ACLU backs Southern Baptist Librarian

[jundp 191]

ST. LOUIS (AP) -- The American Civil Liberties Union of Eastern Missouri has filed a lawsuit against the city of Poplar Bluff after a library worker claims she was disciplined for failing to work at an event to promote a Harry Potter book.

Anthony Rothert with the ACLU in St. Louis says the woman, Deborah Smith, is a Southern Baptist who believes the Harry Potter series popularizes witchcraft and the practice of the occult.

He says she was suspended without pay for 10 days when she refused to work at a library event on July 21, 2007, for the release of "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows." He says Smith, who has a pacemaker, was given arduous tasks, like emptying out a book drop-off box, upon her return, and quit on her doctor's recommendation.

He says the lawsuit filed in federal court in Cape Girardeau Tuesday alleges violations of her civil and First Amendment rights and seeks unspecified damages. There was no immediate response from Poplar Bluff's attorney.

http://www.ksdk.com/news/news_article.aspx?storyid=147029

[Scott & Lai 12]

They actually got one right, for a change BTW, I have no problem at all with Harry Potter (and my Christian faith is no secret here), but I support Ms. Smith's standing up for her beliefs. Good for the ACLU!

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

Maybe... but is the workplace the right place to stand up for these kinds of beliefs?

If I chose to not show up for work out of protest about a few of the books my company sells; being suspended is surely the least of what would happen.