HOUSTON – Breastfeeding mothers staged a "nurse-in" Wednesday at Target stores nationwide to show solidarity with a Texas woman who said she was ridiculed for breastfeeding her baby at a Houston store.
Michelle Hickman organized a Facebook campaign to call for the "nurse-in," which took place in several US cities including Houston, Knoxville, Tenn., and Decatur, Ill.
About 50 nursing mothers showed up to protest at the Webster, Texas, Target store where Hickman said she was harassed last month, MyFOXhouston reported.
Hickman told the station she was Christmas shopping when she realized her infant needed to be fed. She said she found a remote area of the store in the ladies clothing department, took a seat on the ground, and began to breast feed her "hungry baby with a blanket completely covering him."
According to Hickman, two female employees approached her and asked her to move to a fitting room, MyFOXhouston reported. One of the employees allegedly commented "you can get a ticket and be reported for indecent exposure."
Hickman said she felt bullied and felt her legal rights were violated.
Target sent a written statement to the Los Angeles Times saying, "Guests who choose to breastfeed in public areas of the store are welcome to do so without being made to feel uncomfortable. Additionally, we support the use of fitting rooms for women who wish to breastfeed their babies, even if others are waiting to use the fitting rooms."
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