US mum reported to police for breastfeeding in public park

A US mum’s day out with her kids took a sour turn when a park official reported her to the police for breastfeeding her two-year-old.

Michelle Ayala was at the Franklin Pond Beach in Sussex County, New Jersey, on July 31 with her three children, a friend, and her friend’s child.

She was nursing her daughter Daisy when the recreation department official approached her.

“She said, ‘I see what you’re doing there. Do you think you can do that somewhere else?’” Ayala recalls to News 4 New York.

This assertion was correct: public breastfeeding is legal in all 50 US states, including New Jersey. Idaho and Utah were the last two states to legalise it, passing laws earlier this year.

Despite this, the park official - identified in reports as Recreation Committee Secretary Donna Vreeland - told Ayala to “cover up” because the people on the beach would find the sight offensive.

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“I said, ‘I understand, but I’m still going to stay and nurse, she’s trying to go to sleep’,” the mum of three tells NJ.com.

“And then she raised her voice and yelled, ‘I’m going to call the cops on you.’”

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The woman went through with her threat, but fortunately for Ayala, the responding police officer knew she hadn’t done anything unlawful and quickly left the scene.

“He said, ‘I support you completely, thank you for your time, thank you for your patience. I know this is silly, these are your rights,’” Ayala tells News 4.