Billy Bragg has shared a new song, ‘City Of Heroes’, in tribute to the people of Minneapolis. Listen below.
The singer-songwriter and political activist wrote the track amid protests against the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), following the deaths of Renee Good and Alex Pretti in the Minnesota city.
The agent who shot Good has been placed on administrative leave, pending an investigation, as have the two agents involved in the fatal shooting of Pretti (via BBC News).
ICE has described its highly controversial actions in Minnesota as “the largest mass deportation operation in American history”.
“The ghost of Martin Niemöller haunts the halls of history/ When they came for the communists/ He said, ‘It’s nothing to do with me’,” Bragg sings on his impassioned latest offering.
The first line is a reference to German pastor Martin Niemöller’s early silence during the rise of the Nazis in the 1930s.
He adds: “When they came for the immigrants/ I got in their face/ When they came for the refugees/ I got in their face/ […] They use tear gas and pepper spray/ Against our whistles and our phones/ But in this city of heroes/ We will protect our home.”
“The murder of Alex Pretti was horrifically shocking,” Bragg explained of ‘City Of Heroes’, which was written, recorded and released within 24 hours.
“All the more so as we are still reeling from the images of the murder of Renee Good. That these crimes can be committed in broad daylight, on camera and yet no one is held accountable only adds to the injustice.”
He added: “I wrote this song as a tribute to the bravery of the people of Minneapolis. Knowing that these trigger-happy ICE thugs operate in their midst, they are still willing to put themselves in harm’s way to defend their community. Their resistance is an inspiration to us all.”
Bragg’s new single comes after Bruce Springsteen also shared a new song, ‘Streets Of Minneapolis’, in tribute to the city, and in protest against Donald Trump and ICE. This too was created in a short time frame. “I wrote this song on Saturday, recorded it yesterday and released it to you today,” Springsteen said.
Elsewhere, Billie Eilish has urged her “fellow celebrities” to “speak up” against ICE’s actions. Her brother and collaborator, Finneas, called out conservatives’ hypocritical gun law arguments in their attempts to justify the fatal shooting of Pretti, a 37-year-old nurse.
Eilish criticised ICE earlier this month in the wake of an ICE agent in Minneapolis killing Renee Good.
Other artists and celebrities to have spoken out include Sabrina Carpenter, Green Day, Neil Young, Moby, Zara Larsson, musician and Stranger Things star Joe Keery, Spider-Man actor Yuri Lowenthal, Duran Duran, Dave Matthews and more.
Last September, Bragg backed a protest against Trump’s visit to the UK, saying it would be “a moment of national humiliation”. He explained: “Sucking up to bullies never pays off.”
That same month, the musician shared a single called ‘Hundred Year Hunger’, in which he expresses his solidarity with the people of Palestine. He hosted his ‘Days Like These’ Palestine benefit concert in London, too.