Rabble to cease stocking Rowling titles

Rabble Books and Games in the Perth suburb of Maylands has stated that while it will special order J K Rowling titles for customers who request them, it will no longer stock new books by the author and will ‘phase out the Harry Potter books too’.

In a statement on its Facebook page Rabble said that the decision was part of its ongoing efforts to make the shop ‘a safer space for our community’. Rowling has been criticised for a 2020 essay and social media comments on issues relating to transgender people. The fact that her latest novel under the pseudonym Robert Galbraith, Troubled Blood, features a male killer who dresses as a woman has drawn further criticism.

On Friday police were reportedly called to Rabble. Witnesses said a man refused to leave the shop, and owner Nat Latter confirmed to the West Australian the man was angered over the store’s announcement it would phase out stocking Harry Potter titles.

‘We asked him to leave and he refused,’ said Latter. ‘There are people who don’t agree with the decision that we made and they are welcome to tell us they don’t agree, but they also can’t stand there and say awful things.’

Rabble said it would donate the profits from any books it does sell by the author to TransFolk of WA, a support service for transgender people.

Category: Local news