A mom who expressed outrage about an Augusta-area Chick-fil-A manager’s attempt to shield her while breastfeeding has sparked a protest and a viral conversation about public breastfeeding.
Samantha McIntosh posted her grievances on her Facebook page Tuesday morning. McIntosh said she was dining with her niece and daughter at Mullins Crossing Chick-fil-A in Evans, and an unnamed Chick-fil-A manager approached her. The manager suggested she take a jacket to cover herself while breastfeeding her 7-month-old daughter. The mother said she was wearing a nursing tank and a large long-sleeve shirt, which was pulled up and resting on her daughter's cheek. McIntosh said her skin was not showing as she sat in the booth to feed her baby.
She recounted her emotional story in response to the manager scolding her in a lengthy post on Facebook.
“Why would someone ask me to cover up? Why would a baby eating in any way offend someone to the point where it takes a manager approaching me about the situation?! So I got mad. The nice mother behind me that watched the entire scene play out got mad also. She called another manager over and began asking about policy, inclusion, and corporate contact information. That manager quickly gave her corporate’s number and ran back behind the countertop,” McIntosh explained on her Facebook page. “So the original manager that approached me now noticed it has caused a problem with another customer and comes back TO ME to inform me that they have every right to ask me to cover up when I’m nursing my child and that I should just leave it at that.”
The post has been shared more than 1,300 times on Facebook and garnered more than 2,000 comments.
Facebook user Angelia Saylor wrote, "Call the corporate office...this is crap...as ppl we need to STOP sexualizing breasts and see them for what they are...a feeding source for babies...."
Jackie Nichols Champeau agreed, saying " If you choose to breastfeed your baby, that is your business and your right. Don't let others shame you for that."
Another supportive Facebook user, Martha Ann McClain, condemned Chick-fil-A, saying "This unacceptable on the part of CF, so much for family values and Christian kindness.
You are a nursing 🤱🏻 mom. Your baby has a right to be fed when she/he is hungry. Don't let anyone shame you for being a nursing mom."
According to Georgia law, mothers are allowed to breastfeed in any public or private location. Breastfeeding is also allowed in any location in all 50 states, Puerto Rico and the District of Columbia. With that legal freedom in mind, dozens of Georgia moms decided to rally around McIntosh and denounce the manager's opposition by participating in a "nurse-in" protest at the Chick-fil-A, 4201 Washington Road, on Tuesday night, according to Augusta ABC affiliate WJBF. Moms showed up at the restaurant with their infants, nursed them and partook in Chick-fil-A fare during the protest.
The owner of the Chick-fil-A, Jason Adams, issued an apology to McIntosh on Tuesday.
“I am truly sorry for the experience Ms. McIntosh had in our restaurant yesterday. I have reached out to her personally to apologize,” reads the statement. “My goal is to provide a warm and welcoming environment for all of our guests.”
Here’s the full Facebook post from McIntosh:
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