Popular Culture: Harry Potter: April 2003 Archives

Arkansas, United States: A judge has ordered a school district to return the Harry Potter books to library shelves after parents sued. Judge orders Harry Potter back onto shelves - Baxter Bulletin, 23rd April 2003.

United States: A lone fundie is trying to get the Harry Potter books banned from his local schools, and Antonio Rivera even claimed massive, but anonymous support for his campaign.

Why in the world [would] we want to teach our children witchcraft and sorcery? Rivera asked the board.

Rivera, who does not have any children, said he represented several reformed Protestant churches in the Fair Haven community, but would not name them.

The school board was not impressed.

It has been a phenomenal success in getting kids excited about reading, said Catherine Sullivan-DeCarlo, director of communications for New Haven Public Schools.

We're not doing anything different, she said, adding that this was the only request the school system had received to remove the books.

Board of Education President Carlos Torre said at the meeting that there is a difference between a book about a sorcerer and a book that teaches sorcery. Nevertheless, he did volunteer to meet with concerned citizens if necessary.

Resident calls for removal of 'Harry Potter'—Yale Daily News, 3rd April 2003. See also the same newspaper's editorial on the matter: First Amendment under fire and brimstone—Yale Daily News, 3rd April 2003.