SC moms, want to do a nurse-in?

[Elphaba]

In Aiken, SC a mother was told she could not breastfeed at the mall. The mall has a policy that breastfeeding is not allowed in common areas. The mother was told to go to the bathroom and then when she refused, told she could use the mall offices.

here is the contact information for the mall and for it's corporate owner:
2441 Whiskey Road South / Highway 19
Aiken, South Carolina 29803
Phone:[phone]
Fax:[phone]
Email:[e-mail]
Contact:Anthony Alberigi

The Aronov Company, which owns the Aiken Mall, and has a corporate policy
against public breastfeeding, can be contacted here:
[e-mail]
Aronov Centre | 3500 Eastern Boulevard | Montgomery, AL | 36116
[phone]

if anyone wants to go test the mettle of the aiken mall's policy, do let me know and we can arrange to meet there.

[Pinky Tuscadero]

OMG,do they actually have a written policy against bf in the common areas? They're going to end up getting sued over something like that! I wish I lived there. I'd be nursing there all day everyday!!

[Elphaba]

yes, it is a corporate policy for all 11 malls. the police officer quoted in the story said that the mall can do whatever they want as it is private property!!!!!! he said the mall can ban anyone for any reason, and if a person refuses to leave, they will be charged with trespassing!!!!!!
my blood is actually boiling over this. a$$holes. it's even more insulting that it happened during world breastfeeding week.

[Lucky Charm]

That's it!
I'm calling the LLL for help with relactating.
then i will go to that mall and breastfeed my 5 yr old (who would gladly help mom out!). that should shake things up a bit.

seriously though, thats a bunch of bull. How can they do that, given all the others can eat in the food court?

[Elphaba]

i don't know how they've gotten away with it so far, except that it seems to be malls owned and operated strictly in the deep south, and most women here don't nurse for very long if at all, and even if they do nurse, they don't do it in public. i've only ever seen one other woman nursing in public, and she had a huge blanket draped over her shoulder and the entire baby. i understand wanting to be modest and not have the world see your nipples, but she looked ridiculous and it only called attention to her.
i'm writing a letter, and i'm making my husband write one as well, and i'm trying to get some other nursing moms from here to go to that mall, though it will be hard.
more and more, i am thinking intentional communities are the way to go. i just can't deal with so much ignorance and injustice.

[Hannah's Mom]

That is just infuriating! Wish I lived a little closer (I'm in NC) so I could nurse dd there. You might want to post this on the NC, SC, TN board.

edited to add - what other malls does this company own and what towns are they in? Maybe people who aren't near Aiken, SC but are close to other malls owned by this company could do nurse ins there as well.

Here is a link to a list of their mall properties. http://www.aronov.com/retail_property_portfolio.cfm

Anyone near any of those? It shows 13, wonder if the policy applies to malls in states like NC with legislation stating women have the right to bf in any public or private place where she has the right to be?

[mom2tig99Nroo03]

if the nurse-in wont get em, i betcha a boycott would its all about the money, remember????

[AmyG]

I wish I lived closer. I'd be there in a minute!

[Rachelsmom]

I went...

I had my 6mth old daughter in a sling. The security looked at me funny. I nursed her throughout and did in that mall with my eldest daughter. I have never had anyone say anything to me except smile.

[Elphaba]

well, i got a reply from the mall's parent company. the VP for mgmt and mktg wanted to know where i got my information from on the legality of nursing in public and how businesses cannot discriminate against nursing pairs. she said the policy against breastfeeding in common areas is under review and they want to make all their guests comfortable and also respect everyone's rights and sensibilities.
so i guess they realize they are in the wrong, since the policy is being reviewed. now i just have to find a source to cite for the info i found at the LLLI site.


rachel's mom, i'm glad you've only had good experiences there.

[Justice2]

I sent them an email.....

Hello, my name is Laura Wright and I am a nursing mother. I must say that I am appalled. I recently discovered that you do not allow nursing mothers to feed their children, comfortably, in your malls. You expect them to feed their children in bathrooms. I am sorry if I sound a bit irritated.

Policies, such as the one you enforce, that do not allow a mother to feed her child are a large part of the reason that mothers do not breastfeed their children. Policies against breastfeeding instill a sense that nursing a child is wrong. They make a nursing mother feel guilty about providing, what is hands down, the single best possible nutrition for her children. Children who will, someday, shop in your establishments. Instead of making a mother feel as though she needs to bathe after breastfeeding, you should encourage her to nurse her child. You should not discriminate against her. Breastfeeding alone has challenges that require support and advocacy. Mothers shouldn't have another challenge to overcome. Nursing is a form of nutrition. It's no different than if you were to sit in the food court and enjoy a slice of pizza.

I hope that, in the future, nursing mothers receive more of your consideration and support.

Laura Wright
Richburg, SC

Not much, but I didn't have but a second to write it. At least I got my two cents across.

[Elphaba]

that's good laura!