<< The owners responded to her letter with an acknowledgement of the law,
 but said they disagreed with it and that the mothers' nursing in public
 was hurting their business.  The owners also wrote that they can refuse
 to serve anyone without a shirt or shoes, (the mother was wearing a
 shirt AND covered the baby up with a blanket) due to health codes and
 they didn't see any reason why a mother could "expose" herself in
 public, whether a child was involved or not.

 Furthermore, they likened her public nursing to having sex in public and
 said they wouldn't allow that to happen at their place of business.

 The breastfeeding community has organized a "nurse in" and about 50 or
 so mothers will convene at this place of business and proceed to nurse
 our babies.

 I'm looking for help from anyone who had participated/organized a "nurse
 in" and how they responded to the business owners, media and interested
 mothers.  Thanks for your help! >>

Who is the breastfeeding community?  I know it is the policy of LLL to not
officially take part in nurse-ins as an organization.  Of course, individual
mothers are citizens who are free to demonstrate any way they choose.

But think long and hard about this.  Do you really believe that this
demonstration will change the restaurant owner's mind?  Be careful that this
will not just serve to convince the business community that lactating mothers
are a bunch of "fanatics who will whip it out" the first chance they can.

The fact that they disagreed with the law, and the complete futility of
basing their actions upon that fact is the point that should be made here.
I'm sure that drug dealers are disappointed that selling drugs is against the
law too!  See what "teeth" are in your new state's law and start to file a
complaint through the legal means.  Of course, a very professional and calm
letter to the local paper may help,  outlining the injustice that was done in
this particular case.

Elizabeth Baldwin, JD is the US's leading expert on breastfeeding and the
law.  Her website and information on contacting her can be found at:
http://www.compromisesolutions.com.  The parents involved would do well by
contacting her before proceeding in this matter.

Ruth Scuderi
Westfield, MA

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