As part of a nation-wide protest against Applebee's Restaurants for their refusal to follow state laws, local protesters are scheduled to meet Saturday, September 8 at 12 p.m. at the Applebee's Restaurant on 9601 W Broad St, Glen Allen, VA.

Protests were instigated after an Applebee's in Kentucky violated state law by harassing Brooke Ryan, a breastfeeding mother, by insisting that she cover her baby with a blanket in order to avoid "indecent exposure" while nursing. Efforts to contact the company about the state laws in place to protect breastfeeding mothers ended after a two-month delay with a letter from Applebee's legal department that the chain would consider keeping blankets on hand and require breast-feeding women to cover themselves.


Three goals are at the focus of the national protest:

1. For Applebees to adopt and implement an official breastfeeding friendly policy as soon as possible.

2. Education and training of all employees regarding the breastfeeding policy.

3. Breastfeeding supporters to encourage their legislators to amend their state law to include an enforcement provision.

"Because most public breastfeeding laws do not provide a clear remedy for women who are harassed or discriminated against," said Salem Hamilton, Executive Director of Birth Without Boundaries, International, "we are asking for breastfeeding supporters across the country to encourage their legislators to add enforcement provisions to their state's laws that would provide the protection women and babies need."

On Friday, August 31, 2007, the official corporate response as given by Mr. Alex Bressette, Applebee's corporate office's International Guest Relations Manager, was, "Applebee's strives to provide a comfortable and enjoyable environment for all our guests. Our policies regarding breastfeeding are consistent with the laws of the states in which we operate."

In the spirit of the existing diversity and inclusion policy published by Applebee's Restaurants, Birth Without Boundaries, Intl. is asking the corporation to adopt and implement an official breastfeeding friendly policy. According to UNICEF, if infants worldwide were fed only mother's milk for their first six months, at least 1.3 million lives a year would be saved.

The September 8, 2007 event is sponsored by Birth Without Boundaries, International; a Pennsylvania based non profit organization committed to eliminating restrictions placed on birthing mothers and their babies.