Advertisement Iowa DAS apologizes to breastfeeding women at Statehouse Share Shares Copy Link Copy

Iowans participating in the second annual Nationwide Nurse-In rally at the Statehouse became an example of the discrimination they were there to protest.WATCH VIDEO HERE. The nationwide event is designed to bring attention to breastfeeding discrimination -- and that it's not anything to be embarrassed about.The rally at the Capitol was invited to move inside due to the cold temperatures outside near 50 degrees on Friday.“(We’re) standing up for our right to breastfeed in public,” said Amber Schwickerath, of Charles City. “Our babies need to eat. If we nursed only at home, we would never leave our house.”The organizer of the rally said after being asked to move inside to help keep the babies warm, the group was asked to please cover up when breastfeeding. The Statehouse worker said there were concerns about tour groups passing by seeing the breastfeeding.The group said they would not cover up."I understand where she's coming from, but this is about normalizing it and doing it out in public so people can see," Schwickerath said. The Iowa Code 135.30A states, "A woman may breastfeed the woman's own child in any public place where the woman's presence is otherwise authorized." Both federal and state laws support breastfeeding in public."A lot of moms get harassment about, 'Go to the bathroom. You need to do that somewhere else. Go home and do that.' It's our right to breastfeed anywhere," Schwickerath said. Organizers of the rally said they were shocked by the request to cover up, which was exactly what their rally was all about.An Iowa Department of Administrative Services spokesperson admitted Friday the worker erred. A statement read in part, "The Iowa Department of Administrative Services apologizes for asking women who were breastfeeding in the Iowa Capitol to cover up during a special rally today. The department recognizes it is legal to breastfeed in public places and was in error in asking the women involved to cover up while breastfeeding during the event."Organizers said they hope this brought attention to unwarranted discrimination."You see more in a Hardee's ad than you do nursing," Schwickerath said.