The backlash against North Carolina’s law banning anti-discrimination ordinances kept going unabated Friday, as Bruce Springsteen announced that he was canceling a weekend show in the state in solidarity with those protesting the bill.
Springsteen and the E Street Band were scheduled to perform at the Greensboro Coliseum on Sunday night as part of their current tour, which continues in the United States this month and heads to Europe in May.
On Friday afternoon, Springsteen released a statement saying that he could no longer play the show.
“I feel that this is a time for me and the band to show solidarity for those freedom fighters,” Springsteen said in the message posted on his website. “As a result, and with deepest apologies to our dedicated fans in Greensboro, we have canceled our show scheduled for Sunday, April 10th.”
Springsteen’s stance comes as a host of major businesses and organizations have criticized North Carolina’s law, which prohibits transgender people from using bathrooms that don’t match the gender they were assigned at birth. This legislation also bans local governments from extending civil rights protections to gay and transgender people.
Earlier this week, PayPal announced that it would no longer open a facility in Charlotte due to the law. State officials had said PayPal’s facility would have pumped millions into the local economy by next year and employed 400 people.
Battles are erupting nationwide over gay rights and other social issues, fights that have repeatedly seen big business groups and entertainment figures square off with social conservatives.
“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,” Springsteen said. “It is the strongest means I have for raising my voice in opposition to those who continue to push us backwards instead of forwards.”
People who bought tickets would get refunds, Springsteen said.
