Lone Star Mamas "Try, Try Again" at Airport Nurse-In, with Banner Results
By Amy Philo
December 4, 2006

Dallas, Texas area mothers stood up for the right to breastfeed in public this past November 21, as part of the nationwide nurse-in at Delta ticket counters. The airport security at DFW approached the moms shortly after they arrived at the terminal. The first officer who approached the mothers informed the mothers they would have to leave because what they were doing was considered picketing and they needed a permit, and also, told them what they were doing was inappropriate, with the use of many rude and unnecessary words. Two more officers joined the first, and also told the mothers they would have to leave. The mothers pointed out to the officers that Texas law has no requirements for any sort of protocol while breastfeeding, and, additionally, Texas law allows women to go topless. However, one officer repeatedly threatened the moms with possible arrest for "indecent exposure" or "disorderly conduct." This officer also stated that his wife had breastfed their children, and they do not believe in "artificial feeding."

The mothers sought the permit at airport administration, but were told it takes at least three business days and requires a written statement. Once the permit application was in, the airport's legal department advised the organizers of the follow-up nurse-in that they did not need a permit. The mothers had been well within their rights the first time they held a nurse-in. Although the run-around was frustrating, the Texas mothers felt vindicated that their persistence brought this to light.

They quickly planned a second nurse-in for December 1. This time, several local news stations covered the event. The airport issued a statement to the press, which claimed that the officers at the first nurse-in handled the situation with the utmost respect and sensitivity. They claimed that the officers had not harassed the mothers at all, and that the mothers had been distributing literature and holding up signs, which was why they were asked to leave. The mothers at the first nurse-in were not distributing literature. They were holding small 8 x 10 inch signs, which were not derogatory in nature, and the mothers were never asked to put the signs away.

Ironically, the interference of police allowed more time to plan the second nurse-in. Although the first nurse-in had 5 moms and 9 kids in attendance, 27 adults and 28 children showed up the second time, as well as several media organizations.

Join Mothering lactivists in discussion about the Dallas Nurse-In.

Dallas/Ft. Worth Nurse-In This Friday
November 29, 2006

Texas mothers plan another nurse-in at Dallas-Fort Worth Airport (DFW) this Friday, December 1, 2006, at 10 a.m. at the Delta counter in Terminal E of the airport.

On November 21, Dallas- and Fort Worth-area moms and their children held a nurse-in at the DFW airport, one of 39 nurse-ins held across the country. They were turned away by airport police, based on the complaint that they were "baring their breasts." The women were told that they would need a permit to hold the nurse-in, and were asked to leave. When they later requested a permit from airport officials for this Friday's nurse-in, they were informed that a permit is not required for a peaceful gathering inside the airport. The mothers are gathering Friday, again at the DFW Airport, for another nurse-in to protest Delta's actions against Emily Gillette and her family (read the full story below) and to demand rights for breastfeeding mothers and children.

Read more about Texas moms and their lactivism in our Texas Lactivism discussion.

Source: www.breastfeeding123.com

On October 13th, 2006, Emily Gillette and her family were ejected before takeoff from a Freedom air flight, because the flight attendant was offended by Mrs. Gillette, who was breastfeeding her child and refused to cover her baby's head with an airline blanket.

Following a slow and insufficient response from Mesa/Freedom Airlines, a commuter affiliate of Delta Airlines, women across the country vowed to shed light on the continuing contradictions between public policies that strongly encourage breastfeeding and current attitudes that deny breastfeeding mothers and children a welcome place in the public sphere.

Although the American Association of Pediatrics and World Health Organization both recommend a year and/or more of nursing for young children, and despite a recent National Breastfeeding Awareness Campaign in the U.S., too many women face obstacles to breastfeeding due to a patchwork of little known state laws and poor business employee training policies.

Awaiting action by the Vermont Human Rights Commission regarding the Freedom Airlines incident, the grassroots lactivist movement continues to demand action in the following areas:

• Delta and Mesa/Freedom must apologize personally to the Gillette family and offer written proof that policy and training procedures have been changed.
• The airline industry should revisit their breastfeeding policies and employee-training methods, and remove obstacles to the transportation of pumped breast milk on aircrafts.
• Passage of pending legislation that offers civil rights protection for breastfeeding women in the workplace. American workers trained to respect breastfeeding at work will begin to affect the cultural shift that must happen if we are to move beyond the ambivalence in some segments of society today.
• Adoption of the new open domain breastfeeding accessibility icon to support families and affirm the basic human right of children to eat and receive comfort at the breast when and where they must.

November 27, 2006

In addition to upholding the right to breastfeed in public nursing moms are also addressing another very important issue that affects their nursing rights and needs— the current Transportation Security Administration rule that women can only carry on unlimited amounts of breastmilk if they are accompanied by a child. Lactivists and their supporters are calling for a policy that supports mothers who fly with or without their breastfed children so that they would be allowed to carry pumped breast milk in the cabin of airplanes in any amount whether traveling with or without their children. An online petition is underway, urging TSA to amend the current guidelines.

Attorneys representing Gillette announced today that Delta and Freedom Airlines have failed to meet the deadline to respond to the complaints filed against them. In keeping with the avoidance tactics exhibited since the October 13th incident, both airlines have asked the Vermont Human Rights Commission for an extension to today's deadline to file an answer to Emily Gillette's complaint charging the airlines with violating her civil right to breastfeed her daughter. The Vermont Human Rights Commission has given the airlines until December 14th to respond. "We are not surprised by this action, but are very disappointed that the airlines continue to avoid taking responsibility for the flight attendant's actions or offering to engage in a meaningful resolution to this matter," stated Ms. Gillette's attorney Elizabeth Boepple.

"Emily is frustrated and discouraged that even after the intense media attention over the last two weeks, her family is no closer to receiving a personal apology than it was on the day she and her family were ordered off the Delta flight for no reason other than a flight attendant's discomfort at Ms. Gillette breastfeeding her daughter."

After the airlines respond, the Vermont Human Rights Commission, through its staff, will work with the airlines and the Gillettes to reach a satisfactory settlement. If no settlement is reached, then the Human Rights Commission may file a civil suit seeking, among other remedies, civil fines, punitive and compensatory damages. At any time, the Gillettes may also decide to bring a civil action.

Breastfeeding moms and children gathered at over 39 airports across the US (see the list below for locations and number of participants) to proclaim their right to nurse in public. Seating themselves near Delta counters to protest the airline's action in kicking nursing mother Emily Gillette and her family off a flight, the women and their supporters want Delta to apologize directly to the Gillette family. They also want passage of pending federal legislation that offers civil rights protection for breastfeeding women at work and in public.

Here are reports of nurse-ins from around the country:

Albuquerque Nurse-In

Emily's mother coordinated a Durango nurse-in with some local moms. They too had over twenty five mothers plus children. The local paper covered the story and took photos.

Washington DC Nurse-In
Nurse-In coordinator Robin Abadia gathered with over 50 moms and their children at the Reagan National Airport to protest the removal of Emily Gillette from a Delta commuter flight for breastfeeding her child and to educate the public about the breatfeeding rights of mothers and children. About breastfeeding in public, Robin told reporters, "I really hope that as a nation we are mature enough to recognize that it is normal, it is natural and it's fundamental to the health of the child." They were interviewed by CBS and Fox5 News.

Sacramento Nurse-In
Amber Hill and a small crowd of 12 mothers, 1 grandmother and 16 children gathered together with an abundance of breastfeeding educational materials and displaying the international breastfeeding symbol in a small corner of the airport. Amber says, "We received many smiles and thumbs up. The local news covered the event, and our picture and the story were in the Sacramento Bee the next day!"

Baltimore Nurse-In
Lorrie Leigh reports that the Baltimore nurse-in was attended by 30 mothers, more than 30 children, and two grandmothers. They seated themselves in front of the Delta counter and nursed their babies and were interviewed by newspaper and television reporters. Many moms and children were wearing tshirts and stickers of the new breastfeeding symbol. Most onlookers had heard about Emily Gillette and were in support of the breastfeeders. According to Lorrie, the organizer of the nurse-in, "Two representatives of BWI airport were standing discreetly by, watching us, but not interfering. I went over with my public flyer to hand them (with the symbol on it of course). We talked at length and the older gentleman offered that they have a toddler play room on the second floor and invited us to use it after we were done. I talked about previous breastfeeding incidents on airlines and the pumped breastmilk/security issue and then got into a dialogue about the icon. I asked them to start using it at BWI. The older gentleman said he would mention it to the 'powers that be upstairs.' I intend to write a formal letter asking BWI to adopt the symbol for their facilities." Lorrie and Mollie (a co-organizer) also did some radio morning shows on their cell phones while en route to the nurse-in. Lorrie will be interviewed by the O'Reilly Factor along with a childless female lawyer representing the "stay in your house and cover up" crowd.

Dallas Nurse-In
Six mothers and nine children came to the Dallas airport only to be asked to leave within 15 minutes. According to police, a complaint was made against the mothers for "baring" their breasts. Maria, one of the nurse-in moms, reported that an officer described their gathering as "horrible." After discussion of breastfeeding legal rights they were told a permit would be necessary for them to be at the airport, which takes a minimum of three days to receive. The group is considering another nurse-in in a few weeks. Maria, with her her children Ashby, Reese and Wes, was interviewed by the local news crew.

Nashville Nurse-In
Paige La Grone Babcock, National Outreach Coordinator & Community Organizer for Mothers Acting Up, attended the the nurse-in in Nashville. Paige writes: "Here in Nashville we co-created a beautiful and empowering action this morning! The babies and children were fantastic and adorable, the dads were supportive and invaluable in their presence, and the mamas rocked the house!! Together, we assembled a delightfully warm, peaceful, articulate, and personable group. We shone light on a lifestyle, family, and health issue in just the right way to illuminate the natural, normal beauty of the nursing relationship in its many facets. I am proud to have been among the folks who participated."

According to Paige, there were nine nursing mamas, one grandmother, three fathers of nurslings, and 12 babies and children at the Nashville gathering, which was covered by the three major networks and an Associated Press reporter and photographer for the Tennessean. According to Paige, the nursing families were met with great welcome, kindness and support. "One gentleman worked for Delta and wanted to express his support of us. An airport employee gave stickers to all the kids and an American Airlines flight attendant stopped to tell us that not all in her profession were offended by breastfeeding, that she herself was so glad to see us. We left feeling good and strong and hopeful."

Want to share your nurse-in story? Send it to us: webmaster@mothering.com.

National Nurse-In To Take Place At Airports Across the Country
November 20, 2006

Nursing mothers and their supporters will be gathering for a call to action nurse-in on Tuesday, November 21, 2006 at 10 AM, local time, at Delta airport counters across the country to protest Delta's actions against Emily Gillette and her family (read the full story below) and to demand rights for breastfeeding mothers and children. Although Delta has issued a public apology, the Gillette family has still not received any personal apology.

The nurse-in has been organized through the work of many volunteers. Below is a list of both confirmed and tentative sites where mothers and supporters will gather. If you do not see your local airport on the list and wish to organize a nurse-in, please join the Lactivism Yahoo Group (lactivism@yahoogroups.com) where you can find out if others in your area are planning to attend. You may also download the media kit which contains press releases, objectives of the national nurse-in, a flyer, and comprehensive information about laws and statements on breastfeeding and breastfeeding discrimination.

Should you see the international breastfeeding symbol in use at a nurse-in—or anywhere else—please take a picture and send it to us to share in an upcoming issue of Mothering. Send your pictures to webmaster@mothering.com.

Nurse-In Locations (list updated to report number of people in attendance)
 

Official sites

• Anchorage AK ANC 5 moms, 4 children
• Phoenix AZ 17 adults, 19 children
• Tucson AZ Tucson International 7 moms and children
• Hartford CT Bradley International 8 adults, many children
• Sacramento CA 12 moms 1 grandmother 16 children
• San Fransisco CA SFO 4 mothers, 4 children
• Durango CO 65 total
• Ft. Lauderdale FL Ft. Lauderdale/Hollywood Airport Terminal 2 13 adults, 13 children
• Jacksonville FL 5 mothers, 9 children
• Atlanta GA Hartsfield/Jackson 11 adults 12 children
• Boise ID 5 mothers, 5 children
• Chicago IL 2 adults 1 kid
• Indianapolis IN Indianapolis International
• Louisville KY SDF 9 mothers 1 father 9 kids
• Louisville International
• Manchester NH Manchester-Boston 5 adults 1 child
• Boston MA Logan International 7 mothers, 8 children
• Baltimore MD BWI 30 mothers, 32 children
• Detroit MI Detroit Metro DTW 10 mothers 10 children
• Lansing MI 6 mothers, 9 children
• Reno NV
• Albuquerque NM 26 mothers 30-35 children
• Santa Fe NM ABQ
• Las Vegas NV LAS
• Reno NV
• Manchester NH Manchester-Boston
• New York JFK turned away at the door
• Cincinnati OH 1 mother 1 child Columbus OH Port Columbus 12 mothers, 18 children
• Portland OR PDX 81 total
• Harrisburg PA HIA 25 total
• Philadelphia PA 1 mother 1 child Nashville TN Nashville Airport 9 mothers 3 fathers 1 grandfather 12 children
• Dallas/Fort Worth TX 5 mothers 9 children
• Houston TX 3 total
• Virgina Dulles IAD 5 mothers
• Virginia Reagan National DCA 28 moms 70 total
• Vermont BTV 45 mothers 45 children
• Bellingham, WA BLI

Tentative sites
(these sites may have only one or two families currently, we need more attendees and organizers)

• California airports all in need of more attendees and organizers
  • Fresno
  • Santa Barbara
• Daytona FL -Datona IA
• Atlanta GA -ATL
• Savannah Hilton Head International
• Twin Cities MN -MSP
• Jackson MS
• New Jersey -Atlantic City Airport
• New York- LaGuardia
• Philadelphia PA -PIA
• Texas (help!)
  • El Paso
• VA Newport News
• Vermont Manchester- ALB (Albany NY)

Emily Gillette, the mom making headlines around the word as “the woman kicked off a plane for breastfeeding,” contacted Mothering regarding her experience. We asked her the following questions:

Mothering magazine (MM): Did you consider yourself a breastfeeding activist before this incident?

Emily Gillette (EG): I don't think that I ever breastfed as a statement.  I have always breastfed as needed for my child, and I think that by doing so in any environment, I am communicating to the world around me that breastfeeding is, at a minimum, acceptable and normal.  So, I think that I have always been a passive activist. 

MM: Do you consider yourself a breastfeeding activist now?

EG: Certainly. I have an opportunity to tackle a really important social subject; one that should be neither controversial nor contested. As the story has taken on steam, it is clearly bigger than two airlines.  Breastfeeding is a global human wonder and one that I believe I have a small but important role in changing public awareness and support.

MM: What is the goal of your filing an official complaint with the Vermont Civil Rights Commission?

EG: I want to ensure that this NEVER happens again.  I expect to see written policy promulgated and employee training conducted. The Human Rights Commission will ensure that any agreement made between the airlines and myself or the airlines and the state of Vermont, must be fully and completely implemented.

MM: What changes would you like to see in terms of the breastfeeding climate in our society, and why?

EG: I’d like to see the idea of breastfeeding introduced in a sentence without having to use words like "climate" or "issue." I'd like people to stop taking it upon themselves to decide what age is appropriate and what age isn't for women to continue breastfeeding. I'd like our society to stop comparing breastfeeding to sexual acts, defecation, genital exposure, and stop treating it like an attention seeking act. I'd Iike breastfeeding not to have to be a statement of defiance, but a message of love.     

MM: Will you be more or less prone to breastfeed in public now?

 EG: Neither, really.  I actually am at the end of that relationship with my daughter, River. I only breastfeed for naptime, which was the case before this happened. Ironically, I only continued to breastfeed River the last couple of months for this one last trip, as it make flying to much easier for River and me. I just know I am finished. It is an intrinsic knowing, that includes both mine and River's needs. But, let me be clear, if I were still breastfeeding River throughout the day, I would still be breastfeeding her anywhere, anytime. No part of me has turned inward on the subject and decided to protect those people out there that have issues with it. They own those issues, not me or any other breastfeeding mother.

MM: Looking back on the experience, would you have done anything differently?

EG: I don't think so. I am grateful I researched and found Elizabeth Boepple, my lawyer, and the Human Rights Commission. Elizabeth orchestrated this press release perfectly, because the world heard and responded. I feel immensely grateful for the proactive attitude people have taken and for the nurse-in.

MM: Any words of advice to other moms who find themselves in similar situations?

EG: Stay calm, believe in yourself, and stand up for your rights. And then reach out to other women and advocates, because they will pull you through your insecurities.

MM: What have you and your family learned from this experience?

EG: We are learning how the media functions, we are learning about law and the ways in which a state can protect its people. Most importantly and overwhelmingly for me, I am learning how good people are, generally. I have received the kindest supportive responses. I have read online about both women and men that are boycotting Delta. I have read blogs on which people are trying to educate naysayers. There are, of course, the awesome women, men and grandmothers who banded together in 24 hours and had the nurse-In. People understand and want to communicate that understanding in a huge show of solidarity. When I sit here and think of that, I am absolutely overcome with emotion and gratitude.

Breastfeeding Mother Kicked off Commercial Airplane
November 15, 2006

It was 10:00 at night when, after a three-hour delay, Emily Gillette and her family gratefully boarded flight 6160 from Burlington, Vermont to New York's La Guardia. Heading to the city to rendezvous with relatives from abroad, Emily took her window seat in the eighth row of a nine-row plane, next to her husband. She began to discreetly breastfeed her baby before takeoff, aware that nursing helps babies regulate air travel's pressure changes. Within moments, she was asked by the sole flight attendant to cover up with a blanket. Citing her right to nurse, Gillette calmly and politely declined. The flight attendant then told Gillette, "You are offending me," and proceeded to have a ticket agent board the aircraft to remove Emily and her family. The Gillettes quietly gathered their belongings and left, after unsuccessfully appealing to the pilot and co-pilot for help.

Delta ticket agents (including the agent that told the Gillettes they had to leave the airplane) then attempted to communicate with the crew to reverse the flight attendant's decision, to no avail. The co-pilot came off the plane and spoke with the family, apologizing for their removal but claiming that there was nothing he could do to change a flight attendant's decision made in the cabin of an aircraft.

Removed from the last flight of the night, the Gillettes were thus stranded in Burlington overnight. Delta did provide ground transportation to a hotel, vouchers for the overnight accommodations, and re-booked the family on a non-Delta flight for early the next morning.

Flight 6160 was ticketed by Delta, on a code-shared Freedom Airlines aircraft. After eventually returning home to New Mexico, Emily Gillette attempted communication with both airlines. Following preliminary verbal apologies from both airlines, Emily states that she has received no further communication from Freedom Airlines, despite being told that a representative would get back to her by Friday, October 27th. Delta Airlines' representatives have actually declined to communicate with Gillette further, in a phone conversation. Neither airline has accepted responsibility for the flight attendant's actions toward the Gillette family, nor addressed their lack of policy regarding the protection of breastfeeding rights.

The Vermont Civil Rights Commission has accepted a complaint by Gillette, against Delta Airlines and Freedom Airlines, under a Vermont statute protecting a mother's right to "breastfeed her child in any place of public accommodation in which the mother and child would have a right to be."

Stay tuned for our exclusive interview with Emily, which will be posted soon!

Visit the Lactivism discussion sparked by this incident, at www.mothering.com/discussions/showthread.php?t=559018.
Also read Vermont families offer solidarity in the form of an airport nurse-in.

Sources:
The Burlington Free Press, November 14, 2006

Vermont Human Rights Commission Charge of Public Accommodations Discrimination filed by Emily Gillette

Press release from Witten, Woolmington, Campbell & Boepple P.C. Attorneys at Law