With a couple of nurse-ins still to take place this week, it is incredible that over 1,800 breastfeeding advocates rallied at over 95 Applebee’s locations on Saturday. I have updated the Google Map one last time (removing sites that definitely did not participate and adding last minute participants) and the nationwide effort is very impressive!
If you missed these articles, check out:
Applebee’s Nurse-ins Get Positive Responses (a round-up with links to photos from some rallies, news coverage and a YouTube video)
Photo Evidence of the Power of Nurse-Ins (two signs that make an interesting point)

Amazing how nurse-in signs like this one made by four-year-old Michael:

can help result in signs like this one posted in the window of the Quincy, Massachusetts Applebee’s today:

Congratulations to all the activists on the success of the events.
Thanks Lisa and Jessie for the photos!

What a wonderful impact the 99 Applebee’s nurse-ins in 44 states have had so far today (more continue on the West Coast as the some activists avoid the heat of the day with night nurse-ins). I just read an Applebee’s corporate statement quoted by WTVQ in Kentucky:
Our goal as restaurant operators is to provide a great dining experience for all our guests. This situation has provided an opportunity for us to work with our associates to ensure we’re making nursing mothers feel welcome….we will also accommodate other guests who would be more comfortable moving to another area of the restaurant.
It’s …read more

At last check, breastfeeding advocates plan to rally at 80 Applebee’s locations in 37 states [Edited: By late Friday, September 7, the count is up to 89 locations in 39 states]! One person who won’t be attending, though? Brooke Ryan, the woman involved in the original incident. She appreciates the support and is pleased the nurse-ins are going forward, but she will not attend the Lexington, KY nurse-in due to “personal reasons.” The Lexington Herald-Leader has done a good job of keeping on top of the story, and last night the paper ran this statement from Ryan:
I said if we …read more

The latest mainstream press about the Applebee’s nurse-ins contains a statement from Thomas and King, the owner of the Kentucky franchise in which a breastfeeding mother was asked to cover up:
Thomas & King is proud that, every day, dozens of mothers breastfeed their children in our restaurants. We are known for providing a safe and hospitable environment for all families. Our policies regarding breastfeeding are consistent with the laws of the states in which we operate.
While we believe our actions are consistent with creating a pleasant dining experience for all of our guests, we always welcome opportunities to learn and …read more

Behold the activist power of breastfeeding women across the United States! This Google Map shows the nurse-ins planned so far for September 8, 2007, at 51 Applebee’s locations in 27 states ([Edited to add: The map was last updated Monday, September 10th, to reflect 105 locations in 38 states (Note that some locations have yet to report their participant numbers but sites that definitely did not participate were removed.] Be patient as it takes a while to load fully!) Remember to check the Yahoo group for exact location details.
View Larger Map

Before you vote in the poll, make sure you’ve read the latest news on the woman asked to cover up while breastfeeding at Applebee’s. Then voice your personal opinion here!
{democracy:33}

With five days left until the Applebee’s national nurse-ins on Saturday, September 8, 2007, I am happy to report that the count stands as follows:
States participating: 25
Applebee’s locations: 40
Visit the Yahoo group to check if there’s a nurse-in near you or to register a new location.
Here’s what the mainstream press has to say:
Mom Calls for “Nurse Out” at Applebee’s, Courier-Journal, Louisville, Kentucky, August 29, 2007
Mom Pushes Applebee’s on Breast-Feeding, Lexington Herald-Leader, Lexington, Kentucky, August 29, 2007
What do Breastfeeding 1-2-3 readers have to say? Please take a moment to reply to Scott in the comments to my original post. He feels …read more

Women across the United States are gearing up for national nurse-ins on September 8, 2007, after a breastfeeding mother was treated poorly by Applebee’s on both local and corporate levels. When Brooke Ryan nursed her 7-month-old son Michael in a booth at a Lexington, Kentucky, Applebee’s, a waitress approached her and asked her to cover up with a blanket. Ryan did not have a blanket with her in the summer heat, but she did have a copy of Kentucky’s breastfeeding law, KRS 211.755. According to Ryan’s description of the incident, when she asked to speak to the manager and showed …read more