Bruce Springsteen Cancels North Carolina Show In Protest Of Law

This Sunday, Bruce Springsteen was slated to bring the E Street Band to the Greensboro Coliseum in Greensboro, North Carolina for a stop on The River Tour. Springsteen has canceled the show in protest of HB2, a law which dictates which bathrooms transgender people are permitted to use.

Read the full statement from BruceSpringsteen.net:

As you, my fans, know I’m scheduled to play in Greensboro, North Carolina this Sunday. As we also know, North Carolina has just passed HB2, which the media are referring to as the “bathroom” law. HB2 — known officially as the Public Facilities Privacy and Security Act — dictates which bathrooms transgender people are permitted to use. Just as important, the law also attacks the rights of LGBT citizens to sue when their human rights are violated in the workplace. No other group of North Carolinians faces such a burden. To my mind, it’s an attempt by people who cannot stand the progress our country has made in recognizing the human rights of all of our citizens to overturn that progress. Right now, there are many groups, businesses, and individuals in North Carolina working to oppose and overcome these negative developments. Taking all of this into account, I feel that this is a time for me and the band to show solidarity for those freedom fighters. As a result, and with deepest apologies to our dedicated fans in Greensboro, we have canceled our show scheduled for Sunday, April 10th. Some things are more important than a rock show and this fight against prejudice and bigotry — which is happening as I write — is one of them. It is the strongest means I have for raising my voice in opposition to those who continue to push us backwards instead of forwards.

“Some things are more important than a rock show” – we couldn’t agree more. Here’s an “explainer” on the new law. Refunds will be available via point of purchase for ticketholders. Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band will continue the tour on April 12th at the Schottenstein Center in Columbus, Ohio.