Protest Songs Emerge Amid ICE Outrage, Featuring Bruce Springsteen, My Morning Jacket, and NOFX
A wave of musicians has joined the chorus against the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency, issuing powerful protest songs that echo growing outrage over its violent tactics and treatment of undocumented individuals.
Bruce Springsteen's "Streets of Minneapolis" is a scathing critique of ICE, referencing the killings of two U.S. citizens in Minneapolis last January - Renee Good and Alex Pretti - who were targeted for deportation by agents acting on President Donald Trump's orders. The song's lyrics condemn the government agency, with Springsteen singing about the protesters chanting "ICE out, ICE out" as a refrain.
In another example of musical dissent, My Morning Jacket has released a benefit album titled "Peacelands", which includes acoustic renditions of classic songs by Brian Wilson and Jim James. The band has pledged to donate all proceeds from the album to various charities, including the ACLU, Doctors Without Borders, and the International Rescue Committee.
NOFX's latest single, "Minnesota Nazis," targets ICE agents who hide behind their faces as they carry out their violent actions. The song features a tongue-in-cheek tone, with frontman Fat Mike asking why these self-proclaimed "minnesotans" are so sure of themselves when confronted by people who are simply trying to live.
Meanwhile, singer-songwriter Billy Bragg has written "City of Heroes," an anti-ICE anthem that echoes Pastor Martin Niemöller's Holocaust protest poem. In this version, Bragg flips the message to show he's on the side of those resisting ICE brutality.
Dropkick Murphys have also joined the chorus against ICE with their song "Citizen I.C.E.", which is a tongue-in-cheek recruitment video for the agency. The band recorded it as a tribute to Renee Good and released a clip on Instagram, which included the message "may you rot in
."
Lastly, Bon Iver has posted a live recording of his gospel-inflected song "Naeem (Can't You Hear Crying)" on Bandcamp, with all proceeds going towards supporting the Immigrant Law Center of Minnesota. The band has stated that they hope their music can help support those fighting against ICE in some way.
These protest songs from artists across various genres serve as a powerful reminder that even the most unlikely voices can join forces to challenge unjust systems and advocate for human rights.
A wave of musicians has joined the chorus against the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency, issuing powerful protest songs that echo growing outrage over its violent tactics and treatment of undocumented individuals.
Bruce Springsteen's "Streets of Minneapolis" is a scathing critique of ICE, referencing the killings of two U.S. citizens in Minneapolis last January - Renee Good and Alex Pretti - who were targeted for deportation by agents acting on President Donald Trump's orders. The song's lyrics condemn the government agency, with Springsteen singing about the protesters chanting "ICE out, ICE out" as a refrain.
In another example of musical dissent, My Morning Jacket has released a benefit album titled "Peacelands", which includes acoustic renditions of classic songs by Brian Wilson and Jim James. The band has pledged to donate all proceeds from the album to various charities, including the ACLU, Doctors Without Borders, and the International Rescue Committee.
NOFX's latest single, "Minnesota Nazis," targets ICE agents who hide behind their faces as they carry out their violent actions. The song features a tongue-in-cheek tone, with frontman Fat Mike asking why these self-proclaimed "minnesotans" are so sure of themselves when confronted by people who are simply trying to live.
Meanwhile, singer-songwriter Billy Bragg has written "City of Heroes," an anti-ICE anthem that echoes Pastor Martin Niemöller's Holocaust protest poem. In this version, Bragg flips the message to show he's on the side of those resisting ICE brutality.
Dropkick Murphys have also joined the chorus against ICE with their song "Citizen I.C.E.", which is a tongue-in-cheek recruitment video for the agency. The band recorded it as a tribute to Renee Good and released a clip on Instagram, which included the message "may you rot in
Lastly, Bon Iver has posted a live recording of his gospel-inflected song "Naeem (Can't You Hear Crying)" on Bandcamp, with all proceeds going towards supporting the Immigrant Law Center of Minnesota. The band has stated that they hope their music can help support those fighting against ICE in some way.
These protest songs from artists across various genres serve as a powerful reminder that even the most unlikely voices can join forces to challenge unjust systems and advocate for human rights.