Music icon Bruce Springsteen made a powerful political statement on Friday, performing his newly released protest anthem Streets of Minneapolis for the first time live at Minnesota's National Shutdown demonstration. The 76-year-old rock legend took to the stage at the Defend Minnesota! benefit concert held at First Avenue, delivering a raw and timely musical critique directed at US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
A Swift Response to Tragedy
The Boss wrote and recorded the track with remarkable speed, releasing it officially on Wednesday just days after the killings of Minneapolis residents Renee Good and Alex Pretti, which have been attributed to ICE actions. In an Instagram post announcing the song, Springsteen stated he composed it on Saturday, recorded it on Tuesday, and released it on Wednesday 'in response to the state terror being visited on the city of Minneapolis.' He dedicated the work to the people of Minneapolis, 'our innocent immigrant neighbors' and to the memory of Good and Pretti, signing off with his characteristic 'Stay free, Bruce Springsteen.'
Overwhelming Public Reception
The immediate public response has been substantial. The official audio for Streets of Minneapolis has already amassed over 4.6 million views on YouTube. Furthermore, Springsteen's Instagram post announcing the new music has garnered more than 310,000 likes from his 2.1 million followers, indicating significant engagement with his political message.
Collaboration with Fellow Activists
The protest event was promoted by Rage Against the Machine guitarist Tom Morello, who shared a flier for Defend Minnesota! on his Instagram earlier in the week. Morello wrote passionately online, 'We are coming to Minneapolis where the people have heroically stood up against ICE, stood up against Trump, stood up against this terrible rising tide of state terror.' He emphasised that all proceeds from the event would go directly to the families of Renee Good and Alex Pretti.
On stage during the concert, Morello introduced Springsteen as 'my good friend and fellow freedom fighter.' Springsteen later shared an anecdote with the crowd about seeking Morello's advice before releasing the politically charged song. 'I say, "Tom, what do you think? It’s kind of soapboxy." He says, "Bruce, nuance is wonderful, but sometimes you have to kick them in the teeth."' Springsteen concluded his performance by dedicating the song to the people of Minneapolis, Minnesota, and the United States.
Context of Censorship and Protest
This surprise protest performance follows recent controversy in the UK, where a lyric from Springsteen's 1984 classic Born in the USA was censored by Absolute Radio. The station opted to mute the line 'to go and kill the yellow man' when playing the song, which critiques the treatment of Vietnam veterans. This backdrop of censorship highlights the enduring and sometimes contentious political nature of Springsteen's work, a tradition continued forcefully with Streets of Minneapolis.
The Defend Minnesota! concert featured other notable performers including Rise Against, Al Di Meola, and Ike Reilly, with promotional materials hinting at a 'very special guest,' which turned out to be Springsteen himself. This event underscores a growing trend of musical artists using their platforms for direct political activism and support for social justice causes.
