Breastfeeding 1-2-3 » breastfeeding rally

Nurse-in Covered by Major Newspaper

Angela White, J.D., breastfeeding counselor — Sun, 06 Sep 2009 06:58:07 +0000

Lactivists made the cover of the Chicago Sun Times on Saturday with a photo of two mothers breastfeeding their children at a nurse-in. Reporter Stefano Esposito explains that when Lauren Trost sat down in Lincoln Square’s Giddings Plaza to nurse her 7-month-old son, she was harassed by a passerby. Sadly, the person who objected to the breastfeeding in public was a woman in her 40s with two small children in tow! Trost returned to the plaza on Saturday for a breastfeeding rally that included a dozen nursing dyads.

Thanks to The Feminist Breeder for this cover shot:

Post from: Breastfeeding 1-2-3

Nationwide Nurse-ins Planned at Denny’s Restaurants over Asheville, North Carolina Incident

Angela White, J.D., breastfeeding counselor — Thu, 12 Feb 2009 19:59:02 +0000

Crystal Everitt was breastfeeding her 1-year-old son in a Denny’s restaurant when she was asked by a manager to cover up. When Everitt declined to do so, the police were called and she was told that she would have to leave or be arrested for trespassing. The Denny’s in question is in Asheville, North Carolina. The manager told the Asheville Citizen-Times:

In this particular case, this guest was exposed in a manner that was causing discomfort toward other guests to the point of them complaining to management and leaving the restaurant.

The manager clearly needs an education in the North Carolina indecent exposure law, which provides:

Notwithstanding any other provision of law, a woman may breast feed in any public or private location where she is otherwise authorized to be, irrespective of whether the nipple of the mother’s breast is uncovered during or incidental to the breast feeding.

Got that? “… irrespective of whether the nipple of the mother’s breast is uncovered….” Interesting how over and over companies seem to think they do not have to comply with the law if doing so makes other customers uncomfortable. One would hope they would learn a lesson from the national nurse-ins at Applebee’s and the like.

Unfortunately, it seems that the North Carolina law suffers from the same loophole that Texas law does. There is no enforcement provision, and it can be argued that the trespassing law trumps the breastfeeding law. Watch the local news coverage to hear the explanation from the local police (it’s quite a detailed piece and I am impressed the incident got such extensive coverage!) At any rate a breastfeeding mother cannot afford to challenge the police officer in the moment, because as Everitt said, she could hardly breastfeed her child from jail!

Now Everitt seeks an apology from Denny’s. If she receives such apology, she will meet with other nursing mothers and activists at the Denny’s in question for a meal. If not, a breastfeeding rally will be held outside the restaurant and at other Denny’s locations around the nation.

When: Sunday, February 22, 2009
1 p.m.

Where: Denny’s restaurants nationwide, and at the Asheville, NC Denny’s in particular at
675 Patton Ave
Asheville, NC 28806

To participate and receive updates on the plans: Join the Yahoo discussion group formed for the nurse-ins

Your thoughts?

Breastfeeding Rally at Queen’s Park, Toronto, to Support Breastfeeding Clinic Funding

Angela White, J.D., breastfeeding counselor — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 05:49:13 +0000

If you will be in the Toronto area on Wednesday, December 3rd, 2008, please consider attending this breastfeeding rally to support Dr. Jack Newman and funding for the Newman Breastfeeding Clinic and Institute. RSVP by December 1st! Organizers gave permission to post the following information:

Dr. Jack Newman, the Toronto doctor known around the world as a leader in breastfeeding education and support, needs your help. The Newman Breastfeeding Clinic and Institute sees more than 2500 mothers and babies each year, but is on the verge of closing its doors unless it receives more funding. The NBCI is requesting donations, but until the government recognizes the importance of institutional breastfeeding support, the clinic will always be in danger.

Supporters of the NBCI are asked to come to Queen’s Park on Wednesday, December 3rd at 10 am for a quiet nurse-in. Demonstrators will be advocating for the provincial government to recognize the importance of breastfeeding and to commit to funding breastfeeding clinics like Dr. Newman’s. The rally is supported by the New Democratic Party, and NDP health critic France Gélinas will be holding a press conference at 10 am. At 10.30 am, question period will take place in parliament, and Gélinas will use the opportunity to call for a provincial breastfeeding strategy and encourage the government to support hospitals going baby friendly.

The objective is to hold a nurse-in in the viewing gallery of Queen’s Park during question period. IMPORTANT: formal protests are not allowed within the building, so it is asked that no one bring signs, placards or banners. The hope is to fill the viewing gallery which will require a huge turn out, so please spread the word. This is an opportunity to change the status of breastfeeding policy in Ontario for years to come.

If you wish to attend please RSVP to Helen or Dani by December 1st. Spaces in the viewing gallery are limited and the NDP are asking anyone wishing to participate to add their names to the list of guests as they will have to go to the security desk to give their names in order to get in.

What: Breastfeeding Rally and Nurse-in

Where: Queen’s Park, Toronto

When: 10 am, Wed. December 3rd

RSVP to:

dani at naturalmothering dot ca

helen at naturalmothering dot ca

Post from: Breastfeeding 1-2-3