Facebook

Women Protest Breastfeeding Mother's Firing From New Jersey Hotel

About 20 women, some breastfeeding, gathered to protest the firing of a young mother from a New Jersey Hampton Inn.

NJ.com reported Sunday morning's protest in Bordentown was held in response to the firing of 21-year-old single mother Ariana Gossard.

Gossard said she was let go from her front desk receptionist job because the hotel couldn't accommodate her need for breaks to pump breast milk for her 3-month-old daughter.

"I was a little nervous about coming here," Gossard told NJ.com. "But the support is great. It's making me feel a little bit better about things."

U.S. Department of Labor, Wage and Hour Division laws require employers to provide "reasonable break time" for employees to pump breast milk for nursing children under one year. The owner of the hotel was not available for comment, according to NJ.com. 

A local mother organized the protest after reading about Gossard on Facebook.

"It's really a shame," organizer Alison Gary told NJ.com. "She is entitled by her rights to pump and the Hampton Inn is breaking the law."

Protesters were forced to move to a different side of Route 130 following complaints by hotel employees.

Copyright AP - Associated Press
Contact Us