Musical Artist Bruce Springsteen Wrote Something That Is Rocking The World


“Some things are more important than a rock show and this fight against prejudice and bigotry…” Bruce Springsteen wrote in his impassioned Facebook announcement today.

The musical artist is canceling his concert in North Carolina in protest of the HB2 bill.

North Carolina’s General Assembly recently passed the HB2 bill. This bill blocks cities and counties from passing protections for LGBT discrimination.

The bill prohibits employers from discriminating against their employee or customers for race, color, country of origin, religion, age or “biological sex.” Gender and sexual orientation receive no protection under this bill.

The “bathroom bill” as many are calling it, prohibits transgender students in schools from using the bathroom which they feel comfortable in.

Springsteen’s full Facebook message below:

“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.”

In 2010 musical artists similarly boycotted performances in Arizona. SB1070, an immigration law, passed in 2010. That bill promoted racial profiling, stating that a citizen can be detained under “reasonable suspicion” of not being a citizen, just for their skin color. 

PHOENIX - MAY 29: Demonstrators holding signs prepare to march through downtown to protest Arizona's controversial immigration law SB1070 on May 29, 2010 in Phoenix, Arizona. Organizers were predicting 50,000 people would participate in the march. (Photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images)
PHOENIX – MAY 29: Demonstrators holding signs prepare to march through downtown to protest Arizona’s controversial immigration law SB1070 on May 29, 2010 in Phoenix, Arizona. Organizers were predicting 50,000 people would participate in the march. (Photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images)


 Zack de la Rocha, Rage Against the Machine frontman, organized the strike

“Fans of our music, our stories, our films and our words can be pulled over and harassed every day because they are brown or black, or for the way they speak, or for the music they listen to,” de la Rocha declared “We are asking artists the world over to stand with us, and not allow our collective economic power to be used to aid and abet civil and human rights violations that will be caused by Arizona’s odious law.”

Hopefully, more high-profile performers will also put their foot down in protest of the disturbing and prejudicial HB2 bill.

Featured Image by Jamie Squire/Getty Images