I was told to cover up or leave the restaurant!!!

[anazmommy]

Hi to all you mamas out there!!! I hate for this to be my first post on MDC but I am so mad right now and need to tell all of you about it!!

Recently ( 3/17/04 ) while on my way home to Phoenix from a funeral I had to attend I was traveling through Midway Airport and stopped to eat at Harry Caray’s Seventh Inning Stretch Restaurant. I was having a meal at there establishment when a manager approached me as I was breastfeeding my son and told me I needed to cover up or leave!!!! I explained to her it was against the law to tell a women to leave there restaurant because she was breastfeeding. She went on to still tell me I could not breastfeed unless I was covered up because there was a bar inside the restaurant. I told her I would not “cover up” or leave as I did not believe I was being indecent or disrespectful to anyone by discreetly breastfeeding my son and continued eating my meal. As I was on my way out she came up to me again telling me it was not just her opinion but the policy of the restaurant!!!

I was so taken back by this and never believed this would happen to me!! I am sending a letter to all the Harry Caray’s Restaurant in Chicago. I wish I could do a nurse-in but I am back home in Phoenix now and there is not much more I think I can do.

Thanks to all of you for listing to me. I have loved reading all of you wonderful mamas post on MDC!!!

[Clarity]

get us the address mama! Laws of the state of illinois support you! I would also complain to the airport authority, who are probably the landlords.

[lauraess]

good for you for not being swayed. I've often wondered what they would do in a situation like this. throw a table-cloth on you??? call the police????

whenever i hear these stories I just wish I was there to tell em uh... well, basically what you said. the facts.
uggggg: people:
Laura

[nancg]

I will call them if I can - I am in Chicago and use Midway. Of course we can't do a nurse-in because we don't have airline tickets to get to the restaurant - but we can all call or write them and tell them we will not eat there when we fly!

Phone [phone]
Address for letters
Harry Caray Restaurant
5700 S Cicero Av
Chicago IL (sorry, not sure how to get the zip)

Nancy

[anazmommy]

Hey Thanks for the support!!


Harry Caray's Seventh Inning Stretch,
at Chicago's Midway Airport
5757 South Cicero Avenue
Chicago, IL 60638
Tel [phone]
Fax [phone]

General Manager: Mark McGill
Email: [e-mail]

HeeHee That would be an expensive nurse-in!!

[maekati]

Just emailed the manager!!

[shelbean91]

I'm pretty sure it's policy of the laws of the state of IL to not allow a restaurant to have policies that are illegal. She's an idiot. Sorry you had to deal with that.

[hallesmom]

I am so sorry you had to deal with that! Crazy crazy ignorant people!
Let us know what the outcome is!

[noodle4u]

Good for you for standing up for yourself!
Ive just sent the manager a message.

[Delta]

Emailed manager

[velcromom]

Just sent my email to them. Hope they figure it out that they can't have a policy that violates a state law.:

[SabraMamma]

Just sent my email to the manager as well. Hopefully he will get the hint with all of our emails.

[Mamid]

If that had been any restaurant in Canada, I would have wipped my shirt off and called the police myself. It is legal in Canada, so long as you are not soliciting or prostituting, to go topless. Completely. Including inside restaurants and bars.

You go goddess! Write and bitch!

[manitoba_mommy]

Um, I think it is only legal to go topless in Canada in Ontario and is only considered non sexual when it is a comfort issue.

This is of course assuming I have not missed a new rulling.

MM

[Mamid]

No cop in Canada wants to arrest a woman for baring her breasts in public because of the Ontario ruling. There is a woman who rides her bike from Maple Ridge to Coquitlam here in BC and is always barechest during the summer (and not much to look at either). But yes, at least in Ontario and BC, I can go around topless - even my 38Js.

[beccaboo]

Oooh, that is terrible! I'm glad you had such good responses to her ignorance. I guess we Chicagoans can't get to the Midway Harry Caray's but would a nurse-in at the downtown location be helpful?

Becca

[manitoba_mommy]

Originally posted by Mamid
No cop in Canada wants to arrest a woman for baring her breasts in public because of the Ontario ruling. There is a woman who rides her bike from Maple Ridge to Coquitlam here in BC and is always barechest during the summer (and not much to look at either). But yes, at least in Ontario and BC, I can go around topless - even my 38Js.

That may be true in liberal areas of the country but I have no doubt that you would be arrested quite quickly in my area. Not fair of course, but until legislation is changed on a national scale, or reform is forced by each province, it is still best to be careful.

That being said I am fairly sure that no judge would convict a woman for breast feeding in public and exposing too much skin.

Course this is a bit off topic, sorry for the thread hijaking.

MM

[Mamid]

Actually I think that the men should be arrested for going around topless!

But since that won't happen they now let us do it too!

[Penalt]

For info from the lady that changed the law go to this link:

http://www.topfreedom.com/britgen.html

Trying to stop you from breastfeeding also violates UN guidlines. In NY state there was a case where a woman gave an "indecent display". Showed her whole breast while her child was 'lining up' to nurse. Judge threw it out of court. I dug a whole mess of this stuff up last year but lost most of it when our system crashed after our move. I will see if I can recreate my research on it.

The best course I can recommend is:

1) Complain to the manager.
2) If #1 fails to get at least an apology, contact the district or area manager.
3) Keep moving up the corporate food chain until you are satisfied with the response you get.
4) Keep your letter non-insulting but make sure they know your outrage.
5) If possible, involve the media. Companies HATE being shown in a bad light to millions of people.
6) Once you have obtained a satisfactory result, wait a week and then go back and breastfeed again. See if anything has changed.

[lilyka]

i wrote a e-mail to the above address. I want to encourage you to contact the news papers and TV stations. people need to know this is not a cool way to treat someone.