On January 30, 2026, Bruce Springsteen shocked fans by performing his new protest song “Streets of Minneapolis” live for the first time at First Avenue in Minneapolis. The appearance was part of a benefit concert put on by Tom Morello of Rage Against the Machine to help the families of Alex Pretti and Renee Good, who were killed by ICE agents. Springsteen dedicated the rough, 4.5-minute song to people who live in Minneapolis, immigrant neighbors, and all Americans during the ongoing outrage over ICE enforcement.
“Streets of Minneapolis,” which came out just a few days earlier on January 28, responds to “state terror” from federal immigration raids by criticizing President Trump, DHS as his “private army,” Stephen Miller, and Kristi Noem. The lyrics make a picture: “A city on fire fought fire and ice / ‘Neath an occupier’s boots / King Trump’s private army the DHS / Federal thugs in bloody boots.” The chorus joins in with “In our chants of ‘ICE out now’ / Our heart and soul persists / Through broken glass and bloody tears / On the streets of Minneapolis.”
Springsteen said that Morello pushed for the song’s bold tone by saying, “Nuance is great, but sometimes you have to kick them in the teeth.” During the show, the crowd chanted “ICE out now!” and then Morello and the band sang “The Ghost of Tom Joad” together for a long time. Rise Against, Al Di Meola, and Ike Reilly were among the other acts, and all of the money raised went to the families of the victims.
The 76-year-old Grammy winner has protested against Trump in the past, including during his 2025 tour when he made sharp comments. This Minneapolis set fits with his history of making music that speaks out against injustice, from “Born in the U.S.A.” to more recent songs. The song quickly rose to the top of the charts, which made calls against ICE actions stronger.
