Bruce Springsteen gave a performance of his protest song “Streets of Minneapolis” on Saturday at the No Kings protest in St. Paul, Minnesota, honoring the locals and commending them for their “hope” and “courage” amid ICE’s clashes with demonstrators earlier this year.
Following an introduction from Gov. Tim Walz, who called President Donald Trump a “wannabe dictator,” Springsteen took the stage at the Minnesota State Capitol to address the crowd. “This past winter, federal troops brought death and terror to the streets of Minneapolis,” he said. “Well, they picked the wrong city. The power and the solidarity of the people of Minneapolis and Minnesota was an inspiration to the entire country.”
He continued by celebrating the resilience of those in attendance in the face of ICE’s presence. “Your strength and your commitment told us that this is still America, and this reactionary nightmare and these invasions of American cities will not stand,” he said. “You gave us hope, you gave us courage, and for those who gave their lives. Renee Good, mother of three, brutally murdered, Alex Pretti, VA nurse, executed by ICE, shot in the back and left to die in the street without even the decency of our lawless government investigating their deaths. Their bravery, their sacrifice and their names will not be forgotten.”
Springsteen then performed “Streets of Minneapolis,” the protest song he released in January in response to what he called “the state terror being visited on the city of Minneapolis.” At the time, he dedicated the song to the city, “our immigrant neighbors” and in honor of the aforementioned residents slain by ICE agents.
“I wrote this song on Saturday, recorded it yesterday and released it to you today in response to the state terror being visited on the city of Minneapolis,” he said in a statement accompanying the song’s release. “It’s dedicated to the people of Minneapolis, our innocent immigrant neighbors and in memory of Alex Pretti and Renee Good. Stay free, Bruce Springsteen.”
He then followed with the release of a fiery video for the song, featuring footage from ICE’s clashes with demonstrators in the city alongside Springsteen performing in his home studio. The next day, he performed it during an unadvertised appearance at a daytime benefit concert in Minneapolis.
Springsteen’s appearance at the No Kings Rally on Saturday comes ahead of the launch of his “Land of Hope and Dreams” tour, kicking off on Tuesday at Minneapolis’ Target Center.
variety.com
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