Ealing 'nurse-in' protestors shocked by company reaction

Police were called by Sports Direct to a peaceful demonstration outside the Ealing branch last Friday.

The group of mums was showing support for a woman who was told she couldn't breast feed her baby in the Nottingham store because it was 'against company policy'.

There have been protests throughout the country organised by the 'Free to Feed' movement who say mothers should be able to feed wherever they want.

Natasha Read, one of the Ealing organisers, says the protest was small and peaceful - just 12 mothers and children.

The women delivered a 'solidarity pom pom' and explained to the duty manager why they were there.

She says staff from Sports Direct took photographs of the protestors and responded in a heavy handed way to requests for them to be deleted:

'' Unbeknown to us at the time, this resulted in Sports Direct calling the police - the police said that Sports Direct felt the member of our demo who wanted the picture deleted was being intimidating!
''The police were absolutely lovely and said we were breaking no laws but we were all a bit shocked that Sports Direct called the police as it was a very peaceful demo.'' 

A Police spokesperson said:

'' Police were called at approximately 14.55 hrs on Friday, 2 May, to reports of a protest outside Sports Direct, Ealing Broadway. Police arrived at the scene to find four women peacefully protesting for breastfeeding in public. No offence disclosed.''

We asked for comment from Sports Direct and a spokesperson said:

'' The company is maintaining a no comment position at this time. We will let you know if that changes.''

May 6th 2014