Bruce Springsteen Cancels North Carolina Show in Protest of New "Bathroom Law"

Rock legend Bruce Springsteen has become the latest -- and high profile -- name to join the boycott of North Carolina in protest of the newly passed state law, HB2: Public Facilities Privacy and Security Act, that many feel promotes discrimination against the LGBT community. 

PayPal  announced earlier in the week that it has cancelled its proposed global operation center in Charlotte, taking 400 potential jobs with it. 

Springsteen announced in a statement on Friday that Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band's scheduled concert in Greensboro, North Carolina, on Sunday evening has been cancelled in protest of the law, claiming it to be "the strongest means I have for raising my voice in opposition to those who continue to push us backwards instead of forwards."

Springsteen's Statement

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.

A full refund will be offered to anyone holding a ticket for the cancelled show.

Bruce Springsteen & the E Street Band’s April 10th show is canceled. Tickets will be refunded at point of purchase. https://t.co/YahXTKffvV

— Bruce Springsteen (@springsteen) April 8, 2016