How did Bruce Springsteen show solidarity in Minneapolis? Rock legend brings protest song to streets at benefit show

Bruce Springsteen, anti-ICE, Defend Minnesota! concert, Minneapolis, January 2026 - Source: Getty
Bruce Springsteen, anti-ICE, Defend Minnesota! concert, Minneapolis, January 2026 - Source: Getty

Bruce Springsteen finally performed his anti-ICE anthem live. The popular American singer took to the actual streets of Minneapolis on Friday afternoon to perform the recently released song at a daytime benefit concert organized by Rage Against the Machine’s Tom Morello.

The song, Streets of Minneapolis, was dedicated to the two recent victims of ICE, Renee Good and Alex Pretti and was released on Wednesday. Bruce Springsteen announced it on social media, writing:

“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. It's dedicated to the people of Minneapolis, our innocent immigrant neighbors and in memory of Alex Pretti and Renee Good. Stay free.”

The crowd at the daytime benefit concert resonated with the song, belting the lyrics “ICE out now!” in the final verse of the music.


Bruce Springsteen condemns the actions of ICE

During his Saturday, January 17, performance at the Light of Day Winterfest main event show in New Jersey, Bruce Springsteen condemned the actions of ICE and the killing of Renee Good. He also criticized the Trump administration's deployment of ICE agents to Minneapolis.

Before he delved into the performance of his hit song The Promise Land, which he described as one of his greatest and most revered songs, Bruce gave a touching monologue.

He said:

“I wrote this song as an ode to American possibility. It was about a both beautiful but flawed country, that we are, and the country that we could be. Right now, we are living through incredibly critical times. The United States, the ideals and the values for which it stood for the past 250 years, is being tested as it's never been in modern times.”

His audience broke into applause:

“Those values and those ideals have never been as endangered as they are right now. So as we gather tonight in this beautiful display of love and care and thoughtfulness and community, if you believe in democracy and liberty and believe the truth still matters, you must speak out, and it's worth fighting for.”

Springsteen encouraged his audience to be strong and defend their rights and values. He also sent a message to President Donald Trump:

“If you believe in the power of the law and that no one stands above it. If you stand against heavily armed masked federal troops invading an American city, using Gestapo tactics against our fellow citizens. If you believe you don't deserve to be murdered for exercising your American right to protest, send a message to this president, as the mayor of that city has said, ICE should get the f*ck out of Minneapolis.”

Adding:

“This song is for you and the memory of a mother of three, American Renee Good.”

Also read: What is Bruce Springsteen's "Streets of Minneapolis" about? Rock legend drops protest song

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Edited by Onuh Eunice