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Breastfeeding Moms Rally On Subways
By
Jen Chung
Published Aug 8, 2009
Modified Aug 8, 2009
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By
Jen Chung
Published Aug 8, 2009
Modified Aug 8, 2009
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As a part of World Breastfeeding Week, a number of mothers and their children took to the subways for the fifth annual Breastfeeding Mothers' Subway Caravan. The point of the caravan is to remind non-lactating people that breastfeeding on the subway is totally legal—the NYC Department of Health says, "In New York State, employers must provide time and a space to pump breast milk. Both New York City and New York State have laws that protect a woman's right to breastfeed in public."
One mother told NY1, "That's my baby's food. So my baby has got to eat whenever he needs it. I don't have to deny my baby because of what people say or will be looking at. I don't have to," while another explained to the Post that people usually don't pay attention when she happens to feed her baby while on the subway, "Most people are buried in their own magazines. Most will just smile and look away."
The Subway Caravan got started because a woman was issued a desk appearance ticket for breastfeeding in public; State Senator Liz Krueger, who has introduced the Breastfeeding Bill of Rights in Albany (it'll probably be signed by Governor Paterson soon), said, "What we need to do is support mommies to be able to feed their babies, on demand, any time their babies need to eat. It is a win-win for the children, the mothers and for us as a society." Tell that to the cops—who ticketed a breastfeeding mom whose car was parked (but not blocking anyone) in a commercial zone—and Ikea —which banished a breastfeeding mom to the bathroom!
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babies
breastfeeding
breastfeeding bill of rights
subway
Jen Chung
Jen Chung is a former WNYC and Gothamist editor.
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