Pearl Jam has joined the growing list of entertainers to cancel a concert in North Carolina after the state passed the controversial House Bill 2 on March 23.

The group was scheduled to play PNC Arena in Raleigh on Wednesday but announced on Monday “with deep consideration and much regret that we must cancel the Raleigh show.”

The statement acknowledged “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 band announced it had communicated with local groups and would be “providing them with funds to help facilitate progress on this issue.”

Pearl Jam was joined by Boston in canceling shows on Monday. Boston was scheduled to play in Cary, Greensboro and Charlotte but cancelled all of the performances.

Read the full statement from Pearl Jam below:

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

Related Stories
‹
Talking Culture: Brandon Rector Is 'No Guide' to Pearl Jam
This week, Aaron welcomes Chapel Hill's Brandon Rector, who's just co-authored a book that takes a deep dive into Pearl Jam.
The US Could See Shortages and Higher Retail Prices if a Dockworkers Strike Drags On
U.S. ports from Maine to Texas shut down Tuesday when the union representing about 45,000 dockworkers went on strike.
Health Experts, Orange County Officials Share Concern for LGBTQ Wellbeing in Wake of NC Bills
The passage of two bills by the North Carolina General Assembly has drawn condemnation from some elected bodies in Orange County and local pediatric health experts alike for their anti-LGBTQ+ elements. The bills’ sponsors say the elimination of gender-affirming medical care for those under 18, as well as the requirement of educators to alert parents […]
Former North Carolina Gov. McCrory Enters U.S. Senate Race
Written by GARY D. ROBERTSON Former Republican Gov. Pat McCrory on Wednesday announced he’ll run for the U.S. Senate in North Carolina, shaking up the calculus in the expanding field to succeed retiring Sen. Richard Burr with the entrance of a veteran of statewide politics. McCrory, who served as governor for four years through 2016, revealed […]
Orange County Governments to Vote on LGBTQ Anti-Discrimination Laws
Following the expiration of a three-year state ban blocking those protections, local governments in Orange County will consider adopting new safeguards against LGBTQ discrimination at their respective meetings this week.
Transgender Community, Advocates Look to Expiration of NC Law As Chance for Local Changes
North Carolina's HB142 had one provision against nondiscriminatory laws expire Tuesday. Members of the LGBTQ community now see it as a chance for change.
Whitey Bulger Juror says She Regrets Murder Conviction
The notorious crime boss James “Whitey” Bulger terrorized Boston from the 1970s into the 1990s with a campaign of murder, extortion, and drug trafficking, then spent 16 years on the lam after he was tipped to his pending arrest. In 2013, Janet Uhlar was one of 12 jurors who found Bulger guilty in a massive […]
Chansky's Notebook: The Real Jerks
The Hurricanes fans swept ’em — in class, at least. What looked like another drive for the Stanley Cup ended in near humiliation on the ice, as the Hurricanes were swept and outscored 17-5 by the Bruins, who proved to be far superior in almost every way. But if it matters, Canes fans won their […]
'Bathroom Bill' Fallout: North Carolina to Lose Netflix Show
The lingering fallout from North Carolina’s controversial “bathroom bill” may force a new Netflix series about the state’s Outer Banks to film in South Carolina. Show creator Jonas Pate tells The StarNews of Wilmington that Netflix has picked up “OBX,” with filming slated to begin this spring. He says the streaming service passed on filming in North […]
Judge Mulls Letting Bathroom Bill Fight Proceed
A federal judge needs time to consider whether transgender plaintiffs can proceed with a lawsuit challenging a North Carolina law that replaced the state’s “bathroom bill.” U.S. District Judge Thomas Schroeder heard arguments Monday over a request by Republican lawmakers to dismiss the lawsuit. He said at the end of the hearing that he would […]
›