While the world watches the unfolding civil unrest in the United States with bated breath, legendary rock icon Bruce Springsteen has lent his powerful voice to the resistance. In a move that has resonated from the streets of the American Midwest all the way to our shores in the Caribbean, “The Boss” has released a blistering new protest anthem titled “Streets of Minneapolis.”
For many in Trinidad and Tobago, who have long followed Springsteen’s career as a chronicler of the working man’s struggle, this latest release marks a return to his most visceral, political roots. The track is a direct response to what the singer describes as “state terror” following the recent fatal shootings of Renee Good and Alex Pretti by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents.
A “Voice in the Bloody Mist”
The song begins with a sombre, acoustic arrangement—reminiscent of the folk traditions of Bob Dylan—before swelling into a full-band anthem. Springsteen doesn’t mince words, taking direct aim at the current U.S. administration’s immigration tactics. He refers to the federal agents as “King Trump’s private army” and describes a city under the weight of an “occupier’s boots.”
The lyrics specifically memorialise the two victims whose deaths have sparked weeks of protests:
“And there were bloody footprints / Where mercy should have stood / And two dead left to die on snow-filled streets / Alex Pretti and Renee Good.”
For an international audience, and specifically for those of us in the diaspora, the song’s bridge strikes a particularly haunting chord, warning that “if your skin is black or brown… You can be questioned or deported on sight.” It is a stark reminder of the heightened tensions surrounding immigration and race currently gripping our northern neighbours.
The Visual Strike
Following the song’s audio release, Springsteen quickly followed up with a stark, moving music video directed by long-time collaborator Thom Zimny. The video juxtaposes gritty, “on-the-ground” footage of the Minneapolis protests with studio shots of Springsteen and the E Street Band.
The visuals are as uncompromising as the lyrics, featuring:
- Clips of citizens facing off against smoke and rubber bullets.
- The “ICE Out” chants have become a rallying cry for the movement.
- Patti Scialfa and the E Street Choir provide a gospel-like swell of support that emphasises the communal nature of the protest.
The White House Fires Back
The release has already drawn a sharp rebuke from Washington. White House spokesperson Abigail Jackson dismissed the track as a “random song with irrelevant opinions,” maintaining that the administration is focused on “removing dangerous criminal illegal aliens.”
However, for Springsteen, the mission is clear. In a statement released alongside the track, he dedicated the work to “the people of Minneapolis, our innocent immigrant neighbours.”
As we in Trinidad and Tobago observe the “Winter of ’26” unfolding in the U.S., Springsteen’s latest work serves as more than just a song; it is a global dispatch from a nation in turmoil, reminding us that even in the “bloody mist,” there are those willing to sing for justice.
“Streets of Minneapolis” is available now on all streaming platforms. The official music video can be viewed on Springsteen’s YouTube channel.
