Moms Hold Breastfeeding Rights 'Nurse-In' At Indy Airport

INDIANAPOLIS -- Several nursing mothers gathered at Indianapolis International Airport Tuesday as part of a "nurse-in" at airports across the country to protest an airline's treatment of a breast-feeding mother.

Mothers breast-fed in public as a sign of protest for the way a woman was treated on a Freedom Airlines flight, operated by Mesa Airlines and contracted by Delta Airlines.

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Emily Gillette, of Santa Fe, N.M., was removed from a flight in Vermont in October after she refused a flight attendant's request to cover her baby with a blanket while nursing.

Indianapolis women who took part in the protest near the Delta Airlines counter in the terminal fed their children and handed out fliers to people walking by, 6News' Julie Pursley reported.

"We know a lot of moms around the nation, and it was important that we didn't just sit around writing letters, that we showed up and said, 'You know, we really do exist, and we really do care,'" said Anne Simulis.

"It's more of an issue of not just the rights of moms, the rights of our children to eat whenever and wherever they have to," said Jocelyn Burmudez. "I don't think it's fair that nursing moms are criticized, because I think they should be commended for doing the best for their children."

Delta released a statement shortly after the incident that said the company supports a mother's right to breastfeed and that the company would use the incident as a training opportunity for all of its frontline employees.

"Delta regrets that this incident happened and is disappointed with the flight attendant's decision to remove Ms. Gillette … We're coordinating with Freedom to ensure that they deliver the level of service our customers expect and deserve."

Both airlines apologized to the family involved in the Vermont incident.