In order to celebrate World Breastfeeding Week 2015, over 100 moms gathered in Times Square to breastfeed this past weekend. In public. Without any scrutiny or criticism. Sounds like a utopian dream–please sign us up.
The event was hosted by Breastfeeding World on Saturday, August 1–the simultaneous synchronization of breasts & babes commenced at 9:00 a.m. with a picture in front of the fountain at Bryant Park; breastfeeding started at 10:30 a.m and lasted for 60 seconds on Broadway between 43rd and 44th Streets, in front of the Sephora store. This kind of sounds like a choreographed Beyonce music video, but better obviously (and with less booty shorts).
READ: A Shocking Thing Happened When I Nursed Without a Cover: Nothing
The NYC event is part of “Global Big Latch On,” which has encompassed breastfeeding demonstrations all over the world to normalize and promote the benefits. On their website, Breastfeeding World stated that these events are the “perfect opportunity for moms that participated in our project to share with others the struggles they might have faced when they began breastfeeding and how they overcame them.”
Besides breastfeeding being completely natural, it’s important to remember that it’s entirely legal to do publicly in New York City; the NYCLU states on their website pretty clearly that any woman has the right to “breastfeed your baby in any public or private place where you have a right to be.”
READ: I Was Shamed For Breastfeeding in a Synagogue
Which means exactly what it says: Anywhere. This applies to your workplace, too, as an employer cannot “discriminate against you for choosing to breastfeed your baby or for pumping milk at work.”
So, if anyone tells you that breastfeeding in public is disruptive and violating, tell them discrimination is against the law.
