As NewsBusters previously reported, Stevie Wonder on Monday told a Quebec City concert audience that he was boycotting Florida and other states with "Stand Your Ground" laws as a result of the George Zimmerman verdict.
Apparently not to be outdone, Bruce Springsteen on Tuesday dedicated a song to Trayvon Martin during a concert in Limerick, Ireland.
According to the Newark Star-Ledger, Springsteen saw a sign in the audience for the song "American Skin."
For those unfamiliar, "American Skin (41 Shots)" was about the 1999 police shooting death of Amadou Diallo in the Bronx. The incident set off a firestorm at the time given the number of bullets fired by the four policemen who were later acquitted of all charges.
On Tuesday, after seeing the sign in the audience, Springsteen grabbed it and said to the crowd, "I want to send this one out as a letter back home. For justice for Trayvon Martin."
Although first performed live in June 2000, Springsteen began featuring the song again during his 2012 tour often dedicating it to Martin.
Here are the lyrics:
41 shots, and we'll take that ride 'Cross this bloody river to the other side 41 shots, cut through the night You're kneeling over his body in the vestibule Praying for his life
Well, is it a gun, is it a knifereun Is it a wallet, this is your life It ain't no secret (it ain't no secret) No secret my friend You can get killed just for living in your American skin
(41 shots) (41 shots) (41 shots) (41 shots)
41 shots, Lena gets her son ready for school She says "On these streets, Charles You've got to understand the rules If an officer stops you, promise me you'll always be polite And that you'll never ever run away Promise Mama you'll keep your hands in sight"
Well, is it a gun, is it a knife Is it a wallet, this is your life It ain't no secret (it ain't no secret) No secret my friend You can get killed just for living in your American skin
(41 shots) (41 shots) (41 shots) (41 shots)
Is it a gun, is it a knife Is it in your heart, is it in your eyes It ain't no secret (it ain't no secret) It ain't no secret (it ain't no secret)
41 shots, and we'll take that ride 'Cross this bloody river to the other side 41 shots, I got my boots caked in this mud Baptized in these waters (we're baptized in these waters) And in each other's blood (and in each other's blood)
Well, is it a gun, is it a knife Is it a wallet, this is your life It ain't no secret (it ain't no secret) It ain't no secret (it ain't no secret) No secret my friend You can get killed just for living in You can get killed just for living in your American skin
Why is democracy held in such high esteem when it’s the enemy of the minority and makes all rights relative to the dictates of the majority? (Ron Paul,2012)