Group of 40 mums protest after woman receives abuse for breastfeeding in a restaurant
Mums in gather in the cold to defend their right to breastfeed
A brave group of mothers braved the cold in Brighton city centre yesterday to defend their right to breastfeed.
Up to 40 mums, some with their partners, gathered to breastfeed their babies in front of Christmas shoppers.
The demonstration was organised by Claire Jones-Hughes, 38, after she was criticised by customers in a local cafe for breastfeeding one of her daughers last week.
Mrs Jones-Hughes spoke about how she was approached by a group of four middle aged women and a man while feeding four month Callie. "They said: 'It was very unpleasant watching you feed. You should have covered up more.' Then the man said: 'You should have used a towel.'
"I was really shocked. Especially as I'd gone to a lot of effort to be discreet.
"You usually get nice comments when you're with a baby, and I couldn't believe I was having this conversation.
"In their world, it was completely unatural that they should see more doing that."
Mrs Jones-Hughes took to the internet to organise her flashmob, encouraging supporters to, "whip them out and feed all together"
She said she hoped the event would give confidence to mothers nervous about breastfeeding in public.
"I've got two daughters who may have children themselves one day. If they choose to breastfeed in the future I'd never want anyone to make them feel how I felt."
And it looks like Jones-Hughes isn't going to stop with just one flashmob as she tweeted to her followers yesterday: 'thanks for being there. Already got ideas for bigger and better when weather is better.'
picture: twitter
