Bruce Springsteen has shared a powerful new single, titled ‘Streets Of Minneapolis’, in which he mourns the deaths of Renee Good and Alex Pretti, who were both killed by ICE agents this month.
The song, whose title is a nod to his Oscar-winning 1994 song ‘Streets of Philadelphia’, features the lines “We’ll remember the names of those who died / On the streets of Minneapolis” and names the victims of both tragedies: “Two dead left to die on snow-filled streets / Alex Pretti and Renee Good.”
The Boss has already spoken out about ICE’s violence in Minnesota, calling for ICE to “get the f*ck out of Minneapolis” on stage in New Jersey. However, his new song pulls no punches, as Springsteen namechecks and condemns Donald Trump, with the line “King Trump’s private army from the DHS / Guns belted to their coats.”
He also takes aim at both Trump advisor Stephen Miller and Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem, both of which have peddled falsehoods about Good and Pretti, accusing them of being “domestic terrorists”.
“Their claim was self-defense, sir / Just don’t believe your eyes / It’s our blood and bones / And these whistles and phones / Against Miller and Noem’s dirty lies.”
“I wrote this song on Saturday…in response to the state terror being visited on the city of Minneapolis,” the Boss posted on Instagram. “It’s dedicated to the people of Minneapolis, our innocent immigrant neighbors and in memory of Alex Pretti and Renee Good.” He signed off: “Stay free.”
Listen to “Streets of Minneapolis” below:
This is not the first time that Springsteen has slammed Trump and his administration.
During the 2024 election campaign, the artist threw his support behind Democratic candidate Kamala Harris, and said Trump was running to be an "American tyrant." At that time, he said of Trump: "He does not understand this country, its history or what it means to be deeply American."
He has called for Trump to be impeached and “consigned to the trash heap of history”, and has described him as “corrupt, incompetent and treasonous.”
Trump has hit back at the Boss on a few occasions, describing one of the US’ most beloved figures as “highly overrated” and an “obnoxious jerk”. He also called for a “major investigation” into Springsteen.
Renee Good, 37, was fatally shot by ICE agent Jonathan Ross in Minneapolis on 7 January. Her death triggered mass protests across the country.
Alex Pretti, also 37, was killed on 24 January by an officer who shot him 10 times in a few seconds. Pretti had been part of the peaceful protests unfolding in the wake of Good’s death.
