Jeremy better sit right down and shut the hell up, because Pearl Jam won’t be playing in Raleigh this Wednesday, ruining the 4/20 plans of basically the entire NC State hacky sack club. Like Bruce Springsteen before them, the band is canceling a previously scheduled show in protest of North Carolina’s House Bill 2, the so-called “bathroom law” that requires people to use the facilities associated with the gender assigned to them at birth. (As we pointed out in a previous Newswire, exactly who will be sitting outside bathrooms and checking birth certificates at every rest stop and fast-food joint in the state remains unclear.)
The band announced the movie in a statement released earlier today, written out by hand because they’re artists like that and scanned by some anonymous member of their management team. But because it’s kind of hard to read, here’s the text of the statement instead:
It is with deep consideration and much regret that we must cancel the Raleigh show in North Carolina on April 20th.
This will be upsetting to those who have tickets and you can be assured that we are equally frustrated by the situation.
The HB2 law that was recently passed is a despicable piece of legislation that encourages discrimination against an entire group of American citizens. The practical implications are expansive and its negative impact upon basic human rights is profound. We want America to be a place where no one can be turned away from a business because of who they love or fired from their job for who they are.
It is for this reason that we must take a stand against prejudice, along with other artists and businesses, and join those in North Carolina who are working to oppose HB2 and repair what is currently unacceptable.
We have communicated with local groups and will be providing them with funds to help facilitate progress on this issue.
In the meantime we will be watching with hope and waiting in line for a time when we can return.
Perhaps even celebrate.
With immense gratitude for your understanding,
Pearl Jam
Refunds for the show will be provided at the point of purchase.