http://www.onetruemedia.com/otm_site/view_shared?p=39aa544697ecf461a31642&skin_id=701&utm_source=otm&utm_medium=text_url
A slideshow of the Nurse-In, from Texas.
Sunday, September 9, 2007
TERA
Here is some coverage of the facebook ban on the TERA website, including the first of my pictures to be reported and removed.
http://www.tera.ca/
http://www.tera.ca/
Saturday, September 8, 2007
The Sydney Morning Herald
http://www.smh.com.au/news/web/breast-ban-incurs-lactivists-wrath/2007/09/07/1188783470779.html
Here is a link to the article in a Sydney newspaper that spawned all the comments on the previous post from August 27, 2007.
Here is a link to the article in a Sydney newspaper that spawned all the comments on the previous post from August 27, 2007.
Saturday, September 1, 2007
Applebees Nurse-In Request
I received this from another loop:
I am flooded with replys to my earlier email. I regret that I can not speak with each of you one on one but with 8 children I am streched for time so I will send you all this email.Thank you for your concern.On June 14th (my anniversary) a few of my children (I have 8) took me to Applebee's for lunch. For my own privacy I asked for the corner booth. I sat facing into the corner not facing the room. My then 7 month old baby boy needed to nurse so we did. A server (Jessica Balswick) came to me and stated that the manager asked her to come speak to me because she was a female. She said the manager said if we wanted to breastfeed we had to cover the baby's head with a blanket. I told her since it was hot out that I didn't have a blanket. She reiterated so I stopped nursing and asked to speak with the manager.
As we waited the baby cried so I passed him across the table to my oldest son (almost 18 yrs old) so he could help comfort his as I was a bit shook up. The baby was inconsolable so I told my son to take him to the van and I would come to nurse him as soon as I spoke with the manager.
When the manager (Justin Arnolds) came I handed him a copy of the KRS 211.755 law that I keep in my diaper bag. I said "I would like you to educate yourself and your employees of this law that protects breastfeeding mothers." He handed it back to me after glancing over it and said "I know but somebody complained it was indecent exposure so you have to cover the baby with a blanket if you want to breastfeed here". I again held out the paper saying "look at part 3 of the law, it says no person shall interfere with a woman breastfeeding her child". He said the same exact thing as before "I know but somebody complained it was indecent exposure so you have to cover the baby with a blanket if you need to breastfeed here." At that exact moment our server came back with our meal and I said "We can not eat this because I have to go breastfeed my baby." As I exited the hostess asked what was wrong and I told her very briefly and said "I don't see anyone else eating under a blanket in here."
I went to the van, nursed my baby, cried, and called my local LLL leader Karen. She told me to get the manager and servers name. She gave me names and addresses of people I needed to let know about this incident.
Our lawyer wrote a letter on June 27, 2007 to Applebee's restaurant (4009 Nicholasville Rd., Applebee's Corporate Headquarters 249 E Main St. (Mike Scanlon) The Lexington-Fayette County Health Dept. (Doraine Bailey), The KY Breastfeeding Promotion Coordinator (Becky Derifield) and the LLL Karen Brown.
The letter was ignored.
Our lawyer wrote another letter on July 25, 2007.
On August 3, 2007 Thomas & King, Inc. Legal Department finally responded. Mr Jonathan R. Weatherby, Jr. Associate General Counsel wrote "we regret that Ms. Ryan left without being served and would like the opportunity to personally invite her to return" .... "we are also considering keeping blankets in the restaurants for use by breast-feeding mothers that may not have them readily available as a result of this incident."
My husband gasped when he read this response. They just don't get it. It is like saying "Rosa Parks still has to sit at the back of the bus but we will give her a pillow so she is comfortable back there."
My midwife suggested I speak with the Senator that spearheaded getting the KRS211.755 law. I left a message for Senator Tom Buford and the next day he called me back. I asked him what recourse I had. He said "If you take them to small claims court you could get up to $1,500.00" .... "if you take them to a higher court you may not even get enough to cover your legal fees." I told the Senator I was not interested in money. I want things to change. I want public attention on this cause. I have daughters that will someday breastfeed. I want action not money. I told Senator Buford about my nurse in/out idea and he thought it sounded great. In fact he said "let me know the date and I will come by and support you" .... he also said "hold a sign up saying -small children are not allowed to eat in this restaurant." I said "can I quote you on that" and he said "yes!" Senator Buford said "next time any one does this tell them to call the police and get a police report written up on it."
Since August is "World Breastfeeding Awareness Month" I am having one nurse-out at the Fayette Mall just to raise awareness. This is not in any way to attack the mall .... it is just a place to hang out at. I am late arranging this so it will not actually be in August but then again what is one day. It will be September 1st.
The second event is actually to draw attention to Applebee's restaurant. Friends and supporters will decorate posters and display them for all to see.
I will paste a copy of the flyer for each of the two events here for all to copy and share.
NURSE-OUT
SPEAK-OUT
Applebee's violated KRS 211.755
Educate Lexington that KY law protects public breastfeeding and mothers should never be asked to move, hide, cover up, or leave.
Decorate posters and display them at a peaceful Nurse-Out.
THEME: Breastfeeding in public is Legal
DATE: Saturday, September 8, 2007(in case of rain date 9/22/07)
LOCATION: 4009 Nicholasville RoadLexington KY
On the public sidewalk in front of Applebee's
Exercise caution and do not block the right of way.
News crews will be reporting.
Do not park in Applebee's parking lot!
I hope everyone can pass this on to as many as possible. Every "quotation" is in the exact wording. I am also willing to share copies of the actual correspondence between our lawyer and Applebee's.
Thank you for your support,
Brooke Ryan
I am flooded with replys to my earlier email. I regret that I can not speak with each of you one on one but with 8 children I am streched for time so I will send you all this email.Thank you for your concern.On June 14th (my anniversary) a few of my children (I have 8) took me to Applebee's for lunch. For my own privacy I asked for the corner booth. I sat facing into the corner not facing the room. My then 7 month old baby boy needed to nurse so we did. A server (Jessica Balswick) came to me and stated that the manager asked her to come speak to me because she was a female. She said the manager said if we wanted to breastfeed we had to cover the baby's head with a blanket. I told her since it was hot out that I didn't have a blanket. She reiterated so I stopped nursing and asked to speak with the manager.
As we waited the baby cried so I passed him across the table to my oldest son (almost 18 yrs old) so he could help comfort his as I was a bit shook up. The baby was inconsolable so I told my son to take him to the van and I would come to nurse him as soon as I spoke with the manager.
When the manager (Justin Arnolds) came I handed him a copy of the KRS 211.755 law that I keep in my diaper bag. I said "I would like you to educate yourself and your employees of this law that protects breastfeeding mothers." He handed it back to me after glancing over it and said "I know but somebody complained it was indecent exposure so you have to cover the baby with a blanket if you want to breastfeed here". I again held out the paper saying "look at part 3 of the law, it says no person shall interfere with a woman breastfeeding her child". He said the same exact thing as before "I know but somebody complained it was indecent exposure so you have to cover the baby with a blanket if you need to breastfeed here." At that exact moment our server came back with our meal and I said "We can not eat this because I have to go breastfeed my baby." As I exited the hostess asked what was wrong and I told her very briefly and said "I don't see anyone else eating under a blanket in here."
I went to the van, nursed my baby, cried, and called my local LLL leader Karen. She told me to get the manager and servers name. She gave me names and addresses of people I needed to let know about this incident.
Our lawyer wrote a letter on June 27, 2007 to Applebee's restaurant (4009 Nicholasville Rd., Applebee's Corporate Headquarters 249 E Main St. (Mike Scanlon) The Lexington-Fayette County Health Dept. (Doraine Bailey), The KY Breastfeeding Promotion Coordinator (Becky Derifield) and the LLL Karen Brown.
The letter was ignored.
Our lawyer wrote another letter on July 25, 2007.
On August 3, 2007 Thomas & King, Inc. Legal Department finally responded. Mr Jonathan R. Weatherby, Jr. Associate General Counsel wrote "we regret that Ms. Ryan left without being served and would like the opportunity to personally invite her to return" .... "we are also considering keeping blankets in the restaurants for use by breast-feeding mothers that may not have them readily available as a result of this incident."
My husband gasped when he read this response. They just don't get it. It is like saying "Rosa Parks still has to sit at the back of the bus but we will give her a pillow so she is comfortable back there."
My midwife suggested I speak with the Senator that spearheaded getting the KRS211.755 law. I left a message for Senator Tom Buford and the next day he called me back. I asked him what recourse I had. He said "If you take them to small claims court you could get up to $1,500.00" .... "if you take them to a higher court you may not even get enough to cover your legal fees." I told the Senator I was not interested in money. I want things to change. I want public attention on this cause. I have daughters that will someday breastfeed. I want action not money. I told Senator Buford about my nurse in/out idea and he thought it sounded great. In fact he said "let me know the date and I will come by and support you" .... he also said "hold a sign up saying -small children are not allowed to eat in this restaurant." I said "can I quote you on that" and he said "yes!" Senator Buford said "next time any one does this tell them to call the police and get a police report written up on it."
Since August is "World Breastfeeding Awareness Month" I am having one nurse-out at the Fayette Mall just to raise awareness. This is not in any way to attack the mall .... it is just a place to hang out at. I am late arranging this so it will not actually be in August but then again what is one day. It will be September 1st.
The second event is actually to draw attention to Applebee's restaurant. Friends and supporters will decorate posters and display them for all to see.
I will paste a copy of the flyer for each of the two events here for all to copy and share.
NURSE-OUT
SPEAK-OUT
Applebee's violated KRS 211.755
Educate Lexington that KY law protects public breastfeeding and mothers should never be asked to move, hide, cover up, or leave.
Decorate posters and display them at a peaceful Nurse-Out.
THEME: Breastfeeding in public is Legal
DATE: Saturday, September 8, 2007(in case of rain date 9/22/07)
LOCATION: 4009 Nicholasville RoadLexington KY
On the public sidewalk in front of Applebee's
Exercise caution and do not block the right of way.
News crews will be reporting.
Do not park in Applebee's parking lot!
I hope everyone can pass this on to as many as possible. Every "quotation" is in the exact wording. I am also willing to share copies of the actual correspondence between our lawyer and Applebee's.
Thank you for your support,
Brooke Ryan
Monday, August 27, 2007
Banned from Facebook permanently-----Facebook will not tolerate breastfeeding pictures
Hi Karen,
After reviewing your situation, we have determined you violated ourTerms of Use. Please note, nudity, drug use, or other obscene contentis not allowed on the website. Additionally, we do not allow users to send threatening, obscene, and harassing messages. Unsolicited messages will also not be tolerated. We will not be able to reactivate your account for any reason. This decision is final.
Thanks for understanding,
Anthony
Customer Support Representative
Facebook
Thans for understanding?????????????
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
Facebook, you're messing with the WRONG lactivist.
After reviewing your situation, we have determined you violated ourTerms of Use. Please note, nudity, drug use, or other obscene contentis not allowed on the website. Additionally, we do not allow users to send threatening, obscene, and harassing messages. Unsolicited messages will also not be tolerated. We will not be able to reactivate your account for any reason. This decision is final.
Thanks for understanding,
Anthony
Customer Support Representative
Thans for understanding?????????????
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
Facebook, you're messing with the WRONG lactivist.
Sunday, August 26, 2007
Letter to Facebook regarding my account suspension
My fellow lactivist and friend Gen has started a facebook group in regards to my Facebook ban. Please join.
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=5066391459
And here is the letter, also composed by Gen, protesting my suspension. Please feel free to copy and paste and send an email to privacy@facebook.com. or a snail mail to 156 University Avenue, Palo Alto, CA 94301.
Dear Facebook Administrators,
I can only imagine how difficult it must be to monitor and maintain a site as grand as Facebook. With millions of members uploading photos and videos everyday, it must be virtually impossible to police the activity yourselves, hence the reporting system you chose to install. This "Neighborhood Watch" system is an ingenious way to stay on top of any activity that violates the Terms of Use as outlined by yourselves. However, even you must admit that such a broad allowance of watchdog citizenship can lead to all sorts of discrimination and personal vendettas.
Karen Speed is a militant breastfeeding rights activist - she's the first to admit it. But there are far bigger fish to fry than a mother who chooses to post photos of herself breastfeeding in her personal folders andl in breastfeeding support groups. She did not try to force her photos onto anyone who should not have been prepared to see them; after all, a folder labeled "breastfeeding" will contain photos of a mother's breast, and a group in support of breastfeeding will have the same paraphernalia.
Meanwhile, groups with photos of erect penises, exposed labia, and stills from Jenna Jameson movies are allowed to exist, regardless of complaints from persons such as myself.
That, however, is neither here nor there. My actual complaint is regarding Facebook's act of discrimination, intended or not, against Karen Speed. According to law in California, which is where I believe you are headquartered, a woman has the right to breastfeed in any location, public or private, that she is allowed to be in. Breastfeeding is a basic human right of mother and child, and it is protected by civil laws. A photo of a woman breastfeeding is no more scandalous or sensational than that of a woman bottle-feeding or spoon-feeding. In fact, a pair of augmented breasts in a skimpy bikini show more than what most women show while breastfeeding.
Karen Speed simply wants to share her pride and joy of being able to breastfeed her children with other like-minded people; unfortunately, someone who is not of this mind, took it upon themselves to repeatedly report her photos, even though they were posted in her personal folders and in breastfeeding support groups. In other words, this was an act of prejudice, and Facebook's suspension of Karen's account, in its support of such prejudiced ideas, was a blatant act of discrimination.
Please contact your in-house legal team regarding the terms of use, as I don't feel photos of a breastfeeding mother and infant are in any way pornographic, "harmful, threatening, unlawful, defamatory, infringing, abusive, inflammatory, harassing, vulgar, obscene, fraudulent, invasive of privacy or publicity rights, hateful, or racially, ethnically or otherwise objectionable or which restricts or inhibits any other person from using or enjoying the Site, or which may expose Company or its users to any harm or liability of any type."
Thank-you very much for your time and effort regarding this matter.
Sincerely,
"your name here"
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=5066391459
And here is the letter, also composed by Gen, protesting my suspension. Please feel free to copy and paste and send an email to privacy@facebook.com. or a snail mail to 156 University Avenue, Palo Alto, CA 94301.
Dear Facebook Administrators,
I can only imagine how difficult it must be to monitor and maintain a site as grand as Facebook. With millions of members uploading photos and videos everyday, it must be virtually impossible to police the activity yourselves, hence the reporting system you chose to install. This "Neighborhood Watch" system is an ingenious way to stay on top of any activity that violates the Terms of Use as outlined by yourselves. However, even you must admit that such a broad allowance of watchdog citizenship can lead to all sorts of discrimination and personal vendettas.
Karen Speed is a militant breastfeeding rights activist - she's the first to admit it. But there are far bigger fish to fry than a mother who chooses to post photos of herself breastfeeding in her personal folders andl in breastfeeding support groups. She did not try to force her photos onto anyone who should not have been prepared to see them; after all, a folder labeled "breastfeeding" will contain photos of a mother's breast, and a group in support of breastfeeding will have the same paraphernalia.
Meanwhile, groups with photos of erect penises, exposed labia, and stills from Jenna Jameson movies are allowed to exist, regardless of complaints from persons such as myself.
That, however, is neither here nor there. My actual complaint is regarding Facebook's act of discrimination, intended or not, against Karen Speed. According to law in California, which is where I believe you are headquartered, a woman has the right to breastfeed in any location, public or private, that she is allowed to be in. Breastfeeding is a basic human right of mother and child, and it is protected by civil laws. A photo of a woman breastfeeding is no more scandalous or sensational than that of a woman bottle-feeding or spoon-feeding. In fact, a pair of augmented breasts in a skimpy bikini show more than what most women show while breastfeeding.
Karen Speed simply wants to share her pride and joy of being able to breastfeed her children with other like-minded people; unfortunately, someone who is not of this mind, took it upon themselves to repeatedly report her photos, even though they were posted in her personal folders and in breastfeeding support groups. In other words, this was an act of prejudice, and Facebook's suspension of Karen's account, in its support of such prejudiced ideas, was a blatant act of discrimination.
Please contact your in-house legal team regarding the terms of use, as I don't feel photos of a breastfeeding mother and infant are in any way pornographic, "harmful, threatening, unlawful, defamatory, infringing, abusive, inflammatory, harassing, vulgar, obscene, fraudulent, invasive of privacy or publicity rights, hateful, or racially, ethnically or otherwise objectionable or which restricts or inhibits any other person from using or enjoying the Site, or which may expose Company or its users to any harm or liability of any type."
Thank-you very much for your time and effort regarding this matter.
Sincerely,
"your name here"
Saturday, August 25, 2007
Facebook STILL harrassing me
I received this email today:
Hi,
Our systems indicate that you've been misusing certain features on thesite. This email serves as a warning. Misuse of Facebook's featuresor violating Facebook's terms of use may result in your account beingdisabled . Thanks in advance for your understanding and cooperation. If you have any questions, please contact warning@facebook.com from your login email address.
The Facebook Team
MY ACCOUNT HAS BEEN DISABLED!
I can only assume that this comes as a result of my continued posting of breastfeeding pictures. The group "Hey, Facebook, breastfeeding is not obscene (Official Petition to Facebook) now has over 6000 registered members. Does this mean nothing? When is Facebook going to GET IT that breastfeeding is NOT OBSCENE!!!!!!
I sent this email in return:
I received this email from facebook today. I am very confused as to which services I have been misusing. On the contrary, I feel that as a contributing member of facebook, I have valuable services to offer, such as a support group for children with cystic fibrosis, an online support group for new mothers having trouble breastfeeding their babies, as well as particiaption in various charities and causes.
I am very hurt that a moderator would accuse me of misusing facebook services, and I would appreciate a reply with a description of how I am doing so.
Sincerely,
KS
And received an automated response.
Hi,
Action has been taken on your account, and Facebook Customer Support has received your inquiry. We will review your situation and get back to you as soon as possible.Thanks for contacting Facebook.-
Facebook Customer Support
I say BOOOOOOOOOOOOO to facebook! Shame on you!
Hi,
Our systems indicate that you've been misusing certain features on thesite. This email serves as a warning. Misuse of Facebook's featuresor violating Facebook's terms of use may result in your account beingdisabled . Thanks in advance for your understanding and cooperation. If you have any questions, please contact warning@facebook.com from your login email address.
The Facebook Team
MY ACCOUNT HAS BEEN DISABLED!
I can only assume that this comes as a result of my continued posting of breastfeeding pictures. The group "Hey, Facebook, breastfeeding is not obscene (Official Petition to Facebook) now has over 6000 registered members. Does this mean nothing? When is Facebook going to GET IT that breastfeeding is NOT OBSCENE!!!!!!
I sent this email in return:
I received this email from facebook today. I am very confused as to which services I have been misusing. On the contrary, I feel that as a contributing member of facebook, I have valuable services to offer, such as a support group for children with cystic fibrosis, an online support group for new mothers having trouble breastfeeding their babies, as well as particiaption in various charities and causes.
I am very hurt that a moderator would accuse me of misusing facebook services, and I would appreciate a reply with a description of how I am doing so.
Sincerely,
KS
And received an automated response.
Hi,
Action has been taken on your account, and Facebook Customer Support has received your inquiry. We will review your situation and get back to you as soon as possible.Thanks for contacting Facebook.-
Facebook Customer Support
I say BOOOOOOOOOOOOO to facebook! Shame on you!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
