Chris Elston, better known as “Billboard Chris,” was arrested on Sunday at the Puerta del Sol for peacefully holding signs and discussing the harms of gender ideology with passersby.
The activist, who is known for speaking out against the mutilation of children across the globe, revealed in a series of X posts that he had been arrested and held at a police station for two hours for simply holding signs and discussing the harms of children undergoing puberty blockers, which they can access in Spain as young as 12, and cross-sex hormones, which they can access as young as 16.
He said that police told him that he could not have conversations in public, confiscated his passport and phone, and held him at the police station, where he was fingerprinted and treated like a criminal, before being issued an unspecified fine and released.
Following his release, “Billboard Chris” returned to Puerta del Sol, along with two lawyers, to continue having conversations about the dangers of child sterilization in the public square.
“I was detained by Spanish police for two hours today in Madrid. Taken to the police station, fingerprinted, treated like a criminal because I showed up at the public square to have peaceful conversations about how children are being harmed,” he wrote on X. “Spain has done nothing to stop giving kids puberty blockers and cross-sex hormones.”
“To the political authorities in Spain — please start protecting children in your magnificent country from this unscientific craze which is sterilizing children and causing grievous, irreversible harm,” he added.
I was detained by Spanish police for two hours today in Madrid.
— Billboard Chris 🌎 (@BillboardChris) June 14, 2026
Taken to the police station, fingerprinted, treated like a criminal because I showed up at the public square to have peaceful conversations about how children are being harmed.
Spain has done nothing to stop… pic.twitter.com/lXMwc5vbf1
Over the years, Elston has been targeted by authorities several times across multiple countries for his activism.
In June 2025, Elston and fellow activist Lois McLatchie Miller were arrested by police in Brussels for refusing to discard the signs they had been using to urge members of the European Union (EU) to protect children from the harms of transgender ideology.
Three months earlier, in March, Elston was threatened with arrest, fined $800 (AUD), and forcibly removed by police from a public square in Brisbane, Australia, after having conversations with members of the Australian public about child mutilation. His infringement notice for the incident was later withdrawn by the Brisbane City Council.
“Billboard Chris” said that he plans to release the full, unedited video of his interaction with Spanish police as soon as possible. He also announced on Monday that he plans to take legal action against the Madrid Police for violating his rights.
I will be taking legal action against the police in Madrid.
— Billboard Chris 🌎 (@BillboardChris) June 15, 2026
Upon thorough review of various laws, they have committed numerous infractions while violating my rights, and I will not let this go unchallenged.