Military Breastfeeding Spokeswoman Fired from Civilian Job
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George Doyle/Thinkstock(SPOKANE, Wash.) — Crystal Scott, spokeswoman for the organization behind the controversial photographs of military mothers’ breast-feeding in uniform, was fired from her first civilian job as an x-ray technician because of media attention, said her lawyer, Pat Bucannen.
Bucannen said Scott’s supervisor from Schryver Medical, a mobile medical services company in Spokane, Wash., knocked on her door on June 1 and asked her turn over her keys and company computer.
When Scott asked why, “the gentleman told her it was ‘due to the media,’” Bucannen said.
Scott said after he left, she cried.
“I believe that media was used as an excuse because I was advocating for gender equality as well,” said Scott, of her termination. “I was shocked after knowing that. I didn’t really know what to say. I was definitely not expecting it.”
Scott had been working at Schryver for 16 months. She received her x-ray technician certification in January 2011. Prior to that, she was a medic and served in the military for six years, and completed a tour in Iraq from 2004-2005.
Bucannen contacted Schryver Medical following Scott’s termination, but said she received no immediate response.
“[Later] they called back alleging she had all this misconduct in her file, and write-ups for rule violating,” she said. Schryver sent Bucannen Scott’s personal file, but she said “there was not a scintilla of evidence.”
A week after Scott’s termination, Bucannen said Schryver wrote up a document and sent it to her.
“They came up with the excuse that she violated rules and made all kinds of outrageous accusations,” she said. “I said [to Schryver], ‘You make those public — we’ll add defamation to the lawsuit.’”
Bucannen said no lawsuit has been filed yet, but if they decided to pursue legal action, they would be “suing [Schryver] for gender discrimination, retaliation, and wrongful termination.”
Schryver Medical could not be reached for comment.
When asked if she thought Scott was discharged based on the association with breast-feeding in uniform, she was unsure.
“That’s one thing we may never know. That’s something you’ll need to get in the head of the man who fired her to know.”
Scott said that everyone at the Fairchild Air Force Base encourages Mom2Mom’s advocacy.
“They have always been very supportive of us, the women and men all across base. They were telling us how much of an inspiration we were.”
Scott hopes to continue her work as an x-ray technician elsewhere.
“I really am so passionate about helping patients, I can’t describe to how much I love my career,” said Scott. “It was what I wanted to do. I’m hoping I can get employment with a company where I can showcase my skills.”
Copyright 2012 ABC News Radio