Bruce Springsteen touched down in Minnesota on Friday and performed his protest song “Streets of Minneapolis,” a response to the killings of Renee Good and Alex Pretti by federal agents, hours after it soared to the top of iTunes.
The famed New Jersey rocker brought the house down at First Avenue, a Minneapolis venue that played host to the "Defend Minnesota!" benefit show.
Hours earlier on Friday morning, “Streets of Minneapolis” occupied the No. 1 position, just ahead of “Choosin’ Texas” by Ella Langley, “Let Em’ Know” by Bryson Tiller and “I Just Might” by Bruno Mars.
Springsteen penned the song on Saturday and released it on Wednesday “in response to the state terror being visited on the city of Minneapolis,” the artist told fans via social media.
“It’s dedicated to the people of Minneapolis, our innocent immigrant neighbors and in memory of Alex Pretti and Renee Good,” he added. “Stay free, Bruce Springsteen.”
The 4 1/2-minute song decries the ongoing action by federal immigration enforcement and calls out Trump administration officials by name — Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, White House deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller and President Donald Trump himself.
“We eagerly await Mr. Springsteen’s songs dedicated to the thousands of American citizens killed by criminal illegal aliens,” Department of Homeland Security spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin said Wednesday in response to Springsteen’s song.
“Every day, the brave men and women of ICE are saving lives by arresting the worst of the worst criminal illegal aliens, including murderers, rapists, pedophiles, drug dealers, gang members, and terrorists,” McLaughlin said.
White House spokeswoman Abigail Jackson said Wednesday, “The 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.”
Official versions of “Streets of Minneapolis” have amassed over 5 million views on YouTube and nearly 500,000 likes on Instagram.
