The intimidation campaign against JK Rowling is a warning to the rest of us

Activists and others call her a “transphobe,” but New York Times columnist Pamela Paul says the charge against J.K. Rowling falls flat. Paul bases that verdict on her own investigation and that of former Rowling critic E.J. Rosetta, who on Twitter declared, “You’re burning the wrong witch.”

But those who thirst for justice don’t always have time to consider evidence. The Leaky Cauldron, one of the biggest “Harry Potter” fan sites, turned on Rowling, as have some of the young actors whose careers she helped build. …

The impact of the Rowling row spreads far beyond Cherry. Its chill touches everyone from industry up-and-comers to gatekeepers who decide what kind of content reaches the masses.