Gov. McCrory cancels Moogfest appearance

Gov. Pat McCrory has canceled plans to appear at Moogfest on Wednesday.

McCrory Communications Director Josh Ellis said in a statement Friday evening that, "It was at the request of Moogfest organizers that we changed our plans to attend this event."

Shortly after his attendance was announced, local residents organized a protest for during his visit.

"It's unfortunate that activist protestors are politicizing and negatively impacting an initiative aimed at growing the economy. Governor McCrory sends his best regards for for a successful event. The governor and (McCrory's wife) also look forward to many future trips to Asheville," Ellis' statement says.

Moogfest organizers and a McCrory spokesman initially differed over why McCrory would not appear as part of the kickoff panel of the five-day festival celebrating technology, music and innovation.

Jill Lieberman, a Moogfest spokeswoman, said Friday morning that McCrory would not attend "due to a scheduling conflict."

But after Ellis said Moogfest officials had asked that McCrory not come, Moogfest officials issued a statement reading only: "We regret any miscommunication between the Governor's office and Moogfest and we appreciate his support of the festival."

A Facebook page put up by protest organizers contains a lengthy list of issues over which they differ with McCrory, including women's health, state regulation of Duke Energy, voting rights and education funding.

A statement on the page Friday from Andrew LaFiosca says the protest around Vance Monument will still be held, at 2:30 p.m. Wednesday at Vance Monument.