Bruce Springsteen sings at 'No Kings' rally in Minnesota

Gatherings span over 3,000 cities across all US states with millions participating

Legendary rocker Bruce Springsteen delivered a powerful performance of his protest song "Streets of Minneapolis" during the flagship No Kings rally in St. Paul, Minnesota on Saturday, marking a high?profile moment in the nationwide demonstrations.

Springsteen took the stage outside the Minnesota State Capitol, where thousands gathered as part of the movement opposing current US policies on immigration enforcement, war, and what organizers describe as authoritarian tendencies in the Trump administration.

"Streets of Minneapolis", a protest anthem Springsteen wrote and released earlier this year in response to fatal federal immigration enforcement actions in Minneapolis, has become closely associated with growing civil unrest and calls for reform. The song was debuted at the rally amid a charged atmosphere of activism and solidarity.

The No Kings demonstrations spanned over 3,000 cities across all 50 US states, with organisers estimating millions participating in what has been described as one of the largest protest movements in recent history. The flagship event in Minnesota drew a particularly large turnout, with activists, citizens and notable figures voicing their opposition to current policy directions.

"This past winter, federal troops brought death and terror to the streets of Minneapolis, but they picked the wrong city," he told the crowd.

Springsteen's performance was joined by appearances from other prominent voices in the movement, including folk legend Joan Baez, actor Jane Fonda and US Senator Bernie Sanders, who each addressed the crowd and underscored themes of unity and resistance.

"Streets of Minneapolis" was originally released in January 2026 and became notable for its blunt political commentary. Inspired by the deaths of Minneapolis residents Renee Good and Alex Pretti during immigration raids, the song channels protests and criticisms of federal actions in the city.

Springsteen's appearance at the rally also served as a prelude to the launch of his Land of Hope and Dreams American Tour, scheduled to begin in Minneapolis later this month.

Springsteen released his first two albums, Greetings from Asbury Park, N.J. and The Wild, the Innocent & the E Street Shuffle, in 1973. He achieved worldwide popularity with Born to Run (1975). Springsteen followed with Darkness on the Edge of Town (1978) and The River (1980), Springsteen's first album to top the Billboard 200 chart. After the solo acoustic album Nebraska (1982), he recorded Born in the U.S.A. (1984) with the E Street Band, which became his most commercially successful album and the 23rd-best-selling album ever as of 2024. Springsteen mostly hired session musicians for the recording of his next three albums, Tunnel of Love (1987), Human Touch (1992), and Lucky Town (1992). He reassembled the E Street Band for Greatest Hits (1995), and recorded the acoustic album The Ghost of Tom Joad (1995) and the EP Blood Brothers (1996) solo.

A prominent musician from the album era, Springsteen has sold more than 140 million records worldwide, making him one of the best-selling music artists of all time. His accolades include 20 Grammy Awards, two Golden Globes, an Academy Award, and a Special Tony Award. He was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1999, received the Kennedy Center Honors in 2009, and was named MusiCares person of the year in 2013.