During a concert in Washington, D.C., music legend Bruce Springsteen took a moment to address a pressing social issue, denouncing Newark’s Delaney Hall immigration detention center. This came amidst ongoing tensions between activists and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents.
The 76-year-old artist paused his performance at Nationals Park on Wednesday, part of his Land of Hope and Dreams American Tour, to speak out before singing “My City of Ruins.”
“Across the country, immigrants are detained in for-profit centers like Delaney Hall in New Jersey, my home state,” Springsteen stated, referencing a video circulating online. “Even our governor has been denied access to these facilities to discuss the conditions with the detainees.”
Springsteen’s remarks were met with mixed reactions from the audience, including some boos.
In a show of solidarity, Springsteen led the crowd in chanting “ICE out!” and urged them to ensure their voices were heard, saying, “Let ’em hear you at the White House.”
“We are living through troubles and troubling times,” he stressed.
Springsteen’s politically-charged track “Streets of Minneapolis” was among the songs he performed – which was created in response to the killings of Renée Good and Alex Pretti.
He claimed ICE agents had “brought death and terror” to the city but said locals “stood shoulder-to-shoulder for their neighbors,” the Hill reported.
“The Gestapo tactics of this president and this administration will not stand here,” Springsteen said, attacking Trump once again.
At the end of the track, pictures of Good and Pretti were projected above the stage.
Springsteen also critiqued the Supreme Court and Trump’s Department of Justice during his tirade.
Meanwhile, keffiyeh-clad and masked left-wing agitators continue to clash with immigration agents outside the facility, which has been the center of heated protests for the past week.
Video shared by Freedom News showed anti-ICE demonstrators blocking agents’ cars outside the facility.
At one point, the hood of an ICE vehicle almost touched a protester – before swarms of tooled-up agents charged toward the yobs.
Agitators tried to intimidate agents – with one rabble-rouser shouting, “Who are you gonna shoot b—h?” in a video shared by Freedom News journalist Oliya Scootercaster.
“Why don’t you go get your buddy with an AK47 to shoot me in the f—in face!” an agitator screamed.
Demonstrators continued to hurl sickening chants at ICE agents, including, “Take your gun and shoot yourself.”
Mobs also shouted, “Every cop, every fed, shoot yourself in the head.”
Major clashes erupted with ICE agents turning to pepper spray in a desperate bid to disperse protesters wearing gas masks – while others clobbered demonstrators with their batons.
During Thursday’s squirmishes, some anti-ICE protesters resorted to umbrellas to shield off the tooled up immigration agents.
New Jersey Gov. Mikie Sherrill and DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin traded barbs on social media Thursday night over which access state officials had to the facility for inspections.
“If conditions are really as good as you’re claiming, then let my health inspectors do their jobs,” the Democratic governor wrote on X.
“Taxpayers are footing a billion-dollar bill for this facility. They deserve transparency.”
But Mullin shot back that four reps with the state’s health department checked out food services earlier in the day.
“@ICEgov is regularly audited and inspected by external agencies to ensure that all ICE facilities comply with performance based national detention standards,” he posted.
“All detainees are provided with proper meals, quality water, blankets, medical treatment, and have opportunities to communicate with their family members and lawyers.”
Earlier this week, Sherill claimed she was denied access to the center.
The White House has tried to downplay the clashes, which protesters say are in response to the supposedly inhumane conditions detainees inside are experiencing.
The DHS branded Sherill’s visit to the center “nothing more than a political stunt” while President Trump said the demonstrators were “all paid-for protesters” during a cabinet meeting.
“These aren’t protesters. These people are fake,” he said when asked about the ongoing protests outside the facility.
With Post wires.