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Streets of Minneapolis

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"Streets of Minneapolis"
Single by Bruce Springsteen
WrittenJanuary 24, 2026 (2026-01-24)[1]
ReleasedJanuary 28, 2026 (2026-01-28)[2]
RecordedJanuary 27, 2026 (2026-01-27)[1]
StudioStone Hill Studio (Colts Neck, New Jersey)
Genre
Length4:36
LabelColumbia
SongwriterBruce Springsteen
Producers
Bruce Springsteen singles chronology
"Turn Back the Hands of Time"
(2022)		 "Streets of Minneapolis"
(2026)
Music video
"Streets of Minneapolis" on YouTube

"Streets of Minneapolis" is an anti-ICE protest song by American singer-songwriter Bruce Springsteen. It was released in 2026, in response to the killings of Renée Good and Alex Pretti, which occurred during Operation Metro Surge in Minneapolis, Minnesota, in the United States.[4][3][5] Springsteen wrote and recorded the song following the killings by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement and US Customs and Border Protection, publishing it online four days after Pretti's death.

The song was released on January 28, 2026,[2][6] on Springsteen's YouTube channel and social media, and through music streaming services. The following day, a music video for the song was also released.[7][8]

The song became the number-one trending song in the United States on YouTube on the day of its release, attracting over 2.5 million views by the end of the day.[9]

Background

[edit]

In early January 2026, the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) sent more than 3,000 agents to the Twin Cities in Minnesota in a dramatic escalation of immigration enforcement activities under Operation Metro Surge.[10] Over a period of weeks, DHS agents clashed repeatedly with anti-ICE protesters, leading to the fatal shootings of Renée Good on January 7 and Alex Pretti on January 24.[11][12]

On January 17, 2026, while performing at the Light of Day Winterfest in Red Bank, New Jersey, Springsteen spoke out against the ICE operations and dedicated his performance of the song "The Promised Land" to Renée Good.[13] Within hours after news broke about the shooting of Alex Pretti on January 24, Springsteen composed "Streets of Minneapolis", recording the song on January 27 and releasing it the following day.[1][14]

The Boston Globe noted the song's context alongside several other protest songs released that month, including Billy Bragg's "City of Heroes", the Dropkick Murphys' "Citizen I.C.E.", and Lucinda Williams' "World's Gone Wrong"‚ which the Globe singled out as "stellar".[15]

Content

[edit]

The song's title is an allusion to "Streets of Philadelphia", the Academy Award-winning song Springsteen wrote for the 1993 film Philadelphia.[14]

National Public Radio described it as "a full-band rock and roll song, complete with an E Street Choir singalong. Springsteen's raw and raspy voice is full of indignation as he calls out 'King Trump' and his 'federal thugs', and promises to remember the events unfolding in the streets of Minneapolis this winter. The verses narrate the killings of Good and Pretti respectively, and underline how eyewitness videos of their deaths contradict government officials' statements".[16]

The Minneapolis Star Tribune described it as being in the "folk tradition ... detailing an injustice like Bob Dylan's 'Hurricane' or 'The Lonesome Death of Hattie Carroll' ... [that] starts out with minimalist strum and tambourine for the first verse and then a full band kicks in. When the song builds to the chorus, the Boss [Springsteen] is joined by female vocalists. There is a harmonica bridge before he rails about being deported on sight if your skin is black or brown."[17] The lyrics characterize ICE agents as mercenaries for hire (a "private army"), and Stephen Miller and Kristi Noem's accounts of the killings as "dirty lies".[18]

Performances

[edit]

Tom Morello held a "Defend Minnesota" benefit concert on January 30, 2026, in Minneapolis along with punk band Rise Against and Bruce Springsteen, who was revealed as the surprise guest on the day of the concert. Springsteen performed a three-song set that included the live debut of "Streets of Minneapolis", his 1995 song "The Ghost of Tom Joad" featuring Morello, and John Lennon's 1971 protest anthem "Power to the People".[19] "Defend Minnesota" was described as "a concert of solidarity and resistance". Morello said that 100 percent of proceeds would "go to the families of those murdered by ICE in Minneapolis, Renee Good and Alex Pretti".[20]

Springsteen made a surprise appearance at the Democracy Now! 30th anniversary event in New York at the Riverside Church on March 23, 2026, where he performed "Streets of Minneapolis" and joined Patti Smith, Michael Stipe, and others for a cover of Smith's "People Have the Power".[21]

Springsteen played the song at a No Kings rally in Saint Paul, Minnesota, on March 28, 2026.[22]

The song was performed for the first time with the E Street Band at the 2026 Land of Hope and Dreams American Tour opener in Minneapolis on March 31, 2026.[23] Springsteen also performed it on May 20, 2026, on the penultimate episode of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, which was being cancelled following backlash over jokes he made about President Trump on his show.[24]

Reaction

[edit]

On January 28, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz told reporter Jacob Soboroff that he was "pretty emotional" about the song, and compared it, stylistically, to "the Wrecking Ball Tour ... 'American Land'—[it] sounded like '41 Shots'."[25] U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar from Minnesota praised Springsteen and the song by saying, "Thank you Bruce Springsteen for ‘Streets of Minneapolis,’ a powerful tribute to Renee Good and Alex Pretti and to the strength of the people of Minnesota.”[26]

The song quickly drew comparison to Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young's 1970 song "Ohio", which was written in condemnation of the Kent State shootings.[27]

White House spokesperson Abigail Jackson said in a statement that "[t]he Trump Administration is focused on encouraging state and local Democrats to work with federal law enforcement officers on removing dangerous criminal illegal aliens from their communities—not random songs with irrelevant opinions and inaccurate information."[28]

Steve Bannon, a staunch supporter of Trump's immigration crackdown, voiced his concern that the song could embolden resistance, saying: "It's kind of catchy. Bruce is throwing down for the revolution. Going on offense, folks."[29]

E Street Band guitarist Nils Lofgren released the song "No Kings, No Hate, No Fear" on February 6, 2026, as a free download on his website. His song touched on the same subjects as "Streets of Minneapolis".[30]

Charts

[edit]
Weekly chart performance
Chart (2026) Peak
position
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[31]47
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[32]45
Canada Mainstream Rock (Billboard Canada)[33]31
Germany (GfK)[34]87
Ireland (IRMA)[35] 86
Netherlands (Single Tip)[36] 12
New Zealand Hot Singles (RMNZ)[37] 14
Norway (IFPI Norge)[38] 41
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[39] 35
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[40]20
UK Singles (Official Charts)[41]92
US Bubbling Under Hot 100 (Billboard)[42]6
US Hot Rock & Alternative Songs (Billboard)[43]13
US Digital Song Sales (Billboard)[44]1

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. 1 2 3 Springsteen, Bruce (January 28, 2026). "Streets Of Minneapolis". BruceSpringsteen.net. Archived from the original on January 29, 2026. Retrieved March 29, 2026.
  2. 1 2 Towfighi, Michaela (January 28, 2026). "Springsteen Releases 'Streets of Minneapolis,' a Song Protesting ICE". The New York Times. Archived from the original on January 29, 2026. Retrieved March 29, 2026.
  3. 1 2 Greene, Andy (January 28, 2026). "Bruce Springsteen Responds to Minneapolis Killings With Fiery New Protest Song". Rolling Stone Australia. Retrieved January 28, 2026.
  4. ↑ "Bruce Springsteen Releases New Song Streets of Minneapolis: Stream (Consequence)".
  5. ↑ Willman, Chris (January 28, 2026). "Bruce Springsteen Releases ICE Protest Song 'Streets of Minneapolis,' Slamming 'King Trump's Private Army' and 'State Terror'". Variety. Archived from the original on January 28, 2026. Retrieved January 28, 2026.
  6. ↑ Towfighi, Michaela (January 28, 2026). "Springsteen Releases 'Streets of Minneapolis,' a Song Protesting ICE". The New York Times. Archived from the original on January 29, 2026. Retrieved March 29, 2026.
  7. ↑ Bruce Springsteen (January 28, 2026). Bruce Springsteen - Streets Of Minneapolis (Official Audio). Archived from the original on January 28, 2026. Retrieved January 28, 2026 – via YouTube.
  8. ↑ Bruce Springsteen (January 29, 2026). Bruce Springsteen - Streets Of Minneapolis (Official Lyric Video). Archived from the original on January 30, 2026. Retrieved January 29, 2026 – via YouTube.
  9. ↑ Gauntner, Mike (January 29, 2026). "Once lamenting Youngstown's steel decline, new Springsteen song protests Minneapolis deaths". WFMJ-TV. Retrieved January 30, 2026.
  10. ↑ Smith, Michael (January 26, 2026). "Minnesota Claims the ICE Surge Is Illegal. A Judge Will Hear Arguments on Monday". The New York Times. Retrieved January 28, 2026.
  11. ↑ Bogel-Burroughs, Nicholas; Klein, Ann Hinga; Simmons, Dan (January 10, 2026). "Who Was Renee Good, the Woman Killed by an ICE Agent in Minneapolis?". The New York Times. Retrieved January 28, 2026.
  12. ↑ Kirk, Rylee (January 27, 2026). "What We Know About a Second Fatal Shooting by Federal Agents in Minneapolis". The New York Times. Retrieved January 28, 2026.
  13. ↑ Jordan, Chris (January 18, 2026). "Bruce Springsteen speaks out on Renee Good shooting, slams ICE". USA Today. Asbury Park Press. Retrieved January 19, 2026.
  14. 1 2 Kaufman, Gil (January 28, 2026). "Bruce Springsteen Drops Searing Anti-ICE Protest Song, 'Streets of Minneapolis': 'King Trump's Private Army From the DHS/ Guns Belted to Their Coats'". Billboard. Retrieved January 28, 2026.
  15. ↑ Shanahan, Mark (January 29, 2026). "Springsteen leads musical revolt against ICE raids with 'Streets of Minneapolis'". The Boston Globe. Archived from the original on January 30, 2026. Retrieved January 29, 2026.
  16. ↑ Sarmiento, Isabella Gomez (January 28, 2026). "Bruce Springsteen releases anti-ICE protest song 'Streets of Minneapolis'". NPR. Archived from the original on January 28, 2026. Retrieved January 28, 2026.
  17. ↑ Bream, Joe (January 28, 2026). "Bruce Springsteen releases incendiary protest song 'Streets of Minneapolis'". Star Tribune. Archived from the original on January 28, 2026. Retrieved January 28, 2026.
  18. ↑ Towfighi, Michaela (January 28, 2026). "Springsteen Releases 'Streets of Minneapolis,' a Song Protesting ICE". New York Times.
  19. ↑ Tom Skinner (January 29, 2026). "Tom Morello announces 'Defend Minnesota!' fundraiser gig with Rise Against: "Ain't nobody coming to save us except us and it's now or never"". NME. Retrieved January 30, 2026.
  20. ↑ Ross Raihala (January 30, 2026). "It's official: Bruce Springsteen is now in Minneapolis for benefit concert". NME. Retrieved January 30, 2026.
  21. ↑ "Bruce Springsteen, Patti Smith, Michael Stipe & more played Democracy Now's 30th anniversary (pics, video)". Brooklyn Vegan. March 24, 2026. Retrieved March 25, 2026.
  22. ↑ Kreps, Daniel. "See Bruce Springsteen Perform 'Streets of Minneapolis' at St. Paul No Kings Rally". Rolling Stone.
  23. ↑ "Bruce Springsteen Land of Hope & Dreams American Tour setlist has songs of anger, hope". USA Today. March 31, 2026. Retrieved April 1, 2026.
  24. ↑ "Bruce Springsteen Says Stephen Colbert Is the 'First Guy in America Who Lost His Show' Because Trump 'Can't Take a Joke'". May 21, 2026. Retrieved May 21, 2026.
  25. ↑ Compared us to Venezuela: Walz slams Trump & Homan deployment in Minnesota | MS NOW FULL INTERVIEW. MS NOW. January 28, 2026. Archived from the original on January 30, 2026. Retrieved January 30, 2026 – via YouTube.
  26. ↑ Jordan, Chris (February 23, 2026). "How Bruce Springsteen has rocked Washington, D.C. without playing a note". dispatch.com. Retrieved March 30, 2026.
  27. ↑ D'Agostino, Ryan (January 30, 2026). "Bruce Springsteen Showed Exactly Why We Need Protest Songs Right Now". Esquire. Retrieved February 1, 2026.
  28. ↑ Sundel, Jenna (January 28, 2026). "Trump Admin Reacts to Springsteen's New Song, 'Streets of Minneapolis'". Newsweek. Retrieved January 30, 2026.
  29. ↑ Edwards, David (January 29, 2026). "Bannon warns Trump Dems are 'going on offense' with 'catchy' new Springsteen anti-ICE song". Newsweek. Retrieved January 30, 2026.
  30. ↑ Lustig, Jay (February 6, 2026). "Nils Lofgren releases protest song, 'No Kings, No Hate, No Fear'". NJ Arts. Retrieved February 23, 2026.
  31. ↑ "Bruce Springsteen – Streets of Minneapolis" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved February 8, 2026.
  32. ↑ "Bruce Springsteen – Streets of Minneapolis" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved February 8, 2026.
  33. ↑ "Canada Mainstream Rock for the week of February 21, 2026". Billboard Canada. Retrieved February 20, 2026.
  34. ↑ "Offizielle Deutsche Charts" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. To see the peak chart position, click 'TITEL VON', followed by the artist's name. Retrieved February 8, 2026.
  35. ↑ "IRMA – Irish Charts (Week 6, 2026)". Irish Recorded Music Association. Retrieved February 7, 2026.
  36. ↑ "Dutch Single Tip 14/02/2026" (in Dutch). Dutch Charts. Retrieved February 14, 2026.
  37. ↑ "Hot 40 Singles". Recorded Music NZ. February 6, 2026. Retrieved February 6, 2026.
  38. ↑ "Singel 2026 uke 06". IFPI Norge. Retrieved February 7, 2026.
  39. ↑ "Veckolista Singlar, vecka 6, 2026". Sverigetopplistan. Retrieved February 7, 2026.
  40. ↑ "Bruce Springsteen – Streets of Minneapolis". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved February 9, 2026.
  41. ↑ "Official Singles Chart on 6/2/2026 – Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved February 7, 2026.
  42. ↑ "Bruce Springsteen Chart History (Bubbling Under Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved February 11, 2026.
  43. ↑ "Bruce Springsteen Chart History (Hot Rock & Alternative Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved February 11, 2026.
  44. ↑ "Bruce Springsteen Chart History (Digital Song Sales)". Billboard. Retrieved February 5, 2026.
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