SOUTH JORDAN, Utah (ABC 4 News) - A South Jordan mother joined a nationwide protest Wednesday to support breastfeeding in public. The demonstration comes after a nursing mother said she was harassed at a Target store in Texas.
South Jordan mom Diana Baker said breast feeding in public is not something to be ashamed of.
"It's okay to nurse in public," said Diana Baker, South Jordan mother.
And she's not alone. Her nurse-in at the Target store in South Jordan Wednesday morning was part of a much larger national protest.
Baker was one of nearly 6,000 women expected to participate in the peaceful protest at 150 Target stores across the country. The women are all speaking out against what happened to a mother in Texas.
"I had this big blanket over me," said Michelle Hickman, Texas mother.
Michelle Hickman said she was breastfeeding her baby inside a Target store near Houston when several employees approached and harassed her.
"They all came and started walking by and shaking their head, rolling their eyes like I'm doing something so horrible like feeding my baby here," Hickman said.
A local target manager said what Hickman claims happened is not corporate policy.
"The policy is that we do not approach if they come to us we provide areas for the mother to breastfeed," said Kevin Nelson, Store Manager, South Jordan Target.
As for Baker, she said it’s important she has that freedom.
"It's not just nutritional for the baby it's a connection between the baby and the mother," said Baker.
She wants other mothers to know they shouldn't be shoved into a corner.
ABC 4 is told mothers in Layton were also expected to participate in Wednesday's nurse-in.
