National "Nurse-In" Includes Wichita
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Posted: 10:52 PM Sep 7, 2007
National "Nurse-In" Includes Wichita
A woman criticized for breastfeeding at a Kentucky restaurant is sparking a national protest.
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Women across the country and locally are uniting outside of Applebee's restaurants to protest the popular chains breastfeeding policy.

"I think it's a beautiful thing to see your child being taken care of," says Wichita breastfeeding supporter Laura Hamilton.

On June 14th, Brook Ryan was having lunch with her children while breastfeeding her youngest son in their local Applebee's in Knoxville, Tennessee. According to the manager, another diner complained of indecent exposure. Ryan was asked to cover her child's head with a blanket.

Outraged, Ryan showed the man the Kentucky law, which, like the Kansas law, allows a mother to nurse her child any place she has the right to be.

Hamilton says, "People need to realize that this is what's best for our children and people should be able to do it whenever and wherever we need to without people interfering."

Hamilton has organized a Wichita protest outside the Applebee's location at 21st and Rock Road.

Applebee's has released an official statement, saying they are making sure nursing mothers feel welcome. They ask mothers to nurse in a respectful manner and will accommodate other guests who feel uncomfortable by moving them to another location.

"It's improvement," says supporter Nathan Frock. "If they want people to move around, that's their business as long as they don't ask the mothers to move around. If it's bothering you, don't look."


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