Bruce Springsteen Drops Anti-ICE Anthem 'Streets of Minneapolis'

Bruce Springsteen is back with a powerful new protest anthem that's already making waves across the country. The legendary rocker released "Streets of Minneapolis," an anti-Trump and anti-ICE song written after the deaths of Renee Nicole Good and Alex Pretti at the hands of federal agents. According to CNN, Springsteen is kicking off his latest tour in Minneapolis on Tuesday, carrying forward a legacy of musical activism that connects him to another icon who once called the city home: Prince.

The song represents Springsteen's direct response to what he described as federal troops bringing "death and terror to the streets of Minneapolis" this past winter. The New Jersey native first flew to the city in January to debut the track live, then performed it again at the massive No Kings rally in nearby St. Paul, Minnesota this past Saturday. Standing before thousands, Springsteen told the crowd they "picked the wrong city" when they targeted Minneapolis with aggressive immigration enforcement tactics. The performance showcased The Boss at his most politically charged, channeling the same activist spirit that has defined his five-decade career.

Prince and Springsteen: A Legacy of Musical Activism

What makes this moment even more significant is the connection to Prince, the Minneapolis legend who died in 2016 but whose influence continues to resonate throughout the city he helped put on the musical map. Both artists ruled the charts in 1984 when Prince's "Purple Rain" knocked Springsteen's "Born in the U.S.A." from the top spot, but instead of rivalry, the two developed a deep mutual respect and genuine friendship over the years. Read more about their bond on CNN.

Prince spent his career using his platform to advocate for artists' rights, Black Lives Matter, and underprivileged youth. A year before his death, he wrote and performed "Baltimore" after Freddie Gray died in police custody, releasing a statement that declared "The system is broken. It's going to take the young people to fix it this time. We need new ideas, new life." That same spirit of using music as a vehicle for social change is exactly what Springsteen is channeling with his new Minneapolis anthem.

Steve Parke, who served as Prince's art director, recalled attending Springsteen's Tunnel of Love tour with Prince in 1988. "Prince had mentioned to me how, much like Prince, Springsteen could put on like a three-hour show," Parke told CNN. "I think he was respectful of somebody who could be out there and do that for as long as Springsteen did too." That mutual admiration extended both ways—Springsteen opened a Brooklyn concert days after Prince died with a cover of "Purple Rain" and later told Rolling Stone he "felt a great kinship" with the Minneapolis legend.

The Political Power of The Boss

Springsteen has never shied away from political statements through his music. In 2001, he performed "American Skin (41 shots)" to protest the killing of Amadou Diallo by New York City police officers. More recently, he allowed the ACLU to use "Born in the U.S.A." for an ad campaign around the Supreme Court's consideration of Trump's challenge to birthright citizenship. L. Londell McMillan, Prince's longtime attorney and friend, told CNN that what bonded the two artists wasn't just politics—it was authenticity. "One thing about Bruce Springsteen is that he's just authentic. He's true and real in his own skin," McMillan said. "Prince was also authentic and didn't care what anybody was saying. Real recognized real."

The "Streets of Minneapolis" tour kickoff represents more than just another album cycle for Springsteen—it's a continuation of a tradition where rock's biggest voices use their platforms to speak truth to power. As the city that forged Prince continues to stand up against federal immigration crackdowns, having The Boss in their corner sends a message that resonates far beyond Minnesota. Two men from different cities, different sounds, and different backgrounds—one Black, one white—but both uncompromising, both unafraid, and both committed to making music that matters.

Prince may be gone, but his city is still standing and still fighting. And now they have The Boss standing right there with them, guitar in hand, ready to soundtrack the resistance for a new generation of activists who grew up on both artists' music. As Springsteen's tour rolls across the country, "Streets of Minneapolis" is likely to become an anthem for communities facing similar struggles—a reminder that rock and roll still has the power to move people to action.