Woman Allegedly Harassed For Breast-Feeding At Taco Bell
Family Receives Free Meal, Apology From Company
POSTED: Monday, July 14, 2003
UPDATED: 12:23 am EDT July 15,
2003
A local mother said nursing her baby sent a Southfield Taco Bell manager into a frenzy, Local 4 reported.
Corrina Jones, of Warren, told Local 4 that she came to the fast-food restaurant last month with her family of six after a long day of running errands. Jones said her older children were eating and she decided she would breast-feed her 5-week-old baby, Madeline.
"I didn't feel like I was doing anything wrong because ... I was just feeding her," Jones said.
Jones (pictured, left) said the restaurant was nearly empty, and her shirt hid her breast while she was feeding the child. But, the manager of the restaurant apparently tried to put a stop to it, Local 4 reported.
"The manager came storming out saying, 'You've exposed yourself. I saw your ... and you can't do that in the store. Go into the bathroom and do that or I'll call police,'" said Keith Jones, the baby's father.
Jones apparently refused to take the child into the bathroom or leave the restaurant. She said the manager reacted by locking the doors inside the restaurant, preventing any other customers from walking in to view the feeding, Local 4 reported.
After the family left the restaurant, Jones called the company's comment line and complained about the incident.
Jones received a free meal and an apology letter from a district manager for their dining experience, but she says that's not enough, Local 4 reported.
Jones told Local 4 she's breast fed her children several times in public and never received this type of reaction.
A spokesperson for Taco Bell said the manager was terminated for not following proper procedure in the incident. The company reportedly said they were sorry for any inconvenience that was caused.
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