Organizing a Feed-in in Holyoke Ma... Any Advice?

[rachelalfreda]

Today, in a laundromat, I was asked to breast feed in a bathroom instead of in the general public area.  I live in Ma which has some of the most protective laws on breast feeding and I want the owner and the cops to know the law.  (The business owner called the cops and they told him to ask me to cover up -- ILLEGAL!)  

Any advice on how to organize a Feed-in?  I've already contacted the local-est LLL (there is no active LLL in the town where this took place, but the next town over has a VERY active and strong group!)  I plan to contact our local papers as well... but any other ideas? 

Since this took place in a plaza I thought it might be cool to do a breast feeding parade and distribute, to each of the businesses, a copy of the law as well as info on breast feeding.  do i need permits?  what else do i need to organize this besides lactating women?!

thanks!

[PatioGardener]

Outrageous!

Have you spoken with the chief of police? the police board? I would recommend giving the police ( and UAV business owner) an opportunity to become educated about the law and apologize/train staff before jumping right to the nurse-in. In general, if we go through a series of steps of increasing pressure we may never need the nurse-in, and when we do need them they'll make a big statement to the public. I like to give a chance to make good before brining out the big guns.

I'm horrified and outraged that this happened to you and your baby - please name the business and leave their email or mailing address so we can let them know how we feel about eating in the bathroom!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X9PDqLpKcAs&feature=share

[rachelalfreda]

Thank you so much for your advice - I was so angry that I just went from 0 to 60 about it!  

I contacted the police station and the officer I spoke to could've cared less.  He basically said that he didn't know any laws about breast feeding in public.  There is a lot of opportunity for education here!  

The business doesn't have a website because it is a landromat. But here is the location - Washing Well 

Now that I've calmed down I realize that it is a clean and safe place to do laundry (a rarity in Holyoke) so I'd hate to publicly shame them, especially since they are a small business (also a rarity!)  So I've gone from 60 to 0, those meditation tapes must be working!

So:

1. I'll contact the Chief of Police via email with the story of what happened and will ask him to train his officers about the breast feeding laws.
2. I will send a letter to the business with a copy of the law and ask that they train their staff accordingly.  I'll even include one of those blue breast feeding stickers!  

I'll let you know what happens next!

Rachel

[PatioGardener]

I hear you with the 0-60 anger. Very justified at the time too! How dare someone threaten your baby in any way (and telling a mama not to breastfeed is a threat IMO)!

It sounds like you have a good plan. Including the MA BFing law will help when you email the police, and adding something about the benefits of breastfeeding/supporting the well-being of all the town's citizens may help too. One thing that I learned from this forum is to ask for a response/reply as well.

Searching the forum for previous incidents may give you some ideas. There is a place to report issues with nursing in public, but I don't know that name or contact email - a search of this forum may turn it up for you.

Good luck and please stop back and let us know how it goes!

[khaoskat]

www.firstright.org