Mothers, babies gather at Topeka's Planet Sub to nurse in protest for breastfeeding moms

Nina Pisciotta and Farai Harreld didn’t know each other last week. But after Harreld posted a Facebook status July 17 detailing her experience being asked to leave a local sandwich shop because she was breastfeeding, Pisciotta reached out.

The two met today at an event Pisciotta organized — a nurse-in where mothers were invited to come and breastfeed their children at Planet Sub in Topeka, the same restaurant Harreld said she was asked to leave, move to the back of the restaurant or cover up with a towel while feeding her child earlier this week. The event was advertised on Facebook and more than 300 people said they were interested in going.

Planet Sub, 2130 S.W. Wanamaker Road, was full of women, men and many, many children beginning at noon Saturday. The families bought lunch, chatted and most importantly — breastfed.

“I think it’s important to have these kinds of events because we need to change the culture in the U.S. regarding breastfeeding,” Harreld said. “I think the reason why it’s so taboo is because women’s bodies are so sexualized, [but] breasts are for feeding children.”

Pisciotta, who lives in Lawrence, said she was “amazed” by the turnout.

“I am so happy,” she said. “[In] the breastfeeding community, you don’t get to tear any of us down.”

The goal of the event, Pisciotta said, was to make breastfeeding mothers feel more comfortable, create safe spaces for women to breastfeed and continue the conversation around the issue.

Greg Torrez, a father of two who was at Planet Sub on Saturday with his wife and kids, said they usually don’t participate in protest events but for them, this was different.

“We don’t believe any store or manager has the right to tell any woman where she can or can’t breastfeed at. That is a natural thing between her and her child,” he said. “If a child is hungry, he has to eat.”

According to the Kansas Breastfeeding Coalition, it is Kansas Law that a mother can breastfeed in any place that is open to the public.

Sandra Adams, a 29-year-old from Topeka, said she wasn’t aware it was the law that public businesses must allow women to breastfeed, and that she usually opted to nurse in her car or to go home when her baby was hungry.

“It used to limit my time of when I could be out,” she said.

Adams said this event has given her the confidence to breastfeed when, and where, her 6-month-old son needs it.

After Harreld shared her experience on Facebook and the post was shared over 160 times, Planet Sub co-owner Sean Kelly issued an apology to her.

The apology read:

“My name is Sean Kelly and I am the co-owner of Planet Sub. I have 4 kids, all breastfed. My business partner, Jeff, has 6 kids that were also breastfed. We sincerely apologize for your experience in Planet Sub. The manager does not have children and was unaware of the importance of breast feeding whenever and wherever needed. He has been educated by this experience and we have educated our entire company. I will say this manager is a hard working man of character.

Thank you for bringing this to our attention. Again, we sincerely apologize!”

Kelly was working Saturday at the time of the nurse-in and said he was pleased to see many women and their families show up.

“This is really cool,” he said of the turnout. “We’re excited they want to use this as a platform.”

Kelly said since the situation occurred, Planet Sub has created a policy to inform their managers and staff that women are allowed to breastfeed in their restaurants and should be supported to do so.

Kelly said Pisciotta told him of a pledge the restaurant could take through the Kansas Breastfeeding Coalition that declares it to be a safe space and welcoming environment. He said he plans on taking the pledge and hanging up the accompanying sticker so women know Planet Sub is committed to the cause.

He said he is also hoping to create an ongoing fundraiser at the Lawrence Yello Sub that would donate 20 percent of proceeds to the Kansas Breastfeeding Coalition.

Harreld said she was happy to see everyone come together.

“[It’s important] to show there is power in numbers and that we support all moms,” Harreld said.

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