Pearl Jam Cancel Raleigh Concert to Oppose 'Bathroom Bill'

[jpak]

Source: Rolling Stone

Pearl Jam have canceled their Wednesday night concert in Raleigh, North Carolina to protest the state's recently passed HB2, also known as the "bathroom bill." In a handwritten statement, the band told fans, "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," Pearl Jam continued. "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."

Pearl Jam joins other artists like Bruce Springsteen, Ringo Starr and Boston in canceling North Carolina concerts in order to protest the controversial bill. Artists like Mumford & Sons, Cyndi Lauper and Laura Jane Grace similarly used their North Carolina concerts as platforms to raise money for groups fighting HB2. While Pearl Jam pulled out of their North Carolina show, the band has "communicated with local groups and will be providing them with funds to help facilitate progress on this issue," and point fans in the direction of a petition that calls for the repeal of HB2.

"The HB2 legislation targets the basic rights of transgender people and strips many nondiscrimination protections from the state’s lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community," the band explained. "In addition to harming LGBT North Carolinians, the law limits the ability of municipalities to provide living wages above what the state provides, closes the door on state courts as a recourse for employment nondiscrimination claims, and imposes the values of Raleigh lawmakers on local elected officials and the people they serve."

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Read more: http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/pearl-jam-cancel-raleigh-concert-to-oppose-bathroom-bill-20160418

[Hoyt]

1. It's great to see bands and others protesting this legislation.

[hibbing]

2. 4/20

I'm not a huge fan but saw them last year, fun show and they can really rock it up. Mike McCready can hammer on the guitar.

Peace

[Blandocyte]

3. Boycott every venue in a city that has "indency laws"

which penalize use of the opposite sex's bathroom. Oh, right, they'd go broke. Those laws were in place the last time they played there. Now there's no difference in the law. Why not boycott back then?

[mac56]

5. It's not about bathrooms

any more than Jim Crow laws were about water fountains.

[Skittles]

7. yup

[Blandocyte]

10. It is about bathrooms, from what I'm hearing people talk about

Who can go into whose bathroom now is no different than the last time they played there. But if the musical org now wants to punish the state for not changing the law over this issue that is only one of the issues to be considered in the decision over who goes into whose bathroom, I can admire their willingness to take a stand (or seat.)

Just seems funny to me that they'll probably play other venues where bathrooms are divied up by sex instead of gender and not play the venue where bathrooms are divied up by sex instead of gender.

[mac56]

11. Who can go into whose bathroom IS different now.

We've all been peeing next to trans people for ages. No one ever thought it was an issue until the RRW decided to make it so.

I'm so very, very glad that you admire their willingness to make certain groups into second-class citizens.

[Blandocyte]

12. How is the musical org making them second class?

[mac56]

13. Before we go on with this, please google "Jim Crow Laws."

Here, I'll start you out.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jim_Crow_laws

[Blandocyte]

14. This issue is not Jim Crow

And you didn't answer my question about Pearl Jam treating these folks as 2nd class.

[mac56]

15. Oh, I think it is, and I think I did.

Pearl Jam is decidedly NOT treating people as second class. (Just the opposite in fact.) The laws in the state are treating them that way.

But you know that. Sorry to say it, but you're being disingenuous and willfully obtuse.

[Blandocyte]

16. No, I don't think so

I think this issue is not a Jim Crow issue but you have a strong emotional attachment to the issue and that's cool with me. I think you're being disingenuious and willingly obtuse about that, and that is fine with me. Just don't insist that I do the same. I am willing to agree to disagree on this. We have a big tent. Rock on.

[Dont call me Shirley]

4. No jamming in NC.

[Skittles]

6. thanking Pearl Jam

I think it is important to send a message to these backwards bigots that we don't have to tolerate their bullshit

[E-Z-B]

8. Awesome, this one's huge!

[Zorra]

9. Pearl Jam!

Good people.