Protesters demand right to breastfeed on buses

A group of protesters picketed in front of the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) headquarters this week, accusing bus operators of breaking a state law that allows women to breastfeed in public.

According to the Los Angeles Times, the group comprised about 50 women nursing and wearing shirts that said, “Got breast milk?” They called on the MTA to better educate operators and to put placards on buses to notify other passengers that a state law does allow nursing on buses.

Luz Chacon, a heath education coordinator for Maternal and Child Health Access, which organized the protest, told the Times that she had received complaints from 15 women, in the last couple of years, who were asked to stop breastfeeding. MTA said they only received two complaints.

MTA officials apologized for operators who have asked women to stop nursing, and said they have no policy that bans breastfeeding on buses or trains.

To prevent future problems, MTA is sending out a bulletin to 500 bus and train operators and plans to increase training.