Indio DMV Breastfeeding
INDIO-- A woman breastfeeding her baby at the Indio DMV says she was publicly humiliated by employees.
She called KMIR6, and we investigated the laws and regulations when it comes to breastfeeding in public. Upon investigation, we discovered the woman, Christina Williams, did not break any laws. It's perfectly legal in the state of California to breast feed in public.
Christina Williams says she was sitting in the waiting room at the Indio DMV on Tuesday, and started breastfeeding her 6-month-old daughter, Allysa. That's when Williams says the employees began to laugh and stare at her.
"They were laughing so hard and looked back at me, and were laughing so hard they had to stand up and walk away from their computers," says Williams.
Williams says she went outside for a breather.
"But I decided to go back in and talk to the manager. The manager came out- I was very emotional - I felt very humiliated and I shouldn't feel that way, because what I was doing what was natural," says Williams.
State law allows mothers to breastfeed in any location public or private, and the California DMV says it adheres to all state laws. DMV Spokesperson Jessica Gonzalaz went on to say quote, "The Indio DMV field office services 1,000 customers a day and the staff is trained in dealing with sensitive situations. A customer would never be asked to leave a field office for breastfeeding."
But Williams wasn't asked to leave. She says it was hurt by being made to feel uncomfortable about something she can legally and naturally do.
"Its really a simple issue of nutrition, it's how she gets her food- and that just happens to come from my breast," says Williams.
Williams says even though the manager was empathetic toward her, and even called a few days later to make sure she was okay, Williams says it shouldn't have happened in the first place, and filed a written complaint with the Indio DMV.





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