Breastfeeding mothers stage airport protests

With babies at their breasts, nursing mothers staged airport protests around the United States today after a woman was ordered off a plane last month for breastfeeding her daughter too openly.

Breastfeeding mothers stage airport protests

With babies at their breasts, nursing mothers staged airport protests around the United States today after a woman was ordered off a plane last month for breastfeeding her daughter too openly.

About 25 women turned out at Burlington International Airport, Vermont, sitting on the floor near a Delta Air Lines ticket counter amid signs saying ā€œDon’t be lactose intolerantā€ and ā€œBreasts – Not just for selling cars anymore.ā€

Similar actions were planned at more than two dozen other airports.

ā€œWe’re not here to blame anyone,ā€ said Chelsea Clark, 31, wearing a ā€œGot breast milk?ā€ T-shirt as she nursed her 9-week-old son in Burlington. ā€œIt’s about raising consciousness about our culture’s sexualisation of the breast. Breast-feeding needs to be supported wherever and whenever it happens.ā€

Emily Gillette, 27, of New Mexico was ordered off a Freedom Airlines flight about to leave Burlington International Airport on Oct. 13 after a flight attendant asked her to cover up with a blanket while breast-feeding her one-year-old daughter. Gillette refused and was removed.

The airline, which operated the commuter flight for Delta, later disciplined the unidentified worker. But the incident struck a nerve with women’s rights supporters.

At Boston’s Logan International Airport, Ali Crehan Feeney came with her three-year-old daughter Moira, who wore a pink T-shirt with the phrase ā€œLittle Lactivistā€ written on the front.

ā€œWe’re just appalled that was allowed to happen,ā€ Feeney said.

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