As the icy streets and below zero temps of Minneapolis are filled with marching feet, open hearts, determined minds and the blood of those exercising their 1st amendment rights, in protest against ICE occupation of their city and the intentional brutality of this administration, musical icon Bruce Springsteen has taken pen to paper to meet the moment with his new song Streets of Minneapolis.
Springsteen said, “I wrote this song on Saturday, recorded it yesterday and released it to you today in response to the state terror being visited on the city of Minneapolis. It’s dedicated to the people of Minneapolis, our innocent immigrant neighbors and in memory of Alex Pretti and Renee Good.”
Within two days, it was number one on iTunes in 19 countries, including United Kingdom, United States, Canada, Germany, Austria, Norway, and is in the top 10 charts in more countries, including Netherlands, Italy, Denmark, Ireland, New Zealand, and Sweden. Clearly, it touched a vital nerve all over the world. He joins the likes of Woody Guthrie, Bob Dylan, Pete Seeger, Peter, Paul & Mary, Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young, Rage Against the Machine, Dropkick Murphys, Jesse Wells, Lucinda Williams in blending musical talent with highly developed social conscience. Musicians have long been the voice of the people with a message to share in times of turmoil. Their public platforms provide the status needed to get the sentiment heard and felt.
Days after the song dropped, Springsteen took the stage and surprised the audience at “A Concert of Solidarity & Resistance to Defend Minnesota!”. Tom Morello from Rage Against the Machine had created this event that raised money for the families of Good and Pretti.
In the 1960s and 70s, protest music was instrumental (no pun intended) in helping to put a halt to the Viet Nam War, call out abuses of government, uplift and motivate people to take action.
Not everyone is happy with Springsteen’s tune and tone. From the White House comes the invective that they are “not focused on random songs with irrelevant opinions and inaccurate information.” Seems that it struck a sour chord with those who would have us believe that they are fighting for the righteous cause of keeping our streets safe from criminals, when in reality, they are the ones committing crimes without restraint or conscience.
As the granddaughter of immigrants, fleeing Russia during the pogrom, who came here before there were legal constraints and hoops to jump through, I am grateful that my ancestors created a better life, became productive, hard working, tax paying, law abiding citizens in their adopted country. My grandparents had four children (my father, his two brothers and sister) who did the same. My father not only did those things, but was an active volunteer in every community in which he lived. He was a man of service and integrity. Most immigrants are. Are there those who commit crimes? For sure. Are there native born Americans who commit crimes? Absolutely. So perhaps, the problem isn’t country of origin, but values. I was taught that it was not acceptable to take what wasn’t mine, nor to intentionally harm another. I was taught the value of community and taking care of each other. I was taught that the color of one’s skin did not imply superiority or inferiority.
According to ICE, 5% of those who were taken to facilities and incarcerated had a violent criminal conviction. So much for the insistence by the administration that they were pursuing only violent perpetrators. All reason has gone out the window, since, you know, there are quotas to reach.
Today, I attended a training for Peacekeepers and Street Marshals for protests. The leader was my longtime friend Barbara Simmons who has been a model of peace and social justice for much of her life. She has been on the frontlines of conflict in this country and others. She has put herself in harm’s way and blessedly, got through it. Her steady presence in the training, even in the midst of uncertainty about what we might be facing in the future, gave me confidence that I could make a positive difference at upcoming events, helping maintain a sense of calm in the midst of turmoil. We did role plays in which we practiced defusing confrontation so that if the time came when we would actually have to do it, we might be better prepared without getting emotionally hijacked. The expectation was that 40 people would show up. The actual attendance was 60. It did my heart good to be in the presence of these folks who are also dedicated peaceful patriots and I have stood with many of them at protests in our community. I would trust them to have my back and I hope they know I would have theirs.
Another local activist, Laura Rose, wrote a powerful piece called “We Pray With Our Legs”. It resonates with what I believe to be so. We can be as spiritual as we choose, but if we don’t put legs under our intentions, it rings hollow. Many spiritual teachers will say that they don’t want to ‘be political’ or ‘take sides’. I have no option to do anything else. My morals, values and ethics won’t allow me to sit back and hang out in my meditation cave.
We are way past an inflection point in this country. This is the time to examine what we stand for and who we stand with. Thank you to ‘The Boss’ for giving us marching music.
Honoring others who were killed or injured by ICE. May their names be remembered as well as those of Good and Pretti.
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Dharmabumstead on Wikimedia CC License
