]