Bruce Springsteen Unveils Gritty Lyric Video Addressing Minneapolis ICE Protests
Shortly after condemning ICE operations in his latest track, “Streets of Minneapolis,” Bruce Springsteen has released a visceral lyric video. The visual companion serves as a stark document of the escalating tensions and civil unrest surrounding immigration enforcement in the city.
Released on Thursday (Jan. 29), the video weaves together footage of “The Boss” delivering an impassioned studio performance with raw, documentary-style clips from the Minnesota frontlines. The imagery is unflinching, capturing ICE agents in physical altercations with protesters amidst snowy streets, contrasted against massive crowds holding “ICE Out Now” placards.
Springsteen’s lyrics don’t pull any punches regarding systemic profiling and the erosion of civil liberties:
“Now they say they’re here to uphold the law / But they trample on our rights / If your skin is black or brown, my friend / You can be questioned or deported on sight,” Springsteen sings. “In our chants of ‘ICE out now’ / Our city’s heart and soul persists / Through broken glass and bloody tears / On the streets of Minneapolis.”
The rock icon joins a growing chorus of public figures demanding accountability following the recent deaths of two Minnesota residents. The fatalities of Renee Good and Alex Pretti, both shot by ICE agents in separate January incidents, have ignited a firestorm of controversy. While the administration maintains the officers acted in self-defense, widely circulated witness videos have fueled public skepticism and outrage.
Springsteen had already signaled his stance during a January 17 performance in New Jersey. Addressing the crowd, he denounced the use of “heavily armed masked federal troops” and what he described as “gestapo tactics” against American citizens. He echoed the sentiments of Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, stating bluntly that the agency needs to exit the city immediately.
Described by the artist as a response to “state terror,” “Streets of Minneapolis” stands as one of the most overtly political entries in Springsteen’s storied catalog.
Watch the full lyric video for “Streets of Minneapolis” below:
