Bruce Springsteen leads Minnesota 'No Kings' protest with 'Streets of Minneapolis'
Protesters filled streets and town squares across the U.S. on Saturday in over 3,000 loosely coordinated events under the banner of "No Kings". The events on Saturday featured some of the biggest names, including Bruce Springsteen, who headlined the national flagship event in St. Paul, Minnesota. The iconic singer performed his protest song 'Streets of Minneapolis' and honored the locals for their "courage" that gave the entire nation "hope" amid the clashes with U.S Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers.
After an introduction from Governor Tim Walz, who called President Donald Trump a "wannabe dictator," Springsteen took the stage to address the crowd. "This past winter, federal troops brought death and terror to the streets of Minneapolis, but they picked the wrong city," he said as per Variety. He went on to add that the "power and the solidarity" of the people of Minneapolis and Minnesota served as an inspiration for the entire nation. He called the crackdown on immigration a "reactionary nightmare" and "invasions of American cities," which will not stand. "You gave us hope, you gave us courage," he said.
The Twin Cities were deemed a focal point of the March 28 protests after months of an immigration crackdown that included the fatal shootings of two American citizens, Renee Good and Alex Pretti, by federal ICE agents. Protestors marched toward a stage at the Capitol in St. Paul, flying Minnesota state and American flags. While the Minnesota Department of Public Safety estimated that 100,000 people took part, the organizers of the event claimed the number was 200,000, The New York Times reported.
Springsteen went on to mention the two victims of fatal shootings, Good and Pretti, during immigration raids by ICE agents. "Their bravery, their sacrifice, and their names will not be forgotten," he said before launching into his performance of 'Streets of Minneapolis', the protest song he released in January. The song became notable for its blunt political commentary, and it channels protests and criticisms of the federal crackdown on immigration in the city. "It's dedicated to the people of Minneapolis, our innocent immigrant neighbors, and in memory of Alex Pretti and Renee Good. Stay free," he said in a statement at the time of the song's release.
Springsteen separately told The Minnesota Star Tribune earlier this week that the "No Kings" movement is of great importance to him. "When you have the opportunity to sing something where the timing is essential, and if you have something powerful to sing, it elevates the moment, it elevates your job to another level," the singer told the publication. On Saturday, the "No Kings" organizers estimated that eight million people took part in the rallies across the nation, but the numbers haven't been verified. The NYT reported the rallies stretching from above the Arctic Circle, from Alaska to the tropics in Puerto Rico. Furthermore, as per the organizers, over 39 international rallies also took place in cities like London and Paris. Meanwhile, critics of the protests have questions over the events, causing political shifts with the midterm elections being months away.
