lactivism!!

[mamajoan]

Many of you may have heard the story out of Vermont last week where a mom was kicked off a plane for breastfeeding her baby and refusing to cover up with a blanket when asked to do so by a flight attendant. Well, tomorrow there's going to be a nationwide nurse-in at Delta Airlines ticket counters at airports across the country, to protest this incident and promote breastfeeding awareness.

I've joined a couple email lists coordinating the nurse-in effort, and I seem to have gotten myself into something. :) No one seemed to be taking the lead on coordinating for Boston, so I emailed the press kit to a few of the local media outlets, and have already gotten an email back from one of them. Eek! And here's me with a cold (AGAIN. or STILL.) and sounding all weird and stuffed-up when I talk. heh. yikes.

I sure hope the nurse-in at Logan doesn't turn out to be me, Ruthie, and one reporter. ;) On the plus side, I have to be at Logan anyway to pick up a relative who's coming in for Thanksgiving, so at least I won't feel like I drove out there for nothing.

Our first nurse-in! I'm so excited :D

Comments

[lissa-ann.livejournal.com]

< snark > Be careful! You may be violating LJ TOS by that icon! < /snark >

[downwardlashes.livejournal.com]

Oh man! Can you send me some info? I am going to be at the airport in San Francisco tomorrow! What great timing. Unless we get there late, I could totally go to the Delta counter for a good half hour nurse or so.
Yay! I never get to take part in things like this!

[mamajoan.livejournal.com]

Check out the yahoogroup: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/lactivism/

[opadit.livejournal.com]

My understanding is that the flight attendant in question has been disciplined and the airline has apologized. Nurse-ins are great, and I'd be first in line to attend if I was still nursing a baby, but I have to admit I don't see much of a point in this one continuing, since the airline seems to have responded really reasonably.

[mamajoan.livejournal.com]

Well, first of all, the airline apologized "publicly" but from what I understand it has not yet called the mom directly to apologize to her.

Second, many nursing moms have experienced discrimination from airlines, especially in recent weeks since the new restrictions on liquids were introduced; so this is seen as an opportunity to educate the airlines and the public, and to urge the airlines to make sure that they have bf-friendly policies and that their staff are aware of same.

Also, as there is federal legislation pending to reinforce the rights of women to breastfeed, this is a great opportunity to get some visibility on that. And finally, of course, any opportunity to make breastfeeding more visible to the public at large is a good thing.

[jorend.livejournal.com]

According to the press release, "following the incident, the Captain apologized to the passenger and her family and immediately requested that they be re-boarded for their flight (an offer the family refused)."

Have fun!

[mamajoan.livejournal.com]

Yes, but according to the news article linked elsewhere on this post, the mom denies that she was invited to re-board and insists that if she had been, she would have accepted.

[jorend.livejournal.com]

Those lying bastards! Grrrrr. That makes me so mad.

[eirnoir.livejournal.com]

Good for you! I think I'll forgo a pump-in at KCI, being as it's an hour trip and I'm not sure pumping-in-public is protected the way NIP is. :) But go you!

[mamajoan.livejournal.com]

Well, anyone who supports breastfeeding rights in general is encouraged to come show support, regardless; but if it's too far, c'est la vie....

[ima-omi.livejournal.com]

Rats! I wish I were still nursing...

[mamajoan.livejournal.com]

Ex-nursers, someday-planning-to-nursers, and just plain old supporters are welcome too!