Pearl Jam members react on social media after a woman is killed during a federal operation.
Minneapolis is back in the national spotlight after a woman was killed during an ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) operation, an incident that quickly reignited protests and street tension in a city that already stands as a symbol of the fight against police violence. Federal authorities claim the agent acted in self-defense, but videos and eyewitness accounts are raising serious questions about what really went down. Protests broke out almost immediately, with clashes reported in several areas of the city.
Against this backdrop, Jeff Ament and Mike McCready took to Instagram to make their voices heard.
Ament shared a blunt message along with a show of solidarity: “Murder is a crime unless it is done by a policeman. Our hearts are with you, Minneapolis.” A post that cuts straight to the issue of excessive force and perceived impunity, especially raw in a city still carrying the weight of 2020.
The hashtags #fuckice and #joestrummer say a lot on their own: a clear shot at federal immigration enforcement and a nod to Joe Strummer’s legacy, echoing a long tradition of music as protest and resistance.
Shortly after, Mike McCready followed up with a quote from George Orwell’s 1984: “The Party told you to reject the evidence of your eyes and ears. It was their final, most essential command.” A warning about truth being twisted and reality denied, themes that feel painfully relevant as conflicting narratives continue to emerge from Minneapolis.
McCready also urged fans to donate to the ACLU to help protect civil liberties, turning words into a call for real action.
Once again, Pearl Jam prove they’re not about staying quiet when it matters. As Minneapolis becomes a flashpoint all over again, Ament and McCready make it clear where they stand.
Born in Reggio Emilia in 1980. He created pearljamonline.it in 2001 and wrote the first edition of “Pearl Jam Evolution” in 2009 along with his wife Daria. Since 2022, he is behind 2 podcasts: “Pearl Jam dalla A alla Z” and “Fuori Orario Not Another Podcast”. He has collaborated with Barracuda Style, HvsR, Rolling Stone, Rockol and Il Fatto Quotidiano. He continues relentlessly to try to find “beautiful melodies that say terrible things”.
Favorite song: Present Tense
Favorite album: No Code
Favorite bands/artists other than PJ: Tom Waits, Soundgarden, Ramones, Bruce Springsteen, IDLES, Fontaines D.C., Mark Lanegan, R.E.M., Radiohead, Cat Power, Dead Kennedys