By Gina Hill | Alaska Headline Living | January 2026
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) – Rock guitarist and activist Tom Morello announced a benefit concert in Minneapolis, calling it a show of solidarity and resistance and pledging all proceeds to the families of two people killed this month during encounters with federal immigration agents.
Morello, a founding member of Rage Against the Machine, said on Instagram that the concert will take place Friday, Jan. 30, at First Avenue in downtown Minneapolis. Doors open at 10:30 a.m. Tickets cost $25 and are available through AXS.
The event is titled “A Concert of Solidarity & Resistance to Defend Minnesota!” and will feature performances by Morello and the punk rock band Rise Against, along with additional artists. Organizers described it as an early daytime show intended to encourage broad community participation.
According to Morello, 100 percent of the proceeds will go to the families of Renee Good and Alex Pretti, both of whom were killed in separate encounters involving federal immigration authorities earlier this month. Good was fatally shot on Jan. 7 during an encounter with Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers. Pretti, an intensive care nurse, was killed on Jan. 24 during an incident involving U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents.
Federal authorities have said agents in both cases acted in self defense. Family members, community advocates and civil rights groups have disputed those accounts and have called for independent investigations, additional release of body camera footage and greater oversight of immigration enforcement operations in the city.
In his post announcing the concert, Morello sharply criticized federal actions and described the current political climate as authoritarian. He praised Minneapolis residents for what he called standing up to ICE operations and opposing policies associated with the Trump administration, saying resistance must come from ordinary people rather than political leaders.
The concert comes amid ongoing protests in Minneapolis over immigration enforcement practices and the role of federal agents in the city. Demonstrations have included marches, memorials and calls for federal agencies to scale back operations.
Morello has long blended music and political activism, frequently using his platform to support labor causes, anti war movements and civil liberties. Rage Against the Machine was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2023.
In recent months, Morello has also gained attention from a new audience through his involvement with the online game Final Fantasy XIV. He contributed guitar work to a high profile raid theme introduced in a recent update, drawing notice from the game’s global fan base for the crossover between rock music and one of the world’s most popular multiplayer role playing games.
Video courtesy Square Enix via YouTube.
Morello did not indicate whether material from that project would be included in the Minneapolis show, instead focusing his announcement on the benefit’s purpose and support for the victims’ families.
Federal investigations into the deaths of Good and Pretti remain ongoing. Community leaders and advocacy groups have said they will continue to press for accountability as the cases move forward.
👉🏿 Buy tickets for Morello’s benefit concert at First Avenue at AXS
