Bruce Springsteen Sings ‘Streets of Minneapolis’ at No Kings Rally
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Bruce Springsteen captivated an audience of over 200,000 at the flagship No Kings rally in St. Paul, Minnesota, on Saturday, March 28, with a stirring rendition of “Streets of Minneapolis.”
During his performance outside the Minnesota State Capitol, Springsteen addressed the massive crowd, marking the third live rendition of the protest anthem since its release in January. His introduction by Minnesota Governor Tim Walz set the stage for a speech that highlighted the state’s resistance to the Trump administration’s Operation Metro Surge immigration enforcement campaign.
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“This past winter, federal troops brought death and terror to the streets of Minneapolis, but they picked the wrong city,” Springsteen declared, capturing the crowd’s attention.
He continued, highlighting the community’s resilience: “The power and the solidarity of the people of Minneapolis and Minnesota was an inspiration to the entire country. Your strength and your commitment told us that this is still America, and this reactionary nightmare — and these invasions of American cities — will not stand. You gave us hope, you gave us courage.”
In a poignant moment, he named two Minneapolis residents killed by ICE agents during the operation: “Renee Good, mother of three, brutally murdered. Alex Pretti, VA nurse, executed by ICE. Shot in the back and left to die in the street without even the decency of our lawless government investigating their deaths. Their bravery, their sacrifice, and their names will not be forgotten.”
The crowd responded with chants of “ICE out now” as Springsteen transitioned into the performance of “Streets of Minneapolis.”
The song, written and recorded shortly after the tragic events, was released within days. Springsteen first debuted it live on January 30 at a benefit concert at Minneapolis’ First Avenue and performed it again earlier this week at the 30th anniversary event for Democracy Now! in New York. Saturday’s St. Paul concert marked the song’s third live performance. He later reflected on its significance, stating, “Being in Minneapolis goes way up to the top of the list as far as meaningful shows I’ve played.”
The No Kings rally serves as the latest iteration of protests against the Trump administration, gathering millions in over 3,100 registered events across all 50 states. The St. Paul gathering, as the national flagship event, featured prominent figures such as Maggie Rogers, Joan Baez, Senator Bernie Sanders, Jane Fonda, and Tom Morello.
In Dallas, however, tensions escalated as clashes unfolded between No Kings marchers and counter-protesters. The White House dismissed the demonstrations, labeling them as “Trump Derangement Therapy Sessions.”
Springsteen’s St. Paul performance comes ahead of the Land of Hope and Dreams tour, which kicks off on Tuesday, March 31, at Minneapolis’ Target Center. The tour will feature Rage Against the Machine’s Tom Morello at every date, concluding on May 27 in Washington, D.C. Springsteen indicated that the tour is set to address current political themes and societal issues, stating, “Minneapolis and St. Paul, that was the place I wanted to begin it, and I wanted to end it in Washington.” In announcing the tour, he noted that fans are navigating “dark, disturbing and dangerous times,” but he assured that “the cavalry is coming.”
