Harassing Breast-Feeding Mothers Could Lead To Fines
Wis. Law Already Protects Mothers
UPDATED: 11:18 am EDT October 10,
2005
MADISON, Wis. -- Asking a breast-feeding mother to cover-up could soon cost people in Wisconsin $200.A proposed bill by state Sen. Fred Risser would protect mothers who breast-feed in public from being harassed.Under Wisconsin law it is perfectly legal for a woman to breast-feed her child in a public place.But while the state law may be behind the mother, the public isn't always behind the law, Madison television station WISC reported.Michelle Morgan said she has run into problems trying to breast-feed her son, Ian, in public."A woman basically said to me that I should probably go somewhere else or make sure that I stayed covered up," said Morgan. "It made me pretty angry.""It's usually quite innocent," said La Leche League leader Laurel Franczek. "The person who's asking that doesn't realize that women already have the right to breast-feed wherever they are."Clearing up the confusion about breast-feeding in public is the inspiration for the bill, which is now in front of the state Legislature.It reinforces current law by slapping future harassers with a $200 fine."It is necessary to make clear to those few places in the state that do not accept the law or permit it, that this is the policy of the state of Wisconsin," said Risser.It's a law Morgan says will give her a little extra firepower if she's asked to cover up again."I have the right and the protection to say that I'm legally able to be in this space, and that I'm legally able to nurse my child and you can't tell me otherwise," said Morgan.Risser says 30 other states have similar protections for public breast-feeding.
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