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My rights have been violated!
- May 7, 2009 at 8:30 PM
- By
- Comments (10) Total Views (224) Everyone can see this journal post.
Take time to read this story and by the end you may be just as heated as I am!
***I added the letter to the owner in one of my comments***
I was at a local restaurant with my 15 month old son. We were sitting with his father until he had to go to work. I was contemplating ordering from there or going home to cook when my son slipped and bumped his lip on the table. He started crying loudly. I tried to console him and when I couldn't I decided to let him nurse. I was wearing two tank tops as usual so that it would be easy to discreetly nurse him if I needed to at any point during the day. I pulled the top tank up and the bottom down so that he may latch on without me being exposed. The top tank top was pulled down to his face and I was completely covered. Moments later the owner of the restaurant came out (we were sitting on the patio) with a few of her wait staff behind her and said to me "You gotta go somewhere else to do that." She did not even approach my table to tell me this, she simply opened the door to the patio and told me not to breastfeed my son. I calmly said "Florida law states that I can breastfeed anywhere." She cuts me off to say "Well you can't do that with him as my employee." I did not want to cause anymore of a scene so I started getting my stuff together to leave. She continued to stare me down unitl I got up to leave the restaurant. I do understand that my SO was her employee but he was not on the clock, was not wearing anything implicating that he was an employee, I was very discreet and I am protected by law. I could not believe that after I informed her that the law allowed me to breastfeed where ever she still wanted me to leave! This is a summary of the Florida Laws protecting this Right.
Fla. Stat. Ann. 383.015
1993 Fl. ALS 4; 1993 Fla Laws ch. 4; 1993 Fla. HB 231
The breast feeding of a baby is an important and basic act of nurture which must be encouraged in the interest of maternal and child health and family values. A mother may breast feeed her baby in any location, public or private, where a mother is otherwise authorized to be, irrespective of whether or not the nipple of the mother's breast is covered during or incidental to the breast feeding.
Other parts of this law go on to protect the mother from being charged with child abuse, for "sexual conduct" or sexual offenses.
The owner was very unprofessional in dealing with this incident and if I was not so upset with the whole thing I would feel the embarassment of being kicked out of her restaurant. How do I go back, my SO works there, without feeling shame, not for what I did but for what happened?
Comments:
I would find out who is ABOVE the owner. Is it a corporation or privately owned restaurant?
This is a small and locally owned restaurant. I plan on getting as many mommas together as I can and having a breastfeeding-in
Give me the date and time and me and my boobies (and baby, of course), will be there!! These people will have HELL to pay!! They don't know who they're messing with!
Heck, go to media if you have to. Let's see how they like that! I don't BF and even that would piss me off. I would totally rally up a bunch of mommas and all BF at the same time! I'd pay to be a fly on the wall on that day ;) GL momma!
I live in Florida.. where did this occur?Have you contacted the news? You could have also filed a police report I believe. What restaurant was it? We can complain and help you but we need more details.
This happened in Tallahassee, Fl at Ray's Steele City Saloon. I'm talking with some people to find out what actions I need to take but I would like to go to the paper and also organize a Nurse-in. It will all happen in due time. She will pay for humiliating me like that.
Oh my god. She could be in sooo much trouble! You can get some type of a misdemenor or felony charge (i cant remember which) for harrassing a breastfeeding mother, so im sure she'd get something. I probably would have done the same thing that you did. After we left i'd go to the police station and file a report, as s.teph said. If they didnt take care of the problem then i'd do what youre going to do. I wish i lived in Florida! I'll be a nursing & pumping mama' in three months <3
Wow!! I haven't been able to log on during the day at work and by the time I get home, I am exhausted but I can tell you this! I am HEATED over this happening to you!
I just cannot even begin to understand people who are like that. I have seen you feed him and know you are discreet! OMG THIS PISSES ME OFF! HMM, I wonder if we share this with some of the other BFing moms at the nursery and let them know how they feel about BFing your baby in public. WHAT A JERK!
Owner, Ray's Steele City Saloon
515 John Knox Road
Tallahassee, FL 32303
Dear Keri:
I am writing to inform you that the harassment and discrimination I encountered at your restaurant Thursday, May 7, 2009 was indeed illegal. I was trying to inform you of my rights according to Florida Statue 383.015 HB231, when you rudely cut me off to restate that I was not permitted to nurse my son on your premises. Here is a summary of that statue.
(Statue was stated as is in Original Post)
The way you handled this situation was unprofessional as you did not even approach me in a respectable manner. The demeaning stare I received until I left was very uncomfortable and discourteous. The humiliation and embarrassment of being kicked out of your establishment was uncalled for and illegal. It would be wise of you to inform yourself of the laws governing Florida and educate your staff as to reduce the risk of legal actions against your business.
Sincerely Yours,
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Be sure to tell everyone the name of the restaurant so they can boycott it. I wouldn't have backed down. My husband would have stood up to her and quit his job if it came down to it. Your SO was looking for a job when he found that one, no? It just blows me away that some people are still so ignorant and insensitive when it comes to BF in public. Unbelievable!
- MemawBrie
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