Waiter refuses to serve patron in defense of a kid with down syndrome

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http://news.msn.com/pop-culture/wait...s-a-viral-hero

Waiter's aren't usually praised for refusing to serve customers, but one waiter is facing a tidal wave of support and praise after he did just that.

On Jan. 16, Michael Garcia, a waiter at Laurenzo's, a steakhouse in Houston, refused to serve a customer who was making comments about a 5-year-old boy named Milo with Down syndrome sitting nearby, Fox News reported. Fox said the customer got up and moved his family farther away from Milo.

The customer also reportedly said, "Special needs children need to be special somewhere else."

That's when Garcia stepped in and told the man, "Sir, I won't be able to serve you."

The man and his family left the restaurant, but the incident has since gone viral, inspiring an outpouring of praise for Garcia.

Laurenzo's Facebook page has seen a slew of posts thanking Garcia.

"Thank you Mr. Garcia, I have a 17 year old son with Down syndrome and I love to hear about people like yourself standing up for people with disabilities," Facebook user Rick Parker posted.

Tisha Baker wrote, "Thank you so much for speaking up when most just turn away."

The praise has not been limited to Texans.

"BRAVO Michael! BRAVO! STANDING OVATION from Massachusetts!" Rick Stoddard posted.

Milo's mother, Kim Castillo, posted online the night of the incident that "Tonight was a first." She wrote that she didn't think much of the family asking to be moved away from her and her son, but was impressed by Garcia's response.

"The waiter promptly told them he was offended by their comment and refused to serve them. Yay for people like Michael," she wrote.

I have always had a special place in my heart for special needs kids. Good on that guy for putting his job at risk in order to stick up for Milo. I wish there were more people like him in the world... I would hate people, in general, much less.