Springsteen cancels NC show for ‘fight against prejudice and bigotry’

GREENSBORO, NC (WWAY) — Rock legend Bruce Springsteen says he and his E Street Band are taking a stand by cancelling a concert scheduled for Sunday in North Carolina.

In a statement on his website and social media, Springsteen said the state’s recent passage of the Public Facilities Privacy and Security Act (HB2) “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.”

Supporters of the law, which passed during a special legislative session called to block a Charlotte ordinance allowing transgender people to use the restroom of the gender they identify with, say it provides common sense privacy protections for people in North Carolina. But the law has come under fire from many groups and businesses who say it promotes discrimination.

“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,” Springsteen’s statement continues. “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.”

According to Springsteen’s website, anyone who had tickets to the Greensboro show can get a refund where they bought them.