Bruce Springsteen called the policy of temporarily separating kids from their parents who have crossed the border illegally “disgracefully inhumane and un-American.”
The comments came Tuesday night ahead of the 68-year-old’s performance at his Broadway show for the song “The Ghost of Tom Joad,” according to a statement on his website Wednesday.
“I never believed that people come to my shows, or rock shows to be told anything,” Springsteen explained before launching into an attack on “people in high position in the American government” over the policy.
Bruce Springsteen (R) accepts a Special Tony Award from Billy Joel (L) onstage during the 72nd Annual Tony Awards at Radio City Music Hall on June 10, 2018 in New York City. (Photo by Theo Wargo/Getty Images for Tony Awards Productions)
“Because we are seeing things right now on our American borders that are so shockingly and disgracefully inhumane and un-American that it is simply enraging,” the singer shared. “And we have heard people in high position in the American government blaspheme in the name of God and country that it is a moral thing to assault the children amongst us. May God save our souls.”
Later the singer shared a quote from Martin Luther King Jr. that says, “the arc of the moral universe is long but it bends toward justice.”
“Now, there have been many, many days of recent when you could certainly have an argument over that,” Springsteen added. “But I’ve lived long enough to see that in action and to put some faith in it. But I’ve also lived long enough to know that arc doesn’t bend on its own. It needs all of us leaning on it, nudging it in the right direction day after day. You gotta keep, keep leaning.”
“I think it’s important to believe in those words, and to carry yourself, and to act accordingly,” he continued. “It’s the only way that we keep faith and keep our sanity. I’ve played this show 146 nights with basically the same setlist, but tonight calls for something different…”