Pearl Jam Cancels 4/20 Raleigh, NC Concert in Opposition to HB2; Official Band Statement

JP Losman

Caught-A-Bolt-Of-Lightning said:

MayDay10 said:

We dont want more shows cancelled. Less=better than. The less fans who feel this bitter disappointment, the better

^^^ This...^^^

No kidding. The point is they are hypocrites and that PJ handled this bad as did Bruce.

PJ_Soul

Merkin Baller said:

ComeToTX said:

I'd like to hear it. I think those of us out hundreds should know why they waited so long.

This.

It's a noble cause which I support, and I admire the band's stance on it, just not the timing.

I also can't help but feel so many of the social justice warriors here wouldn't be so cavalier about lost travel expenses if it was them who lost out on a paycheck or two (or three).

Don't mistake support for what the band is doing for being cavalier.

PJ_Soul

JP Losman said:

If they truly believe in this cause, they will cancel MSG and Philly shows. There is not much of an economic hit by cancelling one PJ show in Raleigh, but the NBA all star game is BIG business. MSG and Philly both also are partners with the NBA, so by cancelling those shows, they are putting pressure on the NBA to go through with moving the All star game instead of just threats. If PJ truly is committed to making a difference and wants a good conscience, then they should do that.

But they won't. Because they aren't really doing this for the cause but for their image. And its not a debate or an opinion that they are hypocrites. Its a fact. Because you play in cities and states and countries with bad laws too but don't boycott, it makes you a hypocrite. Because you aren't going full out and doing everything within your power to overturn HB2 which could be helped by things like cancelling MSG and Philly, you are a hypocrite.

Now you can say its not a big deal and they can choose their battles and I agree with that. Doesn't change the fact they are hypocrites.

This is like saying that Gandhi is a hypocrite for not protesting against Britain's colonies in Africa (no, I don't mean the the band is like Gandhi, lol).

MayDay10

from the Raleigh Observer (where no mention of Pearl Jam's cancellation is to be seen)

http://www.newsobserver.com/opinion/editorials/article72741532.html
A federal court has undermined the legality of North Carolina’s HB2 law and raised the prospect that continuing with it could cost the state billions of dollars in federal funds.

On Tuesday, a transgender teenager, Gavin Grimm, with his attorneys won 2-1 support from a three-judge U.S. Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals panel. The majority found that Grimm needs to be heard in court on his suit regarding the fact that he was wrongly banned from the boys bathroom in his rural Virginia high school.

Grimm’s suit had been dismissed by a lower court, but the appeals panel found that he had a valid complaint given the current federal interpretation of transgender students’ rights.

In January, the U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Civil Rights delivered an opinion that said in part, “When a school elects to separate or treat students differently on the basis of sex ... a school generally must treat transgender students consistent with their gender identity.”

That apparently convinced a Fourth Circuit majority that Grimm had a case. As reported by The News & Observer’s Anne Blythe, Judge Henry Floyd of the Fourth Circuit wrote that, “The Department’s interpretation resolves ambiguity by providing that in the case of a transgender individual using a sex-segregated facility, the individual’s sex as male or female is to be generally determined by reference to the student’s gender identity.”

This appellate case was first argued in January, but North Carolina’s Republican leaders recklessly did not wait on a ruling. They passed HB2, which overturned a Charlotte City Council decision to allow transgender individuals to use the bathroom of the gender with which they identify. Legislators also prohibited local governments from passing anti-discrimination laws of their own protecting transgender people and gay and lesbian people.

But now, the Fourth Circuit has thrown HB2 into a chaotic legal fight. And the decision might even affect federal funding, billions of dollars, if the state is found in violation of Title IX, the federal law that covers gender harassment and also discrimination.

Ledbetterman10

PJ_Soul said:

JP Losman said:

If they truly believe in this cause, they will cancel MSG and Philly shows. There is not much of an economic hit by cancelling one PJ show in Raleigh, but the NBA all star game is BIG business. MSG and Philly both also are partners with the NBA, so by cancelling those shows, they are putting pressure on the NBA to go through with moving the All star game instead of just threats. If PJ truly is committed to making a difference and wants a good conscience, then they should do that.

But they won't. Because they aren't really doing this for the cause but for their image. And its not a debate or an opinion that they are hypocrites. Its a fact. Because you play in cities and states and countries with bad laws too but don't boycott, it makes you a hypocrite. Because you aren't going full out and doing everything within your power to overturn HB2 which could be helped by things like cancelling MSG and Philly, you are a hypocrite.

Now you can say its not a big deal and they can choose their battles and I agree with that. Doesn't change the fact they are hypocrites.

This is like saying that Gandhi is a hypocrite for not protesting against Britain's control of Australia (no, I don't mean the the band is like Gandhi, lol).
It is NOT hypocritical to pick a specific fight.

I'm not sure boycotting something is "picking a fight." It's more tantamount to "taking your ball and going home." Boycotting a service that you need is a different story. For example, if the gas prices rose to such an astronomical price due not to the cost of gas, but to the greed of the oil industries, and people boycotted getting gas and began walking/riding bikes in protest.

jeffwalsh

JP Losman said:

How have they picked a side? They haven't moved the all star game yet. Just threats.

There's a difference between picking a side and deciding how to move forward from there, but that seems like too much nuance on the day of a canceled show. ;-)

ComeToTX

I've seen very little coverage of PJ canceling. Nothing like with Bruce and I saw more about Mumford deciding to play.

JP Losman

PJ_Soul said:

JP Losman said:

If they truly believe in this cause, they will cancel MSG and Philly shows. There is not much of an economic hit by cancelling one PJ show in Raleigh, but the NBA all star game is BIG business. MSG and Philly both also are partners with the NBA, so by cancelling those shows, they are putting pressure on the NBA to go through with moving the All star game instead of just threats. If PJ truly is committed to making a difference and wants a good conscience, then they should do that.

But they won't. Because they aren't really doing this for the cause but for their image. And its not a debate or an opinion that they are hypocrites. Its a fact. Because you play in cities and states and countries with bad laws too but don't boycott, it makes you a hypocrite. Because you aren't going full out and doing everything within your power to overturn HB2 which could be helped by things like cancelling MSG and Philly, you are a hypocrite.

Now you can say its not a big deal and they can choose their battles and I agree with that. Doesn't change the fact they are hypocrites.

This is like saying that Gandhi is a hypocrite for not protesting against Britain's colonies in Africa (no, I don't mean the the band is like Gandhi, lol).

Would you say Gandhi was a hypocrite for refusing to let his wife to get penicillin and dying and then taking it yourself when you are in need of it?

Its not the same thing. Its all related to HB2. I've already accepted that PJ doesn't thing racial discrimination and women's rights are worthy of the same effort and fight as this issue.

bookerT

Bidding is now open for the Isle of Wight 2012 poster signed by the band to benefit NC Sustainable Energy Association and the Vitalogy Foundation. Bidding will close next Weds. CLICK HERE: www.ebay.com/itm/121962398003

perljam

I have a suggestion for those telling fellow fan club members " It's only money ". Pick out a random member who lost out on the NC show , and write them a check for all money lost. This way you feel all warm and fuzzy inside and everyone is happy. After all ....its only money , right ?

MayDay10

ComeToTX said:

I've seen very little coverage of PJ canceling. Nothing like with Bruce and I saw more about Mumford deciding to play.

Just did a quick google search for news for "Pearl Jam Cancel". Most recent story (that appears) written about it was yesterday.


Again, I support opposing the law. This action by the band was silly, pointless, and didnt do right at all by the fans. Just looking through the Raleigh Observer today, this law was already getting a ton of press, and at least in Raleigh.... its overly negative towards the law.

PJ_Soul

Ledbetterman10 said:

PJ_Soul said:

JP Losman said:

If they truly believe in this cause, they will cancel MSG and Philly shows. There is not much of an economic hit by cancelling one PJ show in Raleigh, but the NBA all star game is BIG business. MSG and Philly both also are partners with the NBA, so by cancelling those shows, they are putting pressure on the NBA to go through with moving the All star game instead of just threats. If PJ truly is committed to making a difference and wants a good conscience, then they should do that.

But they won't. Because they aren't really doing this for the cause but for their image. And its not a debate or an opinion that they are hypocrites. Its a fact. Because you play in cities and states and countries with bad laws too but don't boycott, it makes you a hypocrite. Because you aren't going full out and doing everything within your power to overturn HB2 which could be helped by things like cancelling MSG and Philly, you are a hypocrite.

Now you can say its not a big deal and they can choose their battles and I agree with that. Doesn't change the fact they are hypocrites.

This is like saying that Gandhi is a hypocrite for not protesting against Britain's control of Australia (no, I don't mean the the band is like Gandhi, lol).
It is NOT hypocritical to pick a specific fight.

I'm not sure boycotting something is "picking a fight." It's more tantamount to "taking your ball and going home." Boycotting a service that you need is a different story. For example, if the gas prices rose to such an astronomical price due not to the cost of gas, but to the greed of the oil industries, and people boycotted getting gas and began walking/riding bikes in protest.

boy·cott/ˈboiˌkät/
verb

withdraw from commercial or social relations with (a country, organization, or person) as a punishment or protest.

noun

a punitive ban that forbids relations with certain groups, cooperation with a policy, or the handling of goods.

PJ_Soul

So how many people are no longer fans because of this btw? Let's take a head count.

MayDay10

Im not sure. How many said that?

DR295987

sk8drchik said:

I have read SO many comments since yesterday and I see so many upset over this, rightfully so. QUESTION: How many of you actually feel so slighted with this that you will not renew your 10c membership, ask for ticket refunds to upcoming shows, etc? I would be in tears if I had tickets to this show and made travel plans. I'm not sure how I would handle it.

i'm doing all of the above and I have tics for both fenway shows....

JP Losman

http://www.indyweek.com/music/archives/2016/04/20/eleven-things-eddie-vedder-is-probably-doing-today

jeffwalsh

MayDay10 said:

from the Raleigh Observer (where no mention of Pearl Jam's cancellation is to be seen)

http://www.newsobserver.com/news/politics-government/politics-columns-blogs/under-the-dome/article72453082.html

ComeToTX

PJ_Soul said:

So how many people are no longer fans because of this btw? Let's take a head count.

Shockingly we can be fans and not agree with everything they do.

jeffwalsh

ComeToTX said:

I've seen very little coverage of PJ canceling. Nothing like with Bruce and I saw more about Mumford deciding to play.

More than 775 articles so far, according to Google News...

MayDay10

jeffwalsh said:

MayDay10 said:

from the Raleigh Observer (where no mention of Pearl Jam's cancellation is to be seen)

http://www.newsobserver.com/news/politics-government/politics-columns-blogs/under-the-dome/article72453082.html

from the 18th...