Bruce Springsteen Performs “Streets of Minneapolis” at No Kings Rally: “Your Strength and Commitment Show That America Still Exists”
According to the CinemaDrame News Agency, Bruce Springsteen performed a live rendition of his protest song Streets of Minneapolis on Saturday night at the No Kings Rally in St. Paul, Minnesota, expressing gratitude to local residents and praising their courage and hope in the face of recent ICE-related conflicts.
After being introduced by Tim Walz, who called Donald Trump a “self-proclaimed dictator,” Springsteen took the stage at the Minnesota State Capitol and addressed the crowd:
“Last winter, federal forces brought death and fear to the streets of Minneapolis. But they picked the wrong city. The strength and solidarity of the people of Minneapolis and Minnesota inspired the entire nation.”
He then lauded the crowd’s resistance against ICE’s presence, adding:
“Your power and commitment showed us that America still exists, and this reactionary nightmare and these attacks on American cities will not endure. You gave us hope, you gave us courage, and for those who gave their lives—Renee Good, a mother of three, brutally murdered, and Alex Pertey, a VA nurse, shot by ICE and left in the street without even an investigation by our lawless government—their courage and sacrifice, and their names, will not be forgotten.”
Springsteen then performed Streets of Minneapolis, a protest song released in January in response to “state-sanctioned terror inflicted on the city of Minneapolis.” He dedicated the song to the people of the city, innocent immigrant neighbors, and those who lost their lives to ICE actions.
In a statement accompanying the release of the track, he said:
“I wrote this song on Saturday, recorded it yesterday, and present it to you today, in response to state-sanctioned terror inflicted on the city of Minneapolis. This work is dedicated to the people of Minneapolis, our innocent immigrant neighbors, and in memory of Alex Pertey and Renee Good. Stay free, Bruce Springsteen.”
An accompanying fiery video was released, featuring footage of ICE clashes with protesters and Springsteen performing in his home studio. The following day, he performed the song unannounced at a daytime benefit concert in Minneapolis.
Springsteen’s appearance at the No Kings Rally on Saturday precedes the start of his Land of Hope and Dreams tour, which will begin on Tuesday at the Target Center in Minneapolis.
