RogerRabbit Master Chief Petty Officer
Joined: 05 Sep 2004 Posts: 748 Location: Oregon
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Posted: Fri Apr 22, 2005 1:43 pm Post subject: Breast-feeding candidate causes stir in Miami Beach |
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http://www.heraldtribune.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050422/NEWS/504220405/1018/NEWS02
Quote: | MIAMI BEACH -- Sixteen women breast-fed their babies at a Miami Beach Commission meeting to protest complaints that were made about a commission candidate who nursed her baby in public.
In a city where topless sunbathing is common, Wednesday's "nurse-in" was in support of candidate Gabrielle Redfern. She had been criticized by some for breast-feeding her 1-year-old daughter, Elsie, during Mayor David Dermer's recent State of the City address.
"It's insane. How is she supposed to raise her child and have a career if she isn't allowed to breast-feed her child when she attends meetings?" said Ellen Sandoval, who drove from Hallandale Beach to show her support. But others say some things should be done in private.
"I think it's a beautiful and natural thing, but there's a time and a place for it," said Joe Fontana, president of the Miami Beach Condominium and Homeowners Alliance. "It's distracting. Why inside? Why not step outside to do it."
Redfern's public breast-feeding is within state law, which says a woman can breast-feed her child anywhere she is otherwise legally allowed to be.
Redfern has apologized for offending any of her fellow citizens, but won't stop breast-feeding Elsie when necessary. She worries the issue is distracting from her campaign promise of raising good citizens and building a stronger community through neighborhood voices.
"Elsie's been coming to public meetings since she was 2 weeks old," said Redfern, the mother of two. "I shouldn't have to choose between being a publicly involved citizen and being a good mother." |
_________________ "Si vis pacem, para bellum" |
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