Hot Dog Vendor Escort and Protection Volunteer Team Attacked Outside SAP Center

The Bay Area protects food vendors.

A group of volunteers escorted and protected a hot dog vendor who was brutally attacked outside the SAP Center in San Jose.

This attack went viral and his accused aggressor was arrested and then released on bail.

The victim, Saul Reconco, returned to the SAP Center working Friday, but this time he was not alone.

He was with a bodyguard consisting of volunteers who saw him attack and wanted to help.

For several weeks, Rekonko said he was afraid to return to work for fear of retribution.

“At first I’m glad to be here again, but I’m afraid I don’t know what will happen tonight, but I hope everything goes well,” he said.

He was attacked on February 16 after allegedly refusing a free hot dog to the aggressor.

He said he had a concussion, had a broken nose and was missing a few teeth.

After the incident, several activists and hundreds of people from across the Bay Area came together to support him with donations and events.

On Wednesday, police arrested a suspect, Dioscoro Reyes, 33, from Hayward.

On Thursday, he posted bail, so the volunteer security team wanted to support Reconco.

“I don’t understand how people can attack someone who works hard to earn a living, so I got upset and that’s why I’m here to help him,” volunteer Ole Castro said.

“It makes me feel great, I can tell like angels are by my side,” Reconco said.

Volunteers said that they once sold hot dogs and understand how difficult this job can be.

They say they are ready to show up at every event for as long as Reconco needs them.

But they say we really need to make changes to our local and state laws to prevent attacks like this.