Statement Regarding Breastfeeding In Public Venues Such As Richmond International Airport (RIC)

Virginia law clearly supports a mother’s right to breastfeed her child in a public venue like Richmond International Airport. Unfortunately, yesterday afternoon, July 12, 2018, a law enforcement officer at the Airport, in response to a patron’s complaint, approached a nursing mother about breastfeeding her child in public.

The proper response would have been to advise the complainant of the mother’s right to breastfeed her child in public venues like the Airport, instead of offering alternatives to the nursing mother in an attempt to mitigate the complaint.

We apologize to the mother for this unfortunate encounter. Additionally, in further response to this matter, the RIC Chief of Police, in communications with law enforcement personnel, will reaffirm and emphasize a mother’s right to breastfeed her child in public, the Airport’s commitment to the enforcement of this right, and the appropriate response to complaints regarding the exercise of such rights.