Rock guitarist and activist Tom Morello — best known for his work with Rage Against the Machine — teamed up with Rise Against and other artists this week for a powerful benefit concert in Minneapolis calling for solidarity, resistance, and community support in the wake of recent deaths involving U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The event drew thousands of attendees and generated significant attention from both music fans and political observers.
Held at the historic First Avenue venue on January 30, 2026, the show was officially billed as “A Concert of Solidarity & Resistance to Defend Minnesota!” — with 100% of proceeds earmarked for the families of Renee Good and Alex Pretti, two Minneapolis residents who were fatally shot by ICE agents in separate incidents this month.
Morello, who has long blended music and activism, framed the event as more than just a benefit show, portraying it as part of an ongoing movement against what he described as “state terror” and authoritarianism. In social media messages and onstage remarks, he urged attendees to keep resisting systemic injustice, saying the crowd’s energy in Minneapolis was an example for the nation and asserting that change must come from collective action.
Rise Against — the politically charged punk band known for their own history of activist messaging — played alongside Morello, delivering a set rooted in punk urgency and protest spirit. Also on the bill were performers such as Al Di Meola and Ike Reilly, broadening the musical reach of the event while keeping its core message focused on community support and resistance.
The benefit included a “very special guest” surprise: Bruce Springsteen appeared during the show and debuted his new protest song “Streets of Minneapolis” live in front of the packed crowd. The song, written in response to the controversial shootings, was met with chants of “ICE out now” and underscored the political urgency of the day’s performances.
Concertgoers and musicians alike described the event as a vivid fusion of art and activism, noting that Minneapolis had become a focal point for nationwide debates over immigration enforcement and civic protest. Attendees told local media the atmosphere was charged with passion and purpose, reflecting the city’s broader mobilization against recent events.
Whether through Morello’s incendiary stage presence, Rise Against’s raw punk delivery, or Springsteen’s emotionally driven protest debut, the benefit concert highlighted how music continues to function as both a mirror and catalyst for social movements — especially at moments of heightened political conflict.
