I got this e-mail on one of my e-mail lists, but no info on how to contact the organizers.
> On Thursday July 21st at 11:30AM we will be having a nurse in at the
> Winter Garden to protest the fact that I was told by the head of
> security it was offensive to nurse my baby there.* The state law
> protects us saying a woman can nurse her baby anywhere, public or
> private, and show her entire nipple!
> *
> Here is my story:
>
> > I sat down to nurse last Wednesday. It was hot outside and I went in
> > to cool her off.* I was with 3 other moms who were walking their
> > babies to keep them asleep.* Lisa was the security gards name but she
> > would not show us her badge or last name.* She was talking to a women
> > in front of me and then turned around and said "Don't get mad like
> the
> > last women but you need to put a blanket or a towel or something over
> > you because it is offensive to people".* I got up and walked away.*
> My three friends were watching and* coming to back me up and she
> turned to them and said "she can't just
> > go exposing herself like that, people will be offended".* My friend
> > Kyra told her "actually she can and it is illegal for you to tell her
> > to stop"* She walked away and I went find management.* A police
> > officer contacted the head of security who told me that I could not
> > speak to management that nobody was there at the moment.* He told me
> > that someone had complained to the guard and that* is why she asked
> me to stop.* However, that is a lie because I was near the guard the
> > whole time and I heard no one complain.* She was just trying to
> > cover.* The head of security told me that they usually just get
> > mothers that want to nurse a chair in a more private area of the mall
> > so no one would be offended. He would not say if it was the malls
> > policy or not, just that it was offensive to people.* The police
> > officer and the other two security gards present did not back me up
> > and seemed to agree that it would be better if the mothers just
> nursed
> > where we wouldn't cause complaints.* I think I am most angry that I
> > had been told so many times how it was offensive to people when all I
> > was doing was feeding my child.* I was even wearing two tank tops.* I
> > know for a fact that I was the second person asked to cover up or
> > leave that day.
> >*
> Something needs to be done.* If I just let it go then
> > it will just keep happening.* It left me feeling terrible and I hate
> > that I or any other mom should ever be made to feel like I was doing
> > something wrong.
>
> Here is the letter we sent to Brookfield:
> *
> July 12, 2005
>
> Michael Bosso
> Property Manager
> Brookfield Financial Properties
> Three World Financial Center
> 200 Vesey Street, 11th Floor
> New York, NY10281-1021
>
>
> Dear Mr. Bosso,
>
> * * * * I am a resident of Tribeca and am writing on behalf of myself
> and
> fellow neighbors to alert you to a situation which occurred in the
> Winter Garden last July 6, 2005.
> On that date, myself and three other
> women were with our babies in the Winter Garden mall.* One mother in
> our group needed to nurse her baby and began to do so on a nearby
> bench in the center mall area.* A security guard immediately told her
> to cover up because what she was doing was offensive to others.
> We objected and asked to speak to a mall manager and were directed
> instead to the manager of security.* Neither the guard nor the
> security manager would divulge their last names.** When asked, the
> security manager could not tell us what the mall's policy on
> nursing
> was but that it was prohibited in the "open" areas.* He suggested that
> mothers nurse in a secluded area of the mall so as not to offend
> anyone.* As a result, the four of us left the Winter Garden and nursed
> our babies on an outside bench in the extreme heat of the summer day.
> I am writing to you to alert you to the fact that the actions of your
> security force were clearly wrong and prohibited by New York State
> Civil Code section 79-e.* That law, enacted in 1994, clearly states
> that "a mother may breast feed her baby in any location, public or
> private, where the mother is otherwise
> authorized to be, irrespective
> of whether or not the nipple of the mother's breast is covered during
> or incidental to the breast feeding."
> Please be advised that as a result of the actions of your mall
> representatives with respect to the breast feeding issue we have
> alerted other mother's groups, including the Hudson River Park
> mother's group, and plan on protesting with a "nurse-in" on Thursday
> July 21, 2005.* We anticipate your prompt revision of mall policy in
> accordance with New York State law and that you inform your security
> force that it is a woman's right to breastfeed her baby wherever
> she
> wishes.
>
> * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Sincerely,
> * * * * * *
>
> * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Emily F. Leon, Esq.
>
> *
> Please support us!* If you are nursing come join in!
>
>
>
> * * * * * * * * * * Love from:
>
> Leandra and Leandra
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