Trayvon Martin: Bruce Springsteen Honors Dead Teenager with 'American Skin (41 Shots)' Performance After George Zimmerman Not Guilty Verdict, Joins Beyoncé in Protest [VIDEO]

By Carolyn Menyes (c.menyes@gmail.com) | Jul 17, 2013 07:04 PM EDT

Get the Most Popular Mstars News

Epic rocker Bruce Springsteen has joined a slew of musicians and celebrities in weighing in on the George Zimmerman not guilty verdict in the death of 18-year-old Trayvon Martin.

Acquitted based on Florida's Stand Your Ground self-defense law, the controversial ruling has had everyone from Beyoncé to Kim Kardashian to Stevie Wonder weighing in.

At a show in Limerick, Ireland, the political musician dedicated a performance of "American Skin (41 Shots)" to Martin. An audience member was holding a sign requesting the song, and The Boss grabbed it, read it and said, "I want to send this one out as a letter back home. For justice for Trayvon Martin."

Watch the Martin-dedicated performance of "American Skins" below.

Though the song was written in protest of New York City police officers shooting an unarmed man in 1999, according to Rolling Stone, the song's message resonates in regards to the Trayvon Martin case.

"Promise me if an officer stops you'll always be polite, / Never ever run away and promise momma you'll keep your hands in sight, / Cause is it a gun? Is it a knife? / Is it a wallet? This is you're life, / It's ain't no secret, the secret my friend, / You can get killed just for living in your American skin," Springsteen sings.

Dozens of celebrities tweeted their shock at the Zimmerman ruling. And Springsteen isn't the first musician to honor Martin in song. Beyoncé dedicated her encore of "I Will Always Love You" and "Halo" to the dead teenager following the verdict on Saturday (July 13).

© 2025 Mstars News, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.

Get the Most Popular Mstars News

Related Articles

SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS

Follow Us Everywhere

Sign Up for Our Newsletter

Music Times Network is always looking for well-versed, enthusiastic contributors and interns.
Submit your application today!

DON'T MISS

LATEST STORIES

MUSIC VIDEOS

Real Time Analytics