Massachusetts Candidate for Governor Runs Advertisement That Stereotypes Witches

Source: Chicago Tribune

On November 1, 1998, the Chicago Tribune issued anarticle concerning a television advertisement that was run by actingMassachusetts Governor Paul Celluci in his bid for election. In theadvertisement, which is supposed to attack the priorities of hisopponent Massachusetts Attorney General Scott Harshbarger, a"black-hatted, green-faced crone" was featured while an announcersaid that Harshbarger once threatened to prosecute a Christian groupfor harassing a group of Wiccans in Salem. In reaction to theadvertisement, a rally was staged at a debate between the twocandidates on October 26th and numerous phone calls were made to theCellucci campaign to denounce the stereotypical depiction of Witches.Amy Ravish, a high priestess and a member of the Council of Elders ofthe Temple of Nine Wells, called the advertisement "insulting."Laurie Cabot, founder of the Witches League for Public Awareness,denounced the advertisement but chose to focus on the more positiveeffect of bringing Witches together: "Thanks to Cellucci, we have acommon issue."