Peter Aitken: HB2 brings injustice

Many people, including our benighted governor, have tried to use the label “hypocrite” to tar organizations, such as the NCAA, that are boycotting North Carolina over House Bill 2. Why? Because they are not also boycotting other countries or states with similar laws. This argument is pure nonsense; it tells us, in effect, that we are not allowed to protest one injustice unless we protest them all. Really?

And it overlooks the unfortunate fact that the North Carolina situation is particularly egregious, with a state law rushed through in a special session, without public comment, specifically to overturn a lawfully passed local ordinance, and then immediately signed by a governor who apparently did not bother to read it.

HB2 took away existing rights (despite lies to the contrary) and took away the ability of localities to control some of their own affairs.

And then we saw the astonishing parade of lies uttered by the Republicans ever since, led by that drum major of lies “it’s for the safety of our wives and daughters.”

Shame on the North Carolina government and sympathy to the many people and businesses suffering as a result.

This story was originally published September 24, 2016 at 6:00 PM with the headline "Peter Aitken: HB2 brings injustice."