Today’s hot weather was no impediment for a group 15 breastfeeding moms to attend a Nurse in at the Hampton Inn Hotel in Bordentown, NJ to support Ariana Gossard who was fired after working for the hotel for two years due to asking for breaks to pump her breastmilk.
Photo courtesy of Ariana Gossard
Read earlier story: Update, Breastfeeding mom laid off due to pumping requirements
Danielle Dunn, one of the attendees, tells us that she was the first one to arrive at the Hampton Inn Hotel in Bordentown, NJ. As soon as she got there she saw that the Fox News cameraman had also arrived but he was immediately asked to leave by the hotel’s personnel. Within 5 minutes a couple other moms arrived as well as three police officers.
Photo courtesy of Ariana Gossard
The police informed the breastfeeding moms and their supporters that they were forbidden from being on the premises of the hotel and that they had to move their cars elsewhere, so the ladies had to move to the grassy median in front of the hotel were they pacifically protested for about an hour.
“[What happened to Ariana] is totally unjust, she has been mistreated and there has to be more awareness brought to this issue. I am a working mom and can’t imagine being in her situation” says Danielle Dunn.
Photo courtesy of Danielle Dunn
Ariana mentioned in our previous interview how humbled she was to have received such support from friends, family and most importantly from strangers. All the 15 moms and their supporters that participated in the Nurse-In at the Hampton Hotel in Bordentown, NJ this morning did not know Ariana prior to the event. What brought them together was the fact that, according to Ariana’s testimony, the federal laws protecting breastfeeding mothers has been violated by the Hotel.
“It’s discrimination and by the way the hotel staff acted today; they have no leg to stand on and obviously aren’t aware of a working mom’s federal rights”. – Danielle Dunn
The federal law states (in regards to your workplace and pumping needs):
Section 7(r) of the Fair Labor Standards Act – Break Time for Nursing Mothers Provision Effective March 23, 2010, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act amended the FLSA to require employers to provide a nursing mother reasonable break time to express breast milk after the birth of her child. The amendment also requires that employers provide a place for an employee to express breast milk.
Nicole Bucci tells us: “I just want to say that all breastfeeding mothers should be supported, not booby trapped. Pumping is so important to keep up supply and have enough milk for your baby. Mothers should be allowed scheduled breaks for pumping in a clean area that is shielded from view. Even if she wasn’t pumping, she still deserves breaks!”
Photo courtesy of Nicole Bucci
Sera Marshall, another of the mamas that attended shared with us her thougts: “But we are definitely discouraged by employers who are either ignorant to what we are asking for, or who think we are trying to cause a commotion or make drama. That isn’t the case. Breastfeeding can be made easy or difficult. It depends on the support that you receive.”
Photo courtesy of Sera Marshall
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A photography project founded in late 2014 by Alexia Garcia, photographer a Alegares Photography. Breastfeeding World aims to promote breastfeeding and encourage new moms to nurse their babies through the art of photography and story telling.
