Nurse-in at Hirschhorn Museum in Washington, DC

[sarahr]

I'm just cutting and pasting from another board, so I don't have any information other than what's here.

Please join us for a nurse-in at the Hirshhorn Museum on Saturday, February 12, 2011 from 10am to noon to raise awareness and show your support of DC’s Child’s Right to Nurse Law, nursing in public (NIP) and my friend, Nori. 

Nori and her husband and children were at the Hirshhorn on Sunday, January 30th when she was told she could only breastfeed in the restroom. Here’s her story: 

I was trying to nurse my daughter in the lower floor at the Hirshhorn Museum. We were quietly on a bench near the escalator, and just a few people were around us. Less than a minute after I began nursing, a security guard rushed over to us and told me that I should nurse her in the restroom. I checked the restroom and couldn't find any chairs. So, I returned to the bench and explained that to the guard when he came again. The guard then suggested I sit on the toilet if I couldn't find a chair. I moved to another bench and then another – bigger, muscular -- security guard came over and said, "Mom, you cannot do that." We simply left. -- Norika Aita. 

Nori was within her right to nurse outside of the restroom as DC’s Child’s Right to Nurse Law states that, “A woman shall have the right to breastfeed her child in any location, public or private, where she has the right to be with her child, without respect to whether the mother's breast or any part of it is uncovered during or incidental to the breastfeeding of her child.” D.C. Ann. Code § 2-1402.82(c)(1) 

Nori’s experience was a wake up call to me. That this could happen in DC (where our First Lady and “Mom in Chief” is working hard to encourage breastfeeding), at the Smithsonian (which is synonomous with education) and in an art museum (where breasts and nipples and even the act of breastfeeding are often the subject of sculptures and paintings) clearly means we have more work to do. Education and awareness is needed. With that in mind, we are inviting the Hirshhorn and the Smithsonian to join us in showing their support as well. 

Obviously, we want our message to be heard, and we want those around to be receptive. A nurse-in at an art gallery where people come to quietly contemplate the exhibits could be tricky, but it does not have to be disruptive – for the act of breastfeeding is not disruptive. Our vision is to be a peaceful, calm presence, to educate and raise awareness while respecting the rights of those who come there to enjoy the exhibits, as Nori had expected and deserved when she visited the museum. 

The fact that February 12th is Lincoln’s birthday is not lost on us. As my husband pointed out, what better day to stand up for human rights than on Lincoln’s birthday. So, please join us -- whether you are breastfeeding or not, whether you are a mom or not! 

HELP US GET THE WORD OUT BY FORWARDING THIS MESSAGE to others who might be interested, posting it on bulletin boards, Facebook, etc.. If we are fortunate enough to have more people in attendance than can be accommodated at the Hirshhorn, some can go in groups to the Smithsonian Castle or other museums -- as it will be too cold to congregate outside for any length of time. 

Please contact me with questions. 

Hope to see you there! 
LJ Pelham 
[e-mail]

[waiting2bemommy]

I would love to participate. I'v been told to nurse in the bathroom more times than I care to remember throughout my 3 yrs of nursing and I would love to do something about it! If anyone else from Northern VA is interested in going please let me know. I'm in Warrenton.

[sarahr]

The Smithsonian has apologized and confirmed their pro-breastfeeding policy. Here is a message from the organizer.

Hi - 

I'm LJ Pelham, and I'm the organizer of the nurse-in at the Hirshhorn. I'm so thrilled that this issue has garnered so much attention and discussion. Raising awareness is one of the main reasons I organized the nurse-in! 

I'd like to offer some additional information and clarify a few things: 

First, there's a great list of state/territory breastfeeding laws on the National Conference of State Legislatures website:http://www.ncsl.org/default.aspx?tabid=14389. So, if you want to know what the law is where you live, check it out. 

Second, there is a federal law that permits women to breastfeed on federal property and in federal buildings so long as the woman has the right to be there. Code of Federal Regulations, Title 41, Sec. 102-74.426 

Third, I've been asked whether the nurse-in is still on since the Hirshhorn has apologized. 

The nurse-in was not organized to elicit an apology from the Hirshhorn or the Smithsonian. The fact that they have apologized is wonderful. The Hirshhorn and Smithsonian have really stepped up and made right a bad situation, and the mom who this happened to is satisfied with their response. Situation resolved. 

The nurse-in was not organized as a protest either. We already have the law that protects our right to nurse in public (and private) in DC, and the Smithsonian has a policy that supports that right. The Smithsonian has taken steps to address and correct the situation. So, really, what’s left to protest? 

Besides, this situation did not happen because we lack protective laws or because the Smithsonian doesn't have a policy about this. Instead, this situation happened because of a lack of awareness, a lack of education. 

Now, I suppose we could protest the lack of education . . . But wouldn’t it be better just to educate? 

So, I feel we (the community that supports breastfeeding) have work to do -- in educating about the right to breastfeed, in raising awareness about the policies and laws that are in effect, in sparking discussions on the benefits of breastfeeding (which is why we have those laws in the first place) and in showing support for those who choose to do so. Who better to do that than those who benefit from and are protected by these policies and laws? And, what better opportunity than this? 

This is a sensitive (and emotional) subject for many. And, there's a lot of momentum as a result of this situation. My hope (and vision in organizing the nurse-in) is to focus on how we might fill the gap, fix the problem, and educate. We found the need, now let’s meet it. Can we find positive ways to use the momentum of this event to raise awareness in our own communities? Because if this can happen at the Hirshhorn, this can happen anywhere. 

So, that’s the purpose of the nurse-in --- to raise awareness, to educate about the policies and laws that are in effect, to spark discussion, to show support for nursing in public, and to bring closure to this situation in a positive, peaceful and healing way. 

So, yes, the nurse-in is still on. And, we welcome you to join us. 

LJ Pelham 

[sarahr]

And here's the news coverage:

http://voices.washingtonpost.com/local-breaking-news/dc/hirshhorn-nurse-in-draws-about.html

(I couldn't go because DS took a mammoth nap)