Recommendations of the Editorial team
The White House has dismissed Bruce Springsteen’s new anti-ICE protest song as “random” and “irrelevant.” In response to a query about the song, which addresses the authorities’ brutal approach to arresting undocumented men, women and children as well as the killing of two US citizens in Minneapolis, the government reacted evasively.
A song that is anything but “random”
“The Trump administration is … not focused on random songs with irrelevant opinions and inaccurate information,” White House spokeswoman Abigail Jackson told The Hollywood Reporter.
The supposedly “random” song is “Streets of Minneapolis” by a singer who is anything but random: Bruce Springsteen. The alleged “irrelevant opinions” include statements such as that killing unarmed US citizens like Renée Good is wrong, that we must stand up against federal tyranny, and that lies from Trump loyalists like Stephen Miller and Kristi Noem should be condemned.
Springsteen’s message in the song is clear, and he underscored it in a statement accompanying the release: “I wrote this song on Saturday, recorded it yesterday, and released it to you today in response to the state terror being unleashed on the city of Minneapolis. It is dedicated to the people of Minneapolis, our innocent immigrant neighbors, and to the memory of Alex Pretti and Renee Good. Stay free, Bruce Springsteen.”
Evasion instead of an answer
None of Springsteen’s statements resonated with Jackson. The Hollywood Reporter asked her for a reaction to the full statement, but she used the opportunity for a political dodge.
“The Trump administration is focused on getting state and local Democrats to work with federal authorities to remove dangerous criminal illegal aliens from their communities – not random songs with irrelevant opinions and inaccurate information,” Jackson said. “The media should report on how Democrats have refused to cooperate with the government and instead provide protection to criminal illegals.”
Contradiction on several levels
A spokesman for Bruce Springsteen did not immediately respond to a request for comment from ROLLING STONE. However, if you look at the protests against ICE’s actions in Minneapolis and in numerous other cities in the USA, Jackson’s statements seem irrelevant.
In addition, the Trump administration is reportedly working with Democrats to “slow down ICE and stop the violence,” as Senator Chuck Schumer explained. According to the New York Times, this is being done, among other things, to avoid another government shutdown.
Criticism also from within our own ranks
Additionally, Republican senators including Thom Tillis of North Carolina and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska have also called for Kristi Noem to resign. Their ministry is responsible for overseeing ICE.
And of course more supposedly “random songs” with “irrelevant opinions” appear every day. ROLLING STONE has begun compiling a growing list of protest songs, including NOFX, My Morning Jacket, Billy Bragg and more.
Millions of clicks for “Streets of Minneapolis”
Meanwhile, “Streets of Minneapolis” has already reached millions of views on YouTube within one or two days – and the trend continues to rise.
